(TSN): The federal government is on the defensive following a train derailment in East Palestine, OH earlier this month. Agencies from the Department of Transportation to the Environmental Protection Agency to FEMA were underfire with claims of an insufficient response as residents were impacted by poisons from the accident. The response has been compared to Hurricane Katrina failures. However, FEMA and the other pertinent agencies have acted.
A White House Official provided the following breakdown of an abridged timeline. of the Federal Government’s response. This timeline does not include all activities. . . .
Friday, February 3
10:53 PM ET: Norfolk Southern reports derailment to the National Response Center
Saturday, February 4
1 AM ET – Multiple Federal teams start arriving at the derailment site, including:
Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) personnel
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5 Federal On-Scene Coordinators
EPA Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START) personnel
7 AM ET – Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region 5 reaches out to Ohio Emergency Management to discuss potential needs
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) launches investigation
DOT provides Initial Incident Notification to members of Ohio congressional delegation and relevant committees
EPA deploys real-time air monitoring instruments in 12 locations surrounding fire and in neighboring community.
Sunday, February 5
White House reaches out to Governor DeWine’s office to offer additional Federal assistance
FEMA Region 5 Administrator Tom Sivak speaks with Ohio Emergency Management Executive Director about the incident.
Monday, February 6
White House reaches out Mayor Trent Conaway and Village Manager Office by phone.
President Biden calls Governors DeWine and Shapiro to receive update on derailment and offer additional Federal assistance.
Tuesday, February 7
Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall briefs Senator Sherrod Brown on the ongoing incident response and Federal efforts to monitor and mitigate potential risks.
EPA deploys state-of-the-art ASPECT plane for aerial air monitoring after controlled burn to screen for potential air hazards
Thursday, February 9
EPA briefs OH and PA members most impacted by the derailment
Secretary Buttigieg calls Norfolk CEO Alan Shaw, discusses train derailment
Monday, February 13
EPA briefs Senator Sen. Vance office on incident response
EPA briefs Governor DeWine’s office on incident response
EPA briefs Governor Shapiro’s office on incident response
Secretary Buttigieg speaks with Governor Josh Shapiro (D-PA) on train derailment
Tuesday, February 14
White House reaches out to Mayor Trent Conaway and Village Manager Office by phone.
EPA holds congressional briefing with Committees of jurisdiction and regional members offices
DOT PHMSA reaches out to Ohio Emergency Management Agency to offer any additional federal assistance
Wednesday, February 15
Representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture participate in a roundtable discussion with members of the Ohio state delegation on impacts of the train derailment.
White House reaches out to Mayor Trent Conaway and Village Manager Office by phone.
White House offers resources and support to Columbia County Commission President Mike Halleck.
EPA Administrator Regan speaks with Governor DeWine over the phone
EPA and CDC brief Senate HELP Committee Majority staff
EPA Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore visits site and attends community meeting
EPA Regional Administrator Shore briefs Senator Capito on incident response.
Thursday, February 16
EPA Administrator Regan visits the derailment site
Senior White House officials speak with Governor DeWine on need for additional Federal assistance; Governor DeWine requests additional public health support
White House announces it will deploy CDC to East Palestine in response to Governor’s request
EPA holds congressional briefing with Committees of jurisdiction and regional member offices
Secretary Buttigieg speaks with Governor Mike DeWine
Friday, February 17
Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall briefs Senator Sherrod Brown on FEMA’s imminent deployment of a Senior Response Official and Regional Incident Management Assistance Team. White House Legislative Affairs follow-up on FEMA deployment with Ohio and Pennsylvania delegations.
Senator Brown, FEMA, and Governor DeWine announce deployment of FEMA personnel to East Palestine to assess additional needs.
White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs hosts a briefing for municipal and legislative leaders with EPA, DOT, and NTSB.
White House reaches out to Mayor Trent Conaway and Village Manager Office.
Saturday, February 18
EPA holds congressional briefing with Committees of jurisdiction and regional members offices
Secretary Buttigieg calls Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw, discusses train derailment
Monday, February 20
EPA Administrator Regan calls Governor DeWine, Governor Shapiro, and Rep. Johnson
Secretary Buttigieg calls Senator Brown, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy, Senator Casey, Governor Shapiro, and other state leaders. Attempts to reach Governor DeWine.
Secretary Buttigieg sends letter to Norfolk Southern CEO on railroad industry pattern of resisting safety measures
FEMA Region 5 Administrator Tom Sivak arrives in East Palestine to support incident operations
FEMA Mobile Emergency Operations Vehicle arrives on scene to provide secure communications capability and expand available office space
Tuesday, February 21
President Biden makes five calls from Warsaw to receive an update on EPA’s latest actions to hold Norfolk Southern accountable and reaffirm full support of Federal government. Calls were made to:
EPA Administrator Michael Regan
Senator Sherrod Brown
Governor Mike DeWine
Governor Josh Shapiro
Congressman Bill Johnson
EPA Administrator Regan joins Governor DeWine, Governor Shapiro, and Mayor in East Palestine, issues administrative order requiring Norfolk Southern to cover all cleanup costs, and announces transition from “emergency response” phase to long-term remediation
Secretary Buttigieg calls for a three-pronged push to hold the freight rail industry accountable and improve safety.
EPA and CDC hold congressional briefing with Committees of jurisdiction and regional member offices
EPA holds a congressional briefing for PA Delegation
Wednesday, February 22
FRA Administrator Amit Bose and PHMSA Deputy Administrator Tristan Brown visit derailment site for inspection and update on investigation
Secretary Buttigieg calls with Governor DeWine, Sen. Brown, Rep. Johnson, and East Palestine Mayor
EPA, NTSB, CDC, DOT brief Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation and Environment and Public Works
Thursday, February 23
Secretary Buttigieg visits East Palestine to meet with emergency responders, DOT investigators, and community leaders, including mayor and fire chief
NTSB issues initial factual findings
Friday, February 24
President Biden receives an update on the Federal government’s response to the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, OH from Transportation Secretary Buttigieg, EPA Administrator Regan, HHS Secretary Becerra, and FEMA Administrator Criswell
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