A two-day investigative hearing on the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio will be held by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in June.
This is part of the NTSB’s ongoing investigation into the Feb. 3, 2023, derailment that resulted in a hazardous material release and fires that exposed residents to toxic smoke.
Investigative hearings are used to gather sworn testimony from witnesses on issues the NTSB identifies during its investigation of an incident. Only NTSB board members, investigators and scheduled witnesses are allowed to participate in the hearing. However, the public is invited to observe the hearing.
The investigative hearing will be held June 22 and 23 at East Palestine High School beginning at 9 a.m. Eastern on both days. The hearing will also be livestreamed on the NTSB YouTube channel.
NTSB will be focusing on:
- hazard communications and emergency responder preparedness for the initial emergency response
- the circumstances that led to the decision to vent and burn five rail tank cars carrying vinyl chloride
- freight car bearing failure models and wayside detection systems, and
- tank car derailment damage, crashworthiness and hazardous materials package information.
