Train Derailment Response Totally Irresponsible
Dear Editor,
As an environmental scientist, I am sorely disappointed with the state and federal government’s response to the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, and the decision to burn off the contents of the tank cars.
This approach could not have been vetted by any scientific group or board. It was totally irresponsible and has created a panic situation for the citizens of this area. Further, it is never acceptable for the party responsible for the release (Norfolk Southern Railroad) to have their consultants perform the critical testing needed to assure that the release was being mitigated correctly.
The public would never have any acceptance of the results of the testing performed by a non-independent group.
Where are the state and federal agencies? Where were the secretaries of Transportation and the Department of Environmental Protection? Where was the president?
This is the same lack of response from our regulatory groups as with the water crisis in Flint Michigan. The local citizens need information. The EPA has the capabilities to respond to situations such as this, but where are they? Perform the testing, publish the test results and explain what the data means to the citizens of the area.
It is not sufficient to just say “the water is safe.” What about the air quality? You burn vinyl chloride which is a known carcinogen and tell everyone not to worry?
This incident is a great example of the incompetence of the Biden administration in dealing with a crisis. When the citizens have no faith in the government, it is time to replace them with people who have true qualifications to fill the roles that they are given rather than filling positions to meet diversity.
A. Barry Nelson
Well said Mr Nelson!
In addition to the acute incompetence of this administration can be added the chronic incompetence of the permanent bureaucracy. I have come to believe that all bureaucracies exist to serve themselves, creating sinecures and “jam jobs” as my grandfather called them, and use their professed missions only as a pretext to provide themselves with an easy living and a luxurious retirement. As an example, the “public” schools don’t exist to educate our precious children. That’s obvious from their performance. They exist to create jobs – “diversified” 9 months a year Jam Jobs – and Cadillac benefits & retirements. By their own covert criteria they are successful. By their purported and professed mission they are abysmal failures. The status quo continues because they are happy with it. The kids are irrelevant.
It’s the same dynamic with every government entity.
EPA was onsite within 24 hours of the accident. Testing takes massive amount of time and never offers easy answers. The communication from the EPA certainly was a disaster and a big part of the blame for the confusion within the early days of the response. But, end of the day, the disaster response was the responsibility of the Governor who downplayed the situation to the peril of his constituents.
Many lessons to learn from any disaster, but this one has more than most.
Notice how Lyin’ Chris falls over himself to defend government and the public sector (except for the jibe against a GOP Governor).
Always remember this truth: the Left represents the state; the Right represents the people.
Those on the Left support the enrichment and empowerment of the state.
Those on the Right support the liberty and rights of the people.
Chis, regardless of what the gov. says, I will always believe this accident is not an accident. I think we ended up with 3 that weekend. There are too many accidents at chemical plant, oil proccessors and many other industries that affect our economy.
If you are directing these statements to Guilford County or Greensboro rest assure it falls on deaf ears. Everything is solely based on race..period. No different from the incompetent clowns currently in DC.