Biden Visits Ohio Town 1 Year After Toxic Train Derailment
HuffPost
The president's visit comes after months of public backlash and amid growing fears of long-term health risks.
President Joe Biden visited the disaster-stricken rural village of East Palestine, Ohio, on Friday, more than a year after a freight train loaded with hundreds of thousands of pounds of toxic chemicals derailed there.
Biden faced enormous criticism for not making the trip sooner, with some Republicans accusing him of ignoring the community because of its history of voting Republican. East Palestine residents and independent scientists have also criticized federal and state agencies for their missteps in responding to the disaster; many people remain fearful about what the chemical exposure could mean for their long-term health.
Biden called the response and recovery efforts in East Palestine over the last year “Herculean” and vowed to hold rail giant Norfolk Southern fully accountable for the disaster.
“While there are acts of God, this was an act of greed that was 100% preventable,” Biden said. “Norfolk Southern failed its responsibility.”
Biden touted his administration’s efforts to date, including monitoring air, water and soil, but stressed there is more work to be done.