Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) has promised that the state will hold the rail corporation responsible for the recent train wreck "accountable."
The governor was asked on Wednesday if Norfolk Southern Corporation, the rail corporation that operated the train which crashed on Feb. 3 in East Palestine, Ohio, ought to pay for court-supervised medical screenings for any illnesses caused by the toxic fumes released by the derailed train. DeWine stated that "the company should pay for everything" and that he had already spoken to the CEO of the rail corporation, according to an interview he did with CNN.
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“I said, ‘there is concern with some people in East Palestine that you are going to leave before you get the cleanup done, you are going to leave before the problems are dealt with,’” DeWine said. “He pledged to me, ‘we’re gonna stay.’ We’re going to hold them to what they said. We are going to hold them accountable."
DeWine added that Norfolk Southern Corporation is responsible for the "very serious train wreck" and that Ohio would "hold their feet to the fire" to ensure the corporation would "pay for everything as we move forward.”
Norfolk Southern Corporation announced on Tuesday that it is creating a $1 million charitable fund to support the community of East Palestine, Ohio. The company also said that it will work with state and local leaders to find out how the fund can best be put to use.
"We are committed to East Palestine today and in the future," said Norfolk Southern President and CEO Alan Shaw. "We will be judged by our actions. We are cleaning up the site in an environmentally responsible way, reimbursing residents affected by the derailment, and working with members of the community to identify what is needed to help East Palestine recover and thrive."
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On Tuesday, DeWine called on Congress to change requirements for hazardous trains, saying that the state was not notified about the dangerous chemicals carried by the train. The Ohio governor said at a press conference he had been told that the train was not considered a “high hazardous material” train and was, therefore, not required to notify the state about what materials it was carrying when it derailed on Feb. 3.
The National Transportation Safety Board said on Tuesday it intends to have its initial report on a train derailment released in two weeks. The agency claimed that 38 train cars came off the tracks, with a fire damaging an additional 12 train cars. Shortly after the derailment, the area was evacuated over concerns about the materials on the train, including vinyl chloride, phosgene, and hydrogen chloride.