Gov. Mike DeWine (R-OH) called for Norfolk Southern, whose train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, last month, to start a fund for healthcare bills for the town’s residents.
DeWine said Thursday that a multimillion-dollar healthcare fund needs to be set up for residents who experience health problems in the future that can be connected to the recent toxic train derailment.
OHIO TRAIN DERAILMENT: BIDEN SAYS HE’LL VISIT EAST PALESTINE ‘AT SOME POINT’
“I think where this clearly goes … to assure people that their concerns about the long run will in fact be taken care of — a year from now, five years from now, 10 years from now — we’ll have to end up with a fund, and the railroad is going to have to establish that fund in conjunction with officials,” DeWine told Fox & Friends. “Ultimately, that will be supervised by a court.”
The derailment caused thousands to evacuate the town and its surrounding area, and many residents who have since returned have reported health problems, including sore throats, lightheadedness, dizziness, fatigue, and respiratory problems. Workers cleaning up the derailment site have also reported symptoms.
Residents have also expressed fear that long-term health problems could arise in the future due to the air quality in the town. Residents have additionally been concerned about chemicals possibly contaminating the town’s water, but the Environmental Protection Agency reassured residents that the water is safe to drink after finding no contaminants in the water it tested.
DeWine noted that the disaster will likely cost Norfolk Southern millions of dollars and that the company will be forced to set up the healthcare fund if it does not do so voluntarily.
“If you look at what has happened in other rail and other big environmental disasters, some much, much bigger than this, it always goes to a fund. That’s how you protect people,” DeWine said.
DeWine added that the railroad company has already received several class-action lawsuits and will likely end up in federal court over the disaster.
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A group of bipartisan lawmakers introduced legislation that seeks to improve railroad safety on Wednesday. The legislation would require rail carriers to notify state emergency response officials if they are carrying hazardous materials and ensure that each train is operated by a team of at least two people.
The bill would also require increased monitoring of rail car wheel bearings, which transportation officials say likely caused the Ohio derailment.
