Biden administration considering penalties for Ohio rail disaster
The Biden administration said Friday it was considering enacting civil penalties for rail operator Norfolk Southern following a train disaster in Ohio that led to an environmental crisis.
Senior administration officials told Politico that the White House was considering a "legally binding order to ensure the company pays for cleanup costs" for the wreckage of a freight train in East Palestine, Ohio. The train derailed on Feb. 3, putting the small town at risk of toxic gases and other environmental problems due to the burning of hazardous materials being transported.
The town was evacuated in the immediate aftermath of the derailment, however, a risk may still remain to those in the area. In particular, one of the materials involved, vinyl chloride, "is a flammable gas and if involved in a fire, it could break down into hydrogen chloride, phosgene, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide vapors when burned," the Environmental Protection Agency said.
Resident Amanda Greathouse told CNN that she had "a rash on my skin and my arm, and my eyes were burning for a few days after that."
https://www.yahoo.com/news/biden-administration-considering-penalties-ohio-162925488.html
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