A year after the East Palestine train derailment, it’s not too late for Congress to act

A year ago, a Norfolk Southern freight train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, displacing a community, endangering health, harming the local environment and exposing flaws in rail safety laws.

The derailment of a tanker carrying vinyl chloride and the ensuing fire has left southern Norfolk devastated. release and burn These toxic chemicals are used to prevent dangerous explosions. As a result, the town was forced to evacuate all residents within a one-mile radius, claiming thousands of lives.

No lives were lost thanks to the quick actions of the train crew, who quickly separated the derailed car and moved the rest of the train to safety. However, the accident contaminated the soil, water, and air in East Palestine, with reports of toxic odors and health effects for several weeks after the derailment. To this day, many of East Palestine’s 4,700 residents are afraid to drink water; experience health problems or negative economic impact Consequences of derailment.

This tragic derailment did not need to happen. But Congress needs to address rail safety to prevent similar accidents from happening in the future. Although the East Palestine incident has garnered the most attention, it was by no means the only freight rail accident that occurred last year.

In 2023, there were more than 1,500 Class I train accidents or incidents. according to Federal Railroad Administration. These include the BNSF derailment in Raymond, Minnesota, which forced the evacuation of the town. The CSX derailment in Livingston, Kentucky forced a family to evacuate on Thanksgiving. And another BNSF derailment on the Swinomish Reservation in Skagit County, Washington, spilled 3,500 gallons of diesel fuel near Padilla Bay in my district.On average approximately 3 railway accidents happen every day in America

Since the Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine, Democrats on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee have called for rail safety hearings and rail safety legislation. Lawmakers from both chambers and from both parties have introduced legislation that would significantly improve rail safety. Unfortunately, these bills have not yet been brought to the floor for a vote, despite bipartisan and broad public support.

That has to change. Congress can and must hold the freight rail industry to high safety standards that keep people and communities safe. We cannot allow a dysfunctional Capitol Hill and traffic congestion to continue to stand in the way of progress toward safer transportation systems for communities across the country.

The month after the accident, the Ministry of Transport made recommendations Update safety standards for the freight rail industry. Additionally, the National Transportation Safety Board has made numerous public recommendations to enhance freight rail safety. It is time for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to act. And you don’t have to look far for solutions.

Representative Emilia Sykes (D-Ohio) and Representative Chris Deluzio (D-Pennsylvania) have tirelessly championed the safety of the East Palestine community and others like them across the country. Both countries have each introduced bills that would impose higher safety standards on freight railroads, increase support for hazardous materials training for first responders, and increase fines for safety violations.

Passage of these bills will allow residents of East Palestine, Raymond, the Swinomish Reservation, and other communities across the country to live near freight railroad tracks without fear of having their lives uprooted in a derailment. The public will not be forced to bear the burden. Cost of train derailment.

These are reasonable reforms supported by members of both parties. It’s time for Congress to work together to get this bill across the finish line. The one-year anniversary of the East Palestine derailment is a reminder of what Congress can accomplish for people and communities, not another example of how Congress can fail.

Rick Larsen represents Washington’s 2nd District and is the ranking member of the House Transportation Committee.