EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — The National Transportation Safety Board hosted a second community meeting in East Palestine, answering questions from the community.

What You Need To Know

  • NTSB took questions from the audience following their findings hearing

  •  Questions were drawn at random

  • All relevant questions were answered

People from East Palestine and the surrounding areas could ask questions to the NTSB about their findings. 

This hearing occurred a month after the federal government issued a $15 million civil penalty for the derailment in East Palestine.

“We’re going to stay here as long as it takes to answer your questions. We aren’t going anywhere,” said Jennifer Homendy, NTSB Chair. 

The meeting began with Homendy pledging to stay as long as necessary to answer everyone in the community’s questions.

Before the meeting started, the public had an opportunity to submit questions which were drawn at random.

Some questions were anonymous.

“Will today’s findings be used to help pass legislation such as the Railroad Safety Act?” read one question. 

Questions were answered by either Homendy or a panel of experts from the NTSB.

“The findings, safety recommendations and the entire report will be forwarded,” said Homendy.

Off topic questions could not be answered.

“Will Norfolk and EPA be held accountable?” read one such question. 

“We don’t determine liability. That is for the courts to decide,” Homendy explained. 

After all the cards with peoples’ names were drawn, people from the audience were asked if they had more questions.

“This Rail Safety Act, I don’t know that much about it but- how many of your recommendations that you’ve made about railroads, not just from this event but from a lot of past events, will this cover a lot of those recommendations?” asked one audience member. 

“We had a 190 open rail safety recommendations and maybe it addresses four,” said Homendy.

While most people were appreciative to see the NTSB hold their hearing in East Palestine, some remain angry at Norfolk Southern.

“This whole thing has been nothing but hell for me and my family,” said another attendee.

The entire process took about two and a half hours. Every question from the community that was relevant was answered.

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