WASHINGTON (WV News) — During a press briefing on Thursday, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito spoke at length about the recent train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, which has dumped harmful chemicals into both the air and the Ohio River.
Capito said she’s been in “constant contact” with her counterparts in Ohio since the Feb. 2 derailment, as well as the EPA, West Virginia DEP and more.
“We know from experience that chemical spills into the water are extremely alarming,” Capito said. “To think that your groundwater or drinking water has a chemical in it that’s considered unsafe for drinking is very concerning, and I think the situation in the clean up of this is something that’s going to be going on for years. … There’s going to be a question as we move forward about the groundwater.”
Based on testing so far, the amount of unsafe chemicals from the spill in West Virginia water sources is well below what would be considered dangerous, and officials said this week that what chemicals are there will likely flow out of the state by the end of the weekend.
However, Capito said that while this news is good, it’s not an excuse to rest on one’s laurels.
“(The results don’t) mean that things are going to stay that way, and it doesn’t mean that things have been comprehensively tested, either,” Capito said. “It does affect us in West Virginia, and we’re closely involved with this to make sure that West Virginians in particular are safe, and we’re hoping that everything in Ohio can come to a conclusion with some certainty, as well.”
Capito added that the Senate is discussing how to formulate a hearing regarding the ecological impact of the disaster, during which she would like affected residents, representatives from the Ohio Department of Protection and health officials to testify.
There’s also the commerce side of the equation, Capito said, adding that she’d like to hear from representatives from Norfolk Southern – the company that owned the derailed train – as well as other train companies, engineers and the United States Department of Transportation to discuss the accident’s cause and how dangerous chemicals should be properly transported to prevent a similar disaster in the future.
While she hopes to have hearings scheduled within a month, there’s not a set timeline yet.
“We want to make sure we’re not interfering with the immediate problem by calling people in for testimony,” Capito said.
She added that Norfolk Southern will undoubtedly be held accountable for what happened.
“Norfolk Southern will pay for this, both monetarily and in other ways,” Capito said. “That is a given, and if they don’t, the powers that be, Congress or otherwise, will come in with a heavy hand. … Any time you put profits above safety, that’s the direct opposite of where it should be. I’m not saying that’s the case here. I don’t know that. It’s something we need to look at. …
“I do know that the railroads came out very shorthanded after COVID. They laid some people off and lost some employees, and they’re having trouble recovering. … There’s definitely some unrest within the railroads, but essentially, a large accident like this doesn’t help any company. It’s not in their best interest to cut corners.”
Capito further noted that she’s been active on rail safety issues throughout her political career, and she believes some changes in regulations can be made in Washington, D.C., to prevent further accidents.