EAST PALESTINE, Ohio—Promising better communication and transparency, and assuring residents that they are not forgotten, Vice President JD Vance visited East Palestine two years after a Norfolk Southern train derailed and spilled toxic chemicals into the air and ground.
Though officials from federal and state agencies have repeatedly said that tests show that the air and water are safe in East Palestine and surrounding communities, residents are still complaining about a toxic smell in the air, burning eyes, rashes, and headaches, among other health issues.
Norfolk Southern officials also maintain that ongoing environmental testing indicates that the air and water are safe. Many East Palestine residents still say they are uneasy and uncertain about the future and don’t trust federal and state agencies….