Buttigieg to visit Ohio's toxic train derailment "when the time is right"

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced Tuesday that he plans to visit the toxic train derailment site in East Palestine, Ohio “when the time is right” as part of an effort to inspect the devastating impact of the incident.

“I am very interested in getting to know the residents of East Palestine, hearing from them about how they’ve been impacted and communicating with them about the steps that we’re taking,” Buttigieg said on a call with reporters. 

Buttigieg added that he had not visited the site because he was following past common practices of transportation secretaries during a major disaster by deferring to the National Safety Transportation Board, the agency responsible for investigating civil transportation accidents. 

“But yes, when the time is right, I do plan to visit East Palestine. I don’t have a date for you right now,” he added.   

During the call, Buttigieg also unveiled new rail reforms in the wake of the incident, including a plan to deploy new inspection technologies, phase in new tank cars, and notify state officials if hazardous chemicals are being transported through the state. 

On Feb. 3, a 150-car train derailed in East Palestine, near the Pennsylvania-Ohio border, causing a fire and damaging several cars that were carrying hazardous chemicals, including vinyl chloride. Authorities ordered nearby residents to evacuate, fearing a possible explosion. 

While the evacuation orders have been lifted, the chemical and other toxic substances have spread into nearby air and water, raising environmental and health concerns.

Since the accident, many residents have complained about headaches and irritated eyes. Others have found several dying or sick pets or wildlife, which they attribute to the hazardous chemicals that spilled from the train. 

Buttigieg has been criticized over his response to the derailment and his failure to visit the site and the town of 4,700 residents. Several critics claim that the Transportation Secretary downplayed the size of the incident after he did not publicly address the toxic derailment until more than ten days after it had occurred.