NTSB chair 'deeply troubled' with NS' actions during East Palestine investigation

National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy earlier this week accused Norfolk Southern Railway of repeatedly trying to interfere with the board’s investigation into the Class I’s February 2023 hazmat train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

In her closing statement at the end of the June 25 NTSB hearing to approve its investigative report into the derailment’s cause,  Homendy said the railroad’s “abuse of the party process was unprecedented and reprehensible.”

She said she is “deeply troubled” with how NS approached the investigation.

“When we conduct an investigation, we work under what we call ‘the party system,’ meaning we bring together technical experts from those involved in a train derailment to help us gather and develop the facts around the investigation,” Homendy said. “Norfolk Southern was one of the parties to this investigation. There are regulations governing the conduct of parties, and rules the parties agree to in writing. Numerous times, Norfolk Southern delayed or failed to provide critical investigative information to our team.”

Homendy’s entire statement can be read here.

NS released the following statement in response to Homendy’s closing remarks: “At all times, Norfolk Southern cooperated fully and ethically with the investigation, with full transparency. Our communications with NTSB staff and board members were always motivated by a desire to ensure they had all the relevant information for their independent evaluation and by a shared commitment to advance rail safety.”

The NTSB determined the probable cause of the derailment was a failed wheel bearing, but also agreed with investigators that NS did not need to conduct and vent-and-burn of tank cars that contained toxic chemicals.

An abstract of the NTSB’s findings can be read here. NS’ response to the NTSB’s investigative findings can be reviewed here.