EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — President Joe Biden sipped on tap water and drank coffee brewed from local beans during his visit to East Palestine on Friday, one year after a Norfolk Southern train derailed and spilled hazardous chemicals.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was questioned about whether Biden would drink the local tap water prior to his visit. During Thursday’s press briefing, Jean-Pierre asserted that “the president has no concerns with drinking” the water in the small Ohio town.
The White House said the water and coffee Biden drank was local tap water.
BIDEN GETS FROSTY EAST PALESTINE WELCOME DURING ‘LONG-AWAITED’ TRIP A YEAR AFTER TRAIN DERAILMENT
East Palestine residents and leaders have expressed outrage at the Biden administration over its delayed response to the disaster.
Biden has long promised to travel to East Palestine after the Feb. 3, 2023, crash but angered Mayor Trent Conaway with his decision to go to Ukraine instead for the first anniversary of Russia‘s invasion. The White House has insisted that this trip is only now happening after receiving another invitation from Conway to visit.
In a February letter, the Environmental Protection Agency notified Norfolk Southern Railway Company of the presence of five hazardous chemicals found in the air, soil, and water near the crash site. The EPA has removed more than 176,000 tons of hazardous waste and treated or removed around 49 million gallons of water, rainfall, and snowmelt.
In September, Biden issued an executive order directing the federal government to hold Norfolk Southern to account and ensure East Palestine had access to federal assistance for needs “not met by Norfolk Southern,” according to the White House.
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During his visit, Biden announced that his administration was awarding the National Institutes of Health with six grants to research universities to look into “the short- and long-term impacts” of the hazardous spill from the derailment.
The president also visited with first responders in nearby Darlington, Pennsylvania, who helped with the immediate response and cleanup following the Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine.
