Biden administration officials privately acknowledged cancer risks from the East Palestine train derailment while publicly assuring residents the area was safe.
At a Glance
- A Norfolk Southern train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio in February 2023, releasing vinyl chloride and other harmful substances
- Internal communications revealed officials discussed potential “cancer clusters” while publicly declaring the area safe
- Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg faced bipartisan criticism for his delayed response to the crisis
- The federal government eventually settled with Norfolk Southern for $310 million to address community harms
- Watchdog groups criticized the administration for flawed testing methods and inadequate monitoring of air and water quality
Federal Response Under Fire
The Biden administration faced intense criticism over handling the February 2023 Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The disaster, which involved approximately 50 freight cars carrying toxic chemicals including carcinogenic vinyl chloride, prompted evacuations and sparked fears of widespread contamination. Despite EPA Administrator Michael Regan’s visit to assure residents about air and water safety, Republican and Democratic lawmakers condemned the administration’s slow response to the crisis.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg became a focal point of criticism for his delayed visit to the disaster site. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas declared, “What happened in East Palestine is unacceptable,” while West Virginia Democratic Senator Joe Manchin called the two-week delay before a senior administration official arrived “unacceptable.” The White House maintained confidence in Buttigieg despite the growing backlash, with Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre defending the administration’s actions.
Cancer Concerns Concealed
Documents obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests revealed a troubling discrepancy between the administration’s public statements and private communications. While officials publicly reassured residents about their safety, internal messages acknowledged the potential for serious health consequences. James McPherson, a federal official involved in the response, stated in these communications that “the occurrence of a cancer-cluster in EP [East Palestine] is not zero,” directly contradicting public statements.
“Because there have been so many missteps, you can understand that the public is skeptical.”, said David Masur.
EPA Administrator Michael Regan publicly stated that “ongoing science-based reviews show that residents of East Palestine are not in danger from contaminated drinking water, soil, or air from the derailment.” However, watchdog groups criticized the administration for using flawed testing methods and inappropriate equipment to monitor air and water quality. Emails obtained from government officials revealed ongoing discussions about identifying cancer clusters in the area a full year after the incident, suggesting long-term health concerns remained a significant worry.
Delayed Federal Assistance
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s initial request for federal assistance was denied, further fueling criticism of the administration’s response. The Department of Health and Human Services and the CDC eventually deployed teams for public health testing, but many residents and officials felt the response came too late. Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio reported that “the president is all in on getting FEMA to provide direct assistance and is all-in on holding Norfolk Southern accountable.”
“While I am glad EPA Administrator Regan will visit the site today, it is unacceptable that it took nearly two weeks for a senior Administration official to show up. I urge President Biden, Administrator Regan, and Transportation Secretary Buttigieg to provide a complete picture of the damage and a comprehensive plan to ensure the community is supported in the weeks, months and years to come, and this sort of accident never happens again.”, said West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin.
The federal government ultimately reached a $310 million settlement with Norfolk Southern to address the harms caused to the Ohio community. While the railroad company committed to covering clean-up costs, residents remained concerned about the long-term health implications of exposure to toxic chemicals.
The incident raised essential questions about railroad safety regulations, emergency response protocols, and government transparency during environmental disasters, especially as President Biden has previously linked his cancer diagnosis to toxic exposure.
