U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg has explained his actions of letting the National Transportation Safety Board perform its work unhindered in the aftermath of freight rail derailment that occurred Feb. 3 in East Palestine, Ohio.
No one was injured during the derailment of 38 rail cars, including 11 that carried hazardous materials, the National Transportation Safety Board said. The 11 tank cars ignited, “fueling fires that damaged an additional 12 non-derailed railcars.”
"During the initial response phase, I've followed the norm of staying out of the way of the independent NTSB. Now that we're into the policy phase, I'll be visiting - and I need your help," Buttigieg posted on Twitter Feb. 21.
A Feb. 24 letter to Buttigieg from the House of Representatives’ Committee on Oversight and Accountability reminded him it “is investigating the ongoing crisis” that began Feb. 3 in East Palestine.
"As Secretary of Transportation, you must provide transparency to the American public on this matter,” the letter said. “Instead, you have attempted to blame others for infrastructure that is within DOT’s ambit of responsibilities.”
“I am alarmed to learn that the Chair of the House Oversight Committee thinks that the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) is part of our Department. NTSB is independent (and with good reason). Still, of course, we will fully review this and respond appropriately," Buttigieg said on Twitter Feb. 24 in response to the letter.
NTSB Member Michael Graham hosted a briefing Feb. 4, outlining the procedures on expectations for moving forward. The briefing is posted on YouTube.
“From day one, our Department has been there for the people of East Palestine. Our work will continue – and we're in it for the long haul to make freight rail safer for all. That's a promise,” Buttigieg posted on Twitter Feb. 23.
Buttigieg spoke about the issue and urged the rail industry, specifically Norfolk Southern and other Class I railroads, to take immediate action to improve accountability and safety, according to a Feb. 21 news release. The suggested measures include protecting workers who report safety issues, deploying new inspection technologies, expediting the phase-in of safer tank cars, providing advance notification to state emergency response teams and offering paid sick leave to employees.
DOT also plans to enforce crew staffing rules and initiate safety inspection programs to enhance freight rail safety, the news release reported.
Federal Railroad Administration and Pipeline, and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration officials visited East Palestine Feb. 22 to inspect the derailed tank cars in the Norfolk Southern incident on Feb. 3, according to a readout of the visit. It was part of the ongoing investigation to identify the cause of the derailment and ensure compliance with regulations and design requirements.
Department of Transportation officials also gathered with labor representatives to discuss safety measures and receive feedback from first responders and firefighters, the readout reported.
