Biden's Visit to East Palestine Comes Exactly One Year After the Train Disaster

President Joe Biden's visit to East Palestine in February has been confirmed by a spokesperson from the White House. However, the specific date of his visit has not been disclosed yet.

On February 3, 2023, at 8:55 p.m. EST, a train derailment took place in East Palestine, Ohio, United States. This incident involved a Norfolk Southern freight train carrying hazardous materials, including the carcinogen vinyl chloride, among other chemicals. As a result, residents were forced to evacuate while emergency responders worked diligently to bring the situation under control.

During the investigation conducted in East Palestine, the focus was on examining the hot-bearing detectors, which are sensors placed by Norfolk Southern alongside their tracks. These detectors serve the purpose of alerting the company when overheating of wheel bearings occurs, a significant factor contributing to derailments.

Out of the 51 derailed cars, a total of 49 cars formed a pile-up, which subsequently caught fire and burned for several days. Among these cars, 11 were tank cars that released approximately 100,000 US gallons (380,000 L) of hazardous materials, including vinyl chloride, benzene residue, and butyl acrylate.

During this incident, a number of railroad cars were transporting the hazardous chemical vinyl chloride. Subsequently, on Feb. 6, 2023, five of these cars were deliberately destroyed through a controlled explosion.

To ensure safety, the chemicals were then directed into a trench and ignited. As a precautionary measure, residents were evacuated from their homes for several days.

The air quality in and around East Palestine has been under the monitoring of the United States EPA since the incident, in addition to soil samples being collected. State agencies have been conducting tests on the water, while the Columbiana County Health District remains committed to testing private wells.

President Biden is scheduled to meet with residents who are still facing the consequences of the derailment. A spokesperson from the White House said that, As President Biden has emphasized from the start, the Administration will continue to provide support to the people of East Palestine and other affected communities for as long as necessary, utilizing all available means to hold Norfolk Southern accountable.