Remarks as prepared for delivery
Good morning; we are now in session.
I’m Jennifer Homendy and I’m honored to serve as Chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, or NTSB.
With me today are my Board colleagues: Member Michael Graham and Member Tom Chapman, both of whom participated in the NTSB Investigative Hearing that was held here last June. Member Graham served as the Board Member on scene following the derailment. We are joined by our colleagues, Member Alvin Brown and Member Todd Inman, who joined the agency in March.
For those who are not familiar with the NTSB, we are an independent federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant events in all other modes of transportation, including train derailments.
In accordance with our regulations, NTSB’s accident and incident investigations are conducted to determine the facts, conditions, and circumstances relating to an accident or incident and the probable cause thereof. This information is then used to ascertain measures that would best prevent similar accidents or incidents in the future.
Accident and incident investigations are fact-finding proceedings and are not conducted for the purpose of determining the rights or liabilities of any person.
Today’s meeting is open to the public, in accordance with the Government in the Sunshine Act.
We’re here to discuss the final investigation report of the February 3, 2023, derailment and subsequent hazardous materials release involving Norfolk Southern Railway general merchandise freight train 32N here in East Palestine, Ohio.
The derailment occurred shortly after a hot bearing detector broadcast a critical alarm about a wheel bearing’s temperature. Thirty-eight railcars derailed, 11 of which were transporting hazardous materials.
Three of these hazardous materials tank cars sustained mechanical breaches during the derailment and released flammable or combustible materials; five others released flammable gases as a result of fire exposure or deliberate breaching with explosives to perform a vent and burn procedure.
On behalf of the entire agency, I want to recognize the significant impact this derailment has had on the people of East Palestine, Ohio; Darlington, Pennsylvania; and surrounding areas.
Unfortunately, some have sought to minimize the wide-ranging impacts of this derailment, pointing to the fact that there were no fatalities or injuries. For this, we are certainly grateful, but the absence of a fatality or injury doesn’t mean the presence of safety.
The absence of a fatality or injury doesn’t mean the presence of safety.
The NTSB exists to ensure the presence of safety — to shine light on vulnerabilities that compromise safety.
We don’t wait for death or injury to occur. We bring safety issues to the forefront and make recommendations that, if implemented, would prevent the next train derailment and fire.
So, to the community-at-large: On behalf of the NTSB, we are sorry for all that you’ve endured. Our hearts are with you.
Volunteer mental health clinicians from the American Red Cross and Salvation Army are available throughout today’s proceedings.
Please see Elias Kontanis or Stephanie Matonek from our Transportation Disaster Assistance Division at the back of the room and they will connect you with the appropriate representatives. The support is free and confidential.
Thank you to the Red Cross and Salvation Army for your support.
I also want to thank Chris Neifer, Superintendent of East Palestine City Schools, and the entire staff of East Palestine High School for hosting us once again for this final Board meeting and for all their work and kind words and actions welcoming us to East Palestine during the investigative hearing last June.
I want to thank the East Palestine Police Department; East Palestine Fire and EMS; the Columbiana County Sherriff’s Office; Ohio State Highway Patrol, in particular the Lisbon Post; and Federal Protective Services, Region 5 Chicago for working with us closely since day one of this investigation through our hearing and now this Board meeting.
I also want to thank the numerous police officers, fire fighters, dispatchers, hazmat teams, EMTs, and others who responded to this derailment: 48 entities were involved in the response, including the East Palestine Police Department, the East Palestine Fire Department, and fire departments from neighboring communities and throughout the state, including East Liverpool and Beaver County. Thank you so much for all you do each and every day to ensure safety.
Now, turning back to the report…
Each Board Member has studied the draft report and met individually with the investigative team, but this is the first time we’ve gathered as a Board to discuss the report.
In a moment, the investigative team will walk us through the event, present the pertinent facts and analysis, and summarize their findings in detail.
After their presentations, Board Members will question staff on the key safety issues uncovered during the investigation. These include:
- Wheel bearings failures and detection;
- The initial emergency response;
- Hazardous materials and tank car derailment performance; and
- The vent and burn procedure that was performed by Norfolk Southern and its contractors.
Staff will then propose the relevant findings, probable cause, and safety recommendations for Board consideration.
Following the incorporation of any amendments voted on today, the final report will be available on our website in a few weeks. This allows time for staff to make final edits; however, an abstract will be available immediately.
There are two public dockets for this investigation: one was released prior to the investigative hearing in June 2023 and includes the complete hearing transcripts. The second docket was released on January 25, 2024. Both dockets are available on our website at NTSB.gov.
We held a community meeting last night to discuss our investigative process. Thank you to all those who joined us. We will have another community meeting tonight at 6 p.m., right here in this room to answer questions you may have regarding the proceedings today.
Before we hear from the investigative team, I’d like to invite Member Graham, who again was the Board Member on scene during this investigation, to make a statement. Member Graham, you are recognized for such time as you may consume.
Thank you.
