National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said the federal investigative panel is considering Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer‘s request to probe safety regulations at all the major rail companies.
The request from Schumer, D-N.Y., followed a Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, that leaked hazardous chemicals into the community’s air, soil and water in early February. The NTSB is currently investigating Norfolk Southern as part of the derailment inquiry.
Schumer sent a letter to Homendy last week urging the board to expand its investigation to all Class I railroads, including giants like BNSF Railway, CSX and Canadian Pacific, with the goal of improving rail safety across the country.