As reports of strange objects in the sky dominate the headlines, another potential danger in the air—vinyl chloride and other chemicals released following a Feb. 3 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, near the Pennsylvania border—has received comparatively little publicity, including from some relevant federal authorities.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg did not comment on the incident during a Feb. 13 morning appearance at the National Association of Counties Legislative Conference in Washington, though he did mention the safety risks of “balloons,” to laughter from the audience.
The Department of Transportation’s (DoT) website does not yet have any press releases focused on the derailment. Neither does the website for the DoT’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)….