Under scrutiny for what Republicans and Democrats are calling a slow response to the fiery Norfolk Southern Railway train derailment on Feb. 3 in eastern Ohio, Secretary of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg sent a letter on Feb. 19 to the railroad’s CEO demanding that the company “demonstrate unequivocal support for the people” of East Palestine as the village continues to recover from the disaster.
Buttigieg’s letter was sent shortly after Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw visited East Palestine on Feb. 17.
“Norfolk Southern must live up to its commitment to make residents whole – and must also live up to its obligation to do whatever it takes to stop putting communities such as East Palestine at risk,” Buttigieg wrote. “This is the right time for Norfolk Southern to take a leadership position within the rail industry, shifting to a posture that focuses on supporting, not thwarting, efforts to raise the standard of U.S. rail safety regulation.”…