Residents of East Palestine, Ohio, frustrated by the derailment of a commercial train, gathered yesterday, Wednesday, in the school gym to find answers to questions about whether they are protected from toxic chemicals that were released or burned.

Hundreds of concerned citizens gathered to hear government officials tell them, as before, that the tests showed the air was safe to breathe, and promised that air and water safety checks would continue.

However, residents had many questions about the health risks and demanded more transparency from Norfolk Southern, which did not attend the rally, citing concerns about the safety of its staff.

“They just avoided questions,” said Danielle Deal, who lives about five kilometers from the crash site. “Norfolk should have been here.”

Norfolk Southern said in a statement that it did not participate in Wednesday’s open meeting with local, state and federal officials due to “the growing threat to our employees and members of the community associated with this event.”

Deal called it a pretext and noted the severity of the incident.

Dill and her two children left home to stay with her mother, about 20 kilometers away. “From there, we could even see the mushroom cloud, crystal clear,” he said.

Wednesday’s meeting came amid ongoing concerns about huge plumes of smoke, persistent odors, questions about potential threats to pets and wildlife, possible impacts on drinking water, and what’s going on with cleanup.

Although schools and trains have resumed, people are worried.

“Why are they silent?” Kathy Dyke said about the company. “They are not here to support, they are not here to answer questions. For three days we didn’t even know what was on the train.”

“I have three grandchildren,” he said. “Are they going to grow up and get cancer in five years? All these parameters stun me.”

Residents in and around East Palestine said they needed the financial support the railroad had offered to hundreds of families evacuated from the area, and also wanted to know if it would be held responsible for what happened.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost told Norfolk Southern on Wednesday that his office is considering legal action against the rail operator.

“The pollution that continues to contaminate the area around East Palestine has created inconvenience, damaged natural resources and caused environmental problems,” Yost said in a letter to the company.

The state’s EPA said Wednesday that the latest tests show water from five wells that supply the village with drinking water is free of contaminants. However, the agency also recommends checking private wells as they are closer to the surface.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources estimated that the spill affected more than 11.2 km of streams and killed about 3,500 fish, mostly juveniles.

There have been no confirmed deaths of wildlife, including livestock, according to government officials.

Norfolk Southern announced Tuesday it is creating a $1 million fund to help the community of about 4,700 residents as it continues restoration work, including removing spills from soil and streams and monitoring air quality.

The number of residents eligible for compensation for the costs of evacuating the area will also be expanded, covering the entire village and the surrounding area.

“We will be judged by our actions,” said Norfolk Southern President and CEO Alan Shaw. “We are cleaning up the site in an environmentally responsible manner, compensating residents affected by the crash, and working with community members to determine what is needed for East Palestine to rebuild and prosper.”

Fortunately, no one was hurt when about 50 wagons derailed on February 3, creating a fiery mess on the outskirts of Eastern Palestine. As fears of a possible explosion grew, officials trying to prevent an uncontrolled explosion evacuated the area and decided to release and burn the toxic vinyl chloride from five railroad cars, sending flames and black smoke back into the sky.

The cause of the derailment is believed to be a mechanical problem with the wagon axle, and authorities have said there is a video showing a wheel bearing overheating shortly before the incident. Authorities also said they expect a preliminary report in about two weeks.

However, misinformation and exaggerations are circulating online, with state and federal officials repeatedly reassuring that air monitoring has found nothing to cause further concern.

But even low levels of pollutants not considered dangerous can cause persistent odors or symptoms such as headaches, the Ohio state health director said Tuesday.

Precautions are also being taken to ensure that contaminants that have reached the Ohio River do not end up in drinking water.

Source: Associated Press.