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Citing threats to employees’ safety, Norfolk Southern skips informational townhall
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (WKBN) – Hundreds of concerned residents piled into the East Palestine High School gym Wednesday night looking for answers to the train derailment and subsequent controlled release.
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Noticeably absent were any representatives of Norfolk Southern.
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Norfolk Southern released a statement to the media just a couple of hours prior to the start of the event.
“Unfortunately, after consulting with community leaders, we have become increasingly concerned about the growing physical threat to our employees and members of the community around this event stemming from the increasing likelihood of the participation of outside parties. With that in mind, Norfolk Southern will not be in attendance this evening,” the company statement read.
“We want to continue our dialogue with the community and address their concerns, and our people will remain in East Palestine, respond to this situation, and meet with residents. We are not going anywhere. We are committed to East Palestine and will continue to respond to community concerns through our Family Assistance Center and our hotline for citizens to ask questions regarding return to home and health questions,” the statement continued.
Norfolk Southern asked that residents with questions or concerns about the derailment call its Family Assistance Center at 800-230-7049.
One woman attending wanted to know, if the air and water are safe, why are people still getting sick? A representative with the EPA said what they’re smelling is butyl acrylate, but it’s not showing levels high enough to be dangerous.
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Another woman said she lives 7 feet from Sulfur Run, which remains contaminated, and Norfolk Southern has offered to move her.
It was also announced that Norfolk Southern has promised to pay $1,000 to everyone in the 44413 zip code.
The mayor again promised to hold Norfolk Southern accountable.
https://www.wkbn.com/news/local-news/east-palestine-train-derailment/town-hall-planned-to-discuss-east-palestine-train-derailment/