The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced plans on Tuesday for an audit of the agency’s response to the 2023 Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, when hazardous chemicals spilled and were burned.
It follows a request in August by Vice President JD Vance and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin that the EPA Office of Inspector General (OIG) conduct a comprehensive investigation into the response to the Feb. 3, 2023, train derailment.
Assistant Inspector General Katherine Trimble announced the audit in a letter on Oct. 27.
The first objective is to determine the EPA’s responsibilities after the derailment and the actions the agency took to carry them out, Trimble said….