Biden issues executive order over Ohio train derailment
- Biden directs FEMA to appoint a Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator
- He announced new steps to ensure Norfolk Southern meets 'obligations'
- Biden also asked for a report on status of air, soil and water monitoring
FILE – In this photo taken with a drone, portions of a Norfolk Southern freight train that derailed the previous night in East Palestine, Ohio, remain on fire at mid-day, Feb. 4, 2023. Norfolk Southern says the owner of the rail car that caused the fiery Ohio derailment in February failed to properly maintain it in the years before the crash, and the railroad wants to make sure that company and the owners of the other cars involved pay their fair share of the costs. The railroad filed a complaint Friday, June 30, against all the car owners and shippers responsible for the hazardous chemicals that spilled in the derailment. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
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EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (NewsNation) — President Joe Biden issued an executive order to protect the residents of East Palestine, Ohio, and hold railroad operator Norfolk Southern accountable over a freight train derailment earlier this year.
The order is meant “to ensure that Norfolk Southern continues to be held accountable for this disaster, to address any of the disaster’s long-term effects, and to ensure federal assistance is available to affected communities should needs develop that are not met by Norfolk Southern,” the White House said.
Biden directed FEMA to designate a Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator to oversee long-term recovery efforts. He also announced new steps to ensure Norfolk Southern continues meeting “its obligations to the community.”
Biden said the FEMA administrator can submit a recommendation if certain needs aren’t being addressed by Norfolk Southern.
He’s also asked for a report on the status of air, soil and water monitoring within the next 30 days.
“Moving forward, EPA will provide the President with an updated report every 60 days until all cleanup, assessment, and monitoring work required by EPA’s Order has been completed,” the White House said.
Biden did not, however, approve a major disaster declaration that was requested by Gov. Mike DeWine earlier this year. It’s been one of the main demands from residents who say the federal government isn’t doing enough to help them.
Instead, the White House will hold open the request while the other reviews are conducted.
“If the FEMA Administrator receives new information from the State, including needs that are not being addressed by Norfolk Southern, she will immediately submit a recommendation on whether a major disaster declaration is warranted,” the executive order states.
