The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed that Norfolk Southern attempted to interfere with the investigation into the East Palestine derailment in February 2023, where a wheel bearing caught fire on a tank car carrying vinyl chloride. The agency also confirmed that the derailment was caused by the overheating bearing that went undetected for over 20 miles due to inaccurate trackside detectors. The NTSB approved recommendations to prevent similar disasters, including establishing federal rules for detectors and reviewing the process of conducting a vent and burn.
After the derailment, some residents were evacuated, and toxic vinyl chloride was intentionally released and burned three days later. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy accused Norfolk Southern of interfering with the investigation by delaying or withholding information. The railroad contractor initially claimed they did not keep records of temperature changes on the tank cars, but later evidence revealed the contrary. The hearing disclosed more details about the overheating bearing and the failure of the trackside detectors to detect the issue in time.
The NTSB investigators found that Norfolk Southern and its contractors compromised the integrity of the vent-and-burn decision by withholding information from Oxy Vinyls, the company that manufactured the vinyl chloride. Despite evidence that the tank cars were cooling after the crash, the decision to vent and burn was still carried out. Norfolk Southern defended their decision, citing safety concerns and pressure-relief device malfunctions on the tank cars. However, Homendy asserted that some fears were misplaced based on the investigation’s findings.
The NTSB’s detailed findings highlighted concerns about Norfolk Southern’s actions, but Jared Cassity, a safety expert with the SMART-TD union, expressed apprehensions about the overall commitment to safety by major railroads. Norfolk Southern had settled with the federal government and announced a class action settlement with residents, but ongoing investigations by Ohio and Pennsylvania may lead to further consequences. Congress may consider enforcing NTSB recommendations to improve rail safety, including requiring two-person crews and setting standards for inspections and detectors.
The community of East Palestine remains concerned about health effects from the vinyl chloride exposure and demands transparency and proactive protection from the railroad. Federal regulators and lawmakers have proposed reforms to prevent similar tragedies and hold railroads accountable for safety lapses. The industry has pledged to install more trackside detectors, improve first responder training, and enhance access to information about hazardous cargo. The NTSB’s recommendations, though not binding, may influence future legislative action to ensure the safety of rail transportation.
