A former president and a celebrity environmental advocate will each visit the Ohio town reeling from a train derailment and its aftermath.
By JORDAN ANDERSON, Pittsburg Post-Gazette
Two weeks after a catastrophic train derailment unleashed toxic materials on a small village near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border, the attention being showered on East Palestine by politicians and activists is reaching a fever pitch.
Former President Donald Trump plans to visit the Ohio town on Wednesday. Pennsylvania state lawmakers will scrutinize railway company Norfolk Southern during a hearing Thursday in Beaver County. And celebrity environmental advocate will host a town hall Friday in East Palestine.
“The people of East Palestine need help,” Mr. Trump said on his social media network Saturday. “I’ll see you on Wednesday.”
Trump’s visit, as he ramps up his comeback presidential campaign, is likely to bring the crucible of national politics to a village where residents are increasingly fearful of the derailment’s immediate and long-term health consequences. His administration rolled back Obama-era safety regulations on high-hazard cargo trains. But that rule would not have applied to the train that derailed in East Palestine, since it wasn’t classified as high-hazard.
‘How long is this going to last?’: East Palestine residents fear for their health
On Thursday, a public legislative hearing will examine Norfolk Southern and the response to the Feb. 3 derailment. Pennsylvania lawmakers sounded off on the railroad company last week, slamming Norfolk Southern as “ignorant” and greedy.
The hearing, being held Thursday morning by a Senate committee at Community College of Beaver County, will include testimony from state and local officials, as well as citizens.
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