WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senators got their first chance to ask questions of Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw on Thursday following the train derailment in East Palestine last month.
The response to the derailment saw a multi-state response that included first responders from West Virginia and members of the state's National Guard assist in the days following the controlled release and burn of chemicals.
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito serves as ranking member on the Environment and Public Works Committee and said members will continue to pressure Norfolk Southern throughout the cleanup process.
"He said repeatedly that this is a down payment,” Capito said of Shaw. “Time will tell if this down payment is complete and whether they stop there or fulfill the entire obligation. We are going to hold their feet to the fire and make sure that they do for the promise that citizens around that entire area and in East Palestine are made whole and that they can go back to life as normal and feel safe having a train going throughout their town.”
Ohio Congressman Bill Johnson, who represents
East Palestine, has announced that the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee
on environment, manufacturing and critical materials, which he chairs, will
also be conducting a hearing on the train derailment March 28.