Residents get a firsthand view of the twin toxic towers
Residents of eastern Ohio now have the opportunity to witness the explosive disaster that forced them out of their homes last February. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a series of videos showcasing the explosions, fire, and plumes of black smoke that occurred when officials decided to blow open tank cars filled with vinyl chloride. These videos, along with newly unearthed documents, shed light on the decision-making process that led to the release and subsequent burning of the vinyl chloride.
Questions raised about the decision to release the vinyl chloride
During the NTSB hearings in East Palestine, Ohio, last spring, concerns were raised about whether the tank cars would have actually exploded if left surrounded by the fire from the derailment. The officials who made the decision to blow open the cars defended their actions, stating that they made the best call based on the information available at the time. However, it was discovered that the experts from Oxy Vinyls, the company that manufactured the chemical, believed that the vinyl chloride would remain stable and not explode. Unfortunately, their opinion was not shared with the key decision-makers who opted for the explosive solution due to concerns about the cars’ temperature readings and the functionality of pressure relief valves.
Health concerns and ongoing cleanup
As the one-year anniversary of the derailment nears, residents are still worried about the potential health consequences of the decision to release the vinyl chloride. The derailment itself also raises significant health questions. State and federal Environmental Protection Agency officials have conducted tests and stated that no toxic levels of chemicals have been detected since the evacuation order was lifted. The extensive cleanup, which involved removing over 176,000 tons of contaminated soil from the derailment site, is expected to be completed by the middle of this year.
New details on the cause of the derailment
The documents released by the NTSB also shed light on the cause of the derailment. Trackside detectors detected a bearing heating up on one of the rail cars, but the alarm did not trigger in time for the crew to stop the train before the accident. The NTSB’s preliminary report blamed the overheating bearing for causing the derailment, but the full investigation is not expected to be complete until later this summer. The documents revealed that the first two detectors did not raise any alarms or alerts, while the third detector in Salem, Ohio, sent a non-critical alert about the heating bearing. Unfortunately, the analyst who received the alert was unable to address it immediately, leading to the sparks or fire beneath one of the rail cars starting in Salem.
Response of authorities and railroad procedures
Six days before the derailment, authorities received a call reporting a different train on fire. An East Palestine police officer witnessed the train with dragging wheels and flames under two of the cars. Despite the officer’s report, Norfolk Southern, the railroad company, informed authorities that the train was out of the area and advised them to cancel the firefighters’ response. It remains unclear what happened to that train and whether the burning car was removed after leaving town.
As the investigation continues, residents hope for answers to the remaining health questions while they focus on rebuilding their town.
