Senate committee reveals who'll testify at hearing on East Palestine derailment
WASHINGTON - A U.S. Senate committee has revealed who else besides Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw is scheduled to part in next week’s hearing titled “Protecting Public Health and the Environment in the Wake of the Norfolk Southern Train Derailment and Chemical Release in East Palestine.”
The hearing before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee is scheduled for Thursday, March 9, at 10 a.m. in Washington.
In addition to Ohio’s two senators, Democrat Sherrod Brown and Republican J.D. Vance, Pennsylvania Democrat, Senator Bob Casey is listed to appear.
Topping the bill of those called to testify is Alan Shaw, President and CEO of Norfolk Southern Railroad which owns the railroad where one of their trains derailed, with chemicals catching fire in East Palestine on February 3.
Word of Shaw’s scheduled appearance comes after Senator Chuck Schumer said on the Senate floor that the CEO needs to answer questions about the derailment.
Also scheduled to appear at the hearing is U.S. EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore, who has been speaking at daily briefings being held on the derailment and cleanup efforts in East Palestine.
In addition, those called to appear include Ohio EPA Director Anne Vogel; Richard Harrison, Executive Director and Chief Engineer of the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation commission; and Eric Brewer, Director and Chief of Hazardous Materials Response for the Beaver County, Pennsylvania Department of Emergency Services.
The Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission monitors downstream water quality conditions from the confluence of Little Beaver Creek and the Ohio River through the Organics Detection System which collects and analyzes Ohio River and select tributary samples several times daily for volatile organic compounds to ensure the water supply is suitable for use by downstream users.
The hearing will be conducted by the full committee which is made up of 19 members, including Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders, and Republican Lindsey Graham.
Democrat from Pennsylvania John Fetterman is also committee member, but has been on leave while being treated for depression.
