PITTSBURGH — Two weeks after a catastrophic train derailment unleashed toxic materials on a small village near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border, the attention being showered on East Palestine by politicians and activists is reaching a fever pitch.
Former President Donald Trump plans to visit the Ohio town on Wednesday. Pennsylvania state lawmakers will scrutinize railway company Norfolk Southern during a hearing Thursday in Beaver County. And celebrity environmental advocate Erin Brockovich will host a town hall Friday in East Palestine.
“The people of East Palestine need help,” Trump said on his social media network Saturday. “I’ll see you on Wednesday.”
Trump’s visit, as he ramps up his comeback presidential campaign, is likely to bring the crucible of national politics to a village where residents are increasingly fearful of the derailment’s immediate and long-term health consequences. His administration rolled back Obama-era safety regulations on high-hazard cargo trains. But that rule would not have applied to the train that derailed in East Palestine, since it wasn’t classified as high-hazard.
On Thursday, a public legislative hearing will examine Norfolk Southern and the response to the Feb. 3 derailment. Pennsylvania lawmakers sounded off on the railroad company last week, slamming Norfolk Southern as “ignorant” and greedy.
The hearing, being held Thursday morning by a Senate committee at Community College of Beaver County, will include testimony from state and local officials, as well as citizens.
State Sen. Elder Vogel, a Beaver Republican, blasted the company’s attitude last week.
“Everybody is trying to be more efficient and do things faster,” Vogel said. “But safety still has to be taken care of.”
And at the end of the week, Brockovich will appear with attorney Mikal Watts during a Friday evening town hall at East Palestine High School. Brockovich gained fame years ago for exposing a utility company’ role in contaminating a California community’s water supply, and later was played by Julia Roberts in a 2000 biopic. The environmental advocate said the purpose of her trip is to work with victims to hold Norfolk Southern accountable.
“Please understand that Superman isn’t coming to make everything all better,” she said Friday on Twitter. “This will likely get worse before they get better. But#eastpalastine you are not alone and we aren’t going anywhere.”
In the weeks following the disaster, which caused a massive fire and led to the controlled release of dangerous gases, officials have increasingly targeted Norfolk Southern for criticism.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg sent a letter Sunday to Norfolk CEO Alan Shaw, warning that the rail company must “demonstrate unequivocal support for the people” of East Palestine and surrounding areas. He urged Norfolk to support stronger railroad safety rules.
“This is the right time for Norfolk Southern to take a leadership position within the rail industry, shifting to a posture that focuses on supporting, not thwarting, efforts to raise the standard of U.S. rail safety regulation,” Buttigieg wrote.
Shaw visited East Palestine on Saturday, after the company faced criticism for not sending representatives to a community meeting earlier last week.
Norfolk Southern said in a statement Friday that it was “committed to coordinating the cleanup project and paying for its associated costs.”
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