Posted on Jun 26, 2023
NTSB hearing casts doubt on decision to vent and burn derailed East Palestine train
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The first panel of the National Transportation Safety Board's investigative hearings on February's train derailment in East Palestine examined hazard communications, emergency responder preparedness and the decision to vent and burn vinyl chloride in five tanker cars.
In questioning a panel of emergency responders who were at the scene of the derailment, issues in emergency and hazard communication continued to arise, as well as a need for more and better training for firefighters.
“Communication is always an issue for us," East Palestine Fire Chief Keith Drabick said. "Our dispatch center for example has one dispatcher on at any given time, that's it."
Questioning also surrounded the use of apps like AskRail, which provide first responders information on what freight rail trains are carrying.
"My understanding is a lot of first responders do not have the AskRail app, which I'm sure that this is going to change that," Marc Dougherty with the NTSB said.
In questioning a panel of emergency responders who were at the scene of the derailment, issues in emergency and hazard communication continued to arise, as well as a need for more and better training for firefighters.
“Communication is always an issue for us," East Palestine Fire Chief Keith Drabick said. "Our dispatch center for example has one dispatcher on at any given time, that's it."
Questioning also surrounded the use of apps like AskRail, which provide first responders information on what freight rail trains are carrying.
"My understanding is a lot of first responders do not have the AskRail app, which I'm sure that this is going to change that," Marc Dougherty with the NTSB said.
NTSB hearing casts doubt on decision to vent and burn derailed East Palestine train
Posted from wvxu.org
Hazmat
Chemicals
Safety
Posted 10 mo ago
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This situation was horrible on many levels. Directly, the vent and burn was ridiculous. You could have vented and burned the ones that were actually actively on fire and moved the others away to be pumped into another container.
The environmental impact will be felt for years.
Secretary Pete avoiding the area for far too long, showed what the administrations lack of priorities are/were. The government response was absolutely horrible as well.
The environmental impact will be felt for years.
Secretary Pete avoiding the area for far too long, showed what the administrations lack of priorities are/were. The government response was absolutely horrible as well.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Polymerization would have caused the tanker cars to rise in temperature, but data from before the vent and burn occurred show temperatures dropping. However, Norfolk Southern officials and its contractor say the temperatures were inaccurate, since it was not safe for responders to get close enough to cars to get accurate readings.
"It's conclusive to all of us that polymerization was not going on in that car," Thomas said, "and the location where they were taking the temperature on the skin is valid enough to draw that conclusion."
The hearing revealed that Drabick, who was in charge of making the final decision on venting and burning, was not made aware of OxyVinyls' assessment.
“I believe any information you have is power," Drabick said, "and the more information you have the better prepared you are to make decisions.” He added that he regrets not knowing this information at that time.
Officials from Norfolk Southern and its contractor maintain that the vent and burn was the only option due to the severity of damage to the tanker cars and that polymerization was not the only reason behind this decision. Several officials, including Drew McCarty with Specialized Professional Services Inc., a contractor for Norfolk Southern, said they saw physical characteristics of polymerization when the explosion from the vent and burn occurred.
"It was not a clear liquid. It was more of a whiteish color, so that was our speculation at the time," McCarty said. "And that's what we felt was happening the whole weekend."
It is unlikely to see polymerization during a vent and burn, Carroll said.
The NTSB hearings continue through Friday with panels on wheel bearings and rail tank car safety."
..."Polymerization would have caused the tanker cars to rise in temperature, but data from before the vent and burn occurred show temperatures dropping. However, Norfolk Southern officials and its contractor say the temperatures were inaccurate, since it was not safe for responders to get close enough to cars to get accurate readings.
"It's conclusive to all of us that polymerization was not going on in that car," Thomas said, "and the location where they were taking the temperature on the skin is valid enough to draw that conclusion."
The hearing revealed that Drabick, who was in charge of making the final decision on venting and burning, was not made aware of OxyVinyls' assessment.
“I believe any information you have is power," Drabick said, "and the more information you have the better prepared you are to make decisions.” He added that he regrets not knowing this information at that time.
Officials from Norfolk Southern and its contractor maintain that the vent and burn was the only option due to the severity of damage to the tanker cars and that polymerization was not the only reason behind this decision. Several officials, including Drew McCarty with Specialized Professional Services Inc., a contractor for Norfolk Southern, said they saw physical characteristics of polymerization when the explosion from the vent and burn occurred.
"It was not a clear liquid. It was more of a whiteish color, so that was our speculation at the time," McCarty said. "And that's what we felt was happening the whole weekend."
It is unlikely to see polymerization during a vent and burn, Carroll said.
The NTSB hearings continue through Friday with panels on wheel bearings and rail tank car safety."
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