Ohio Senate Holds Select Committee Hearing on Rail Safety

COLUMBUS—State Senator Al Landis (R-Dover) participated as a committee member in today’s first hearing of the Senate’s Select Committee on Rail Safety to review the Norfolk Southern Derailment in East Palestine. The committee’s objective is to gain a clearer understanding of the cause of the catastrophic train derailment, the status of recovery efforts, and to determine the most appropriate course of action to help local residents.

"It is vital to make sure the people of East Palestine get all the help they need," said Landis. "But it's also imperative we do all we can to make sure a rail disaster of this magnitude never happens in Ohio again."

Ohio EPA Director Anne Vogel was first to testify at today's hearing, providing a live update via satellite from the Command Center in East Palestine.  

Director Vogel updated the select committee on efforts ranging from soil cleanup around the train tracks, to water and soil sampling in the community, to secure hauling and disposal of the contaminates. She is coordinating the derailment response with the US EPA, FEMA, and experts from the Ohio EPA.

"I am pleased that the Ohio EPA, and federal partners from the US EPA and FEMA are working together for the people in East Palestine," said Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima.) "I look forward to the recommendations from the committee to make sure that this community is not forgotten."

To find the latest on cleanup efforts, including health clinic and water testing information, click here.