Rep. McNally Statement on NTSB East Palestine Findings

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Lauren McNally (D-Youngstown) today issued a statement regarding the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) meeting in East Palestine on the Norfolk Southern Train Derailment with Subsequent Hazmat Release & Fires. The presentation of findings and recommendations from NTSB investigative staff were made available to the public for the first time.

“The information shared with the public for the first time can be a lot to digest and can certainly resurface the anger and frustration many have felt for more than a year since the train derailment. My office has marked this day on our calendars since we first learned the findings were coming and now have several follow-up meetings planned with stakeholders following this report,” said Rep. McNally. “As a state lawmaker, one of my top priorities has been making the people of East Palestine whole, now and for their lifetimes, as well as making sure this situation never happens again. It’s in that spirit, it’s not lost on me how several of the recommendations from the NTSB are items Ohio House Democrats have worked hard to implement on many different occasions, either through budgets or as stand-alone bills. Unfortunately, they continue to get sidelined. This is unacceptable. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle need to understand the urgency of these proposals, proposals that are supported by workers, and stand up to the powerful railroads like Norfolk Southern so that we can keep our communities safe.”

Alongside her Democratic colleagues in the Ohio House of Representatives, Rep. McNally sent a letter to members of the Ohio House Finance Committee and the Ohio House Transportation Subcommittee of Finance with suggestions for the State Transportation Budget, focused on prevention, safety, and responsiveness. This included historic rail safety improvements such as mandatory two-person crews and wayside detector systems that immediately alert train crews of problems. Two of the six amendments were accepted.  

At the time of Rep. McNally’s statement, the NTSB meeting had not yet concluded, and the recommendations had not yet been adopted by the Board. An executive summary of the recommendations is forthcoming, while the final report may take a few weeks.