Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg called on the rail industry Tuesday for accountability and outlined demands to take to improve safety in the wake of the derailment of a train carrying toxic chemicals in East Palestine, Ohio, nearly three weeks ago. 

"Profit and expediency must never outweigh the safety of the American people," Buttigieg wrote in a press release. "We at USDOT are doing everything in our power to improve rail safety, and we insist that the rail industry do the same – while inviting Congress to work with us to raise the bar."

Buttigieg outlined a three-pronged push that would demand rail companies to take actions, such as offer paid sick leave for rail workers, as well as called on Congress to increase fines for rail companies violating safety regulations.

Buttigieg called on the freight railroad industry to take the following actions:

• Class 1 railroads to participate in the Confidential Close Call Reporting program, which allows workers to report safety issues without fear of negative consequences.
• Implement new inspection technology, while keeping human inspections. Buttigieg noted abandoning human inspections has a been "a top priority for the rail lobbyists."
• Owners of tank owners to implement safer tank cars ahead of the mandated 2029 deadline.
• Provide paid sick leave for all workers. 

Buttigieg also included ways the U.S. Department of Transportation would continue to work on rail safety, such as requiring two crewmembers on most rail operations, creating an inspection on routes in which trains carrying hazardous material travel and deploying additional resources from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help improve rail safety by updating tracks and eliminating at-grade rail crossings. 

In addition, Buttigieg called on Congress to implement a higher maximum fine for rail companies that violate safety regulations. Currently, violations that involve hazardous materials is $225,455, and Buttigieg said it's "a rounding error for a company that reported an astonishing record annual operating income in 2022 of $4.8 billion." The demands also push Congress to strengthen rules that involve high-hazardous shipments and follow through on modernize braking regulations. 

A black plume of smoke rises into the air after the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, on Feb. 3. (AP Photo)

The demands come two days after Buttigieg sent a letter to Norfolk Southern, which owned the train that derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. The letter came across as a stern warning to Norfolk Southern, saying: “It is imperative that your company be unambiguous and forthright in its commitment to take care of the residents — now and in the future.”

Residents in East Palestine are still dealing with the consequences of the train derailment. After the release of the hazardous materials in some of the rail cars, residents have been voicing concerns over health issues, as well as worry over the drinking water. Among the chemicals involved was vinyl chloride, which is associated with increased risk of certain cancers. The state is opening a health clinic in the area this week to assist individuals.  

Environmental Protection Agency administrator Michael Regan will return to in East Palestine on Tuesday, Buttigieg detailed.

Since the train derailment in Ohio, there was also a train derailment in Texas, which killed one person.