The U.S. Department of Transportation has finalized a new rule requiring freight railroads to alert first responders in the moments following a derailment
about hazardous chemicals onboard.
The rule was made in response to 2023’s Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, where one local fire chief told the National Transportation Safety Board that it took upwards of 45 minutes for his crew to get details on the chemicals that were on board the train. Firefighters from other departments said it took at least two hours for them to get that same information, according to the Associated Press.
When it was all said and done, the derailed cars spilled millions of pounds of hazardous materials into the land, air and surrounding waterways, displacing residents up to 20 miles away and leading to a variety of reported health problems. Norfolk Southern also agreed in May
to pay out a $310 million settlement to cover civil penalties, clean-up efforts, and medical care for people living near the derailment.
Moving forward, the new rule will require all railroads to provide first responders with real-time information on any shipments with hazardous chemicals immediately after a derailment occurs, including how much is being carried, where the chemicals are located on the train, and any other necessary emergency response information.
“In a hazmat incident, firefighters and first responders arriving on scene need to know what kind of hazardous materials are present so they can protect themselves and their communities,” U.S. transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg said.
