(NewsNation) — President Joe Biden will visit the site of a train derailment that spilled hazardous chemicals in East Palestine, Ohio, in February, according to a senior administration official.
During the visit on a yet-to-be-announced date, Biden will meet with residents impacted by the Feb. 3, 2023, crash and subsequent chemical burn.
The official says it’s in effort to demonstrate continued commitment to holding Norfolk Southern Railway responsible for the crash and its effects.
Some 1,500 residents were told to evacuate. Fearing an explosion, officials decided to vent and burn five tank cars, releasing 116,000 gallons of the carcinogen vinyl chloride into the air.
Minutes later, a toxic plume of smoke smothered the region.
However, three days later, the Environmental Protection Agency said it had not detected contaminants at “levels of concern” and gave the all-clear for residents to return.
Residents of East Palestine complained of rashes and sickness. They’ve also criticized the government for downplaying their concerns that their community is no longer safe to live in.
In Sept. 2023, Biden issued an executive order that directed the Federal Emergency Management Agency to appoint a Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator to oversee long-term recovery efforts.
However, nearly one year later, tensions remain high between residents and government officials.
Politicians swooped into town, including former President Donald Trump. Current President Joe Biden was not one of them, even though he previously said he would do so “at some point.”
The discovery of chemicals in the creeks of East Palestine, including Leslie Run, undercut the administration’s PR and messaging. NewsNation investigative correspondent Rich McHugh and resident Rick Tsai, now running for Congress, went to Leslie Run, where a rainbow-colored sheen appeared when the ground was stirred up.
