NTSB criticizes decisions in the Ohio Norfolk Southern derailment, pushes reforms

During Tuesday’s hearing, Homendy said: “I’ll just note how insulting it is that Norfolk Southern just this afternoon released a statement that said that we mischaracterized their vent-and-burn decision making process.”

The NTSB recommended more comprehensive guidance from the Federal Railroad Administration on when vent-and-burn operations should be done.

It also recommended the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration add more hazardous materials to its classification of “high-hazard flammable trains” that are subject to more stringent restrictions on speed, routing, braking and other standards. The Norfolk Southern train that derailed in East Palestine did not meet the definition of a high-hazard flammable train, even though the wreck released hazardous materials and resulted in the evacuation of about 2,000 residents, according to the Federal Railroad Administration.

Others, including U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, renewed calls for stronger rail safety regulations.

Norfolk Southern said since the East Palestine derailment, it has installed 187 more hot bearing detectors, 17 acoustic bearing detectors and three digital train inspection portals.

At the hearing, NTSB investigators presented their findings and the board voted on the findings and recommendations. The final report on the investigation will be published in several weeks.

The NTSB said the delay in transmitting documentation of what the train was carrying last year in East Palestine increased exposure of emergency responders and the public, with firefighters closer to the hazardous fire than recommended — until they got the information and were instructed to evacuate the area.

The U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration this week finalized a rule requiring railroads to provide first responders with information about rail hazmat shipments as soon as they are aware of an accident or incident involving hazardous materials. Norfolk Southern said since the East Palestine derailment, it has deployed real-time access to train consists with information on rail cars.

Among the concerns is the safety of volunteer firefighters who may be as young as 18 years old, according to the NTSB.

An NTSB member who went to East Palestine, a town of about 4,700, after the derailment said he was greeted there by a young volunteer firefighter who “told us about his experiences that night, receiving the call, quickly responding with his friends and fellow volunteer firefighters to protect their community — and the dangers they faced on the scene.”

“Later, the firefighter’s mother surprised us by bringing the NTSB investigative team a crock pot full of homemade sloppy joes, chips and water for lunch,” said NTSB member Michael Graham. “I’ll never forget that.”