(FixThisNation.com) – The Biden administration and specifically Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has been heavily criticized by people across the political spectrum for their reaction to the Ohio train carrying toxic chemicals which derailed.
On February 3rd, 50 carriages of a Norfolk Southern train were derailed in East Palestine. As a result, a large fire broke out, with smoke engulfing the surrounding area including the Ohio village. Following the train disaster residents were told to evacuate the area.
The train was transporting vinyl chloride, which when aflame releases toxic gasses, including phosgene and hydrogen chloride. These two can cause irritation and tissue corrosion.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in a February 13 update said that following the derailment of the train they have not detected vinyl chloride or hydrogen chloride in the air which would mean it is safe for the residents of the village to return.
The derailment did not lead to any injuries, but there are worries about the effects of the chemical spillage on the environment, soil, and surface water which may have gotten contaminated.
Buttigieg has received a lot of criticism from both sides as he did not publicly address the train derailment, even though he had an appearance at the annual National Association of Counties conference in which he focused on the infrastructure investments made by the Biden administration.
Progressive Democrat Nina Turner, a former Ohio state senator, and congressional candidate shared a clip of Buttigieg talking about the balloon but failing to mention the situation in Ohio, noting that “We deserve better than this.”
Copyright 2023, FixThisNation.com
