EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (NewsNation) — The National Transportation Safety Board found that Norfolk Southern failed to disclose critical information after a train derailment that upended the lives of those in East Palestine, Ohio.

The NTSB held its final meeting at East Palestine High School to discuss why the train derailed and address the release of toxic chemicals into the atmosphere. It’s also expected to address recommendations to prevent future disasters.

The board found that an overheated wheel bearing caused the derailment and that the controlled vent and burn that released toxic chemicals into the air, soil and water was unnecessary.

The NTSB said that Norfolk Southern had withheld important safety information from first responders who were tasked with figuring out how to deal with the derailed train that included freight cars full of potentially dangerous chemicals.

The agency also said executives from Norfolk Southern attempted to pressure investigators into changing the findings and issued scathing comments on unattended sensors that should have detected the overheated bearing.

A list of safety recommendations proposed by the NTSB included more training for volunteer firefighters, better guidance for venting and burning toxic chemicals and federal rules and standards for trackside detectors and how railway companies respond to alerts.

Residents claim they’re losing their health and homes while Norfolk Southern faces minimal consequences.

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy hosted the meeting, opening with an apology to the East Palestine community on behalf of NTSB.

“The absence of a fatality or injury does not mean the presence of safety,” Homendy said.

Michael Graham, a board member who was on the scene after the derailment, said the NTSB’s work would not end after it makes recommendations to prevent future derailments.

“We will continue to pursue and advocate for these safety recommendations until each one is implemented,” he said.

The NTSB’s final report on the derailment won’t be published for several weeks; however, the agency said it will release an executive summary after Tuesday’s meeting. It follows new data that shows 16 states across the country were impacted by fumes burned in the small Ohio town.

Trackside sensor didn’t catch burning rail bearing

The NTSB made the announcement during its final meeting at East Palestine High School while discussing why the train derailed and addressed the release of toxic chemicals into the atmosphere.

The NTSB said early on that an overheated bearing on one of the railcars that was not caught in time by trackside sensors likely caused the crash. Investigative hearings have since highlighted other possible contributors including widespread rail job cuts and rushed inspections. Investigators also delved into why officials chose to deliberately blow open the vinyl chloride cars and burn what is a key ingredient for making PVC pipes.

On Tuesday, NTSB board members confirmed that a trackside detector in Salem, Ohio, failed to accurately detect the overheated rail car bearing that was on fire some 20 miles before the fiery train derailment in East Palestine last year. They further said that firefighters didn’t get the details of what was on the train for more than an hour after the derailment.

Board members said there are no standards for how railroads should respond to bearing failure alarms. The NTSB staff said they would recommend that the Federal Railroad Administration establish rules governing railroad responses to the alarms. Though NTSB recommendations aren’t binding, Congress may be willing to enforce some of them because of the spotlight cast on rail safety by the crash.

‘It should never have occurred’: NTSB chair

Dozens of freight cars derailed Feb. 3, 2023, on the outskirts of East Palestine near the Pennsylvania border, including 11 carrying hazardous materials. Residents evacuated as fears grew about a potential explosion, and officials intentionally released and burned toxic vinyl chloride from five rail cars, sending flames and black smoke into the air despite the potential health effects.

NewsNation’s chief investigative reporter Rich McHugh asked Homendy if the venting and burning of tanker cars after the crash was necessary.

“That’s going to be answered (Tuesday),” Homendy said.

When asked about her biggest concern after spending a year and a half investigating the incident, Homendy said, “It should never have occurred. I said this from day one. It was 100% preventable. It was 100% preventable. It should never have occurred in the first place.”

Residents still seeking answers

Homendy held a community meeting for residents Monday, where they thanked her and the NTSB for its investigation. However, they emphasized that the NTSB couldn’t help the community with some of their biggest concerns.

Residents claim they’re losing their health and homes while Norfolk Southern faces minimal consequences.

The community is desperately seeking answers regarding their homes, new vinyl chloride findings in town, lack of health care access and the proposed civil class-action lawsuit against Norfolk Southern, with the signing deadline just a week away, among other issues.

“This is not just an East Palestine issue; you see 16 states. Not only should people be concerned because it spread to 16 states, but that it happened at all. This could have been any American’s backyard that this happened in and they’d be treating you the same way,” said East Palestine resident Jami Wallace.

Norfolk Southern denied the accusations, stating they “cooperated fully and ethically with the investigation, with full transparency”:

“At all times, Norfolk Southern cooperated fully and ethically with the investigation, with full transparency. Our communications with NTSB staff and Board Members were always motivated by a desire to ensure they had all the relevant information for their independent evaluation and by a shared commitment to advance rail safety.”

Norfolk Southern said in a statement to NewsNation.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.