Senate Select Committee on Rail Safety Holds First Hearing

COLUMBUS—The Ohio Senate's Select Committee on Rail Safety held its first meeting today and began with a live update from Ohio EPA Director Anne Vogel from the Command Center 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.

"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," Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima.) "I look forward to the recommendations from the committee to make sure that this community is not forgotten."

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.

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