A recent report highlights how a specialized plane could have changed the course of the response to the 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. This incident, which involved the release of toxic chemicals, led to significant damage and health concerns for local residents.
The report, released by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Inspector General, reveals that the ASPECT plane, designed to monitor chemical disasters, wasn’t utilized until the night before officials decided to vent and burn five rail tank cars filled with vinyl chloride. This delay was largely due to misunderstandings about the plane’s capabilities. The on-scene coordinator mistakenly believed the plane could only detect temperature changes of 20 to 30 degrees, while in reality, it can measure differences of less than 1 degree.
This misunderstanding may have contributed to the critical decision to blow open the tank cars, which the National Transportation Safety Board later identified as a key error. The report suggests that if the first responders had accurate temperature data from the plane, they might have avoided this mistake.
Three days after the derailment, a massive plume of black smoke rose over East Palestine as the chemicals ignited. Local officials feared an explosion, despite evidence indicating that the tank cars were cooling down. The Norfolk Southern railroad, responsible for the train, faced criticism for not communicating effectively with chemical experts, leading to confusion during the crisis.
The derailment forced many residents to evacuate for several days, and concerns about long-term health effects linger. Although the EPA reported that dangerous chemical levels were not found after the evacuation, some residents remain worried about potential health risks, including cancer clusters.
Robert Kroutil, who developed the software for the ASPECT plane, stated that having accurate temperature data could have prevented the vent-and-burn operation. He criticized the EPA for not fully understanding the technology and its role in emergency response.
In response to the report, the EPA acknowledged the need for better training regarding the ASPECT plane and its capabilities. However, the agency has not addressed why the plane was not called in sooner, despite the urgency of the situation.
The Government Accountability Project expressed concerns that the Inspector General’s investigation did not cover all relevant issues, including allegations that the plane’s sensors were turned off during critical moments. The plane was delayed in reaching the site, and weather conditions ultimately prevented it from gathering data during the burn operation.
The East Palestine derailment has been labeled the worst rail disaster in a decade, prompting discussions about rail safety and the need for reform. Although some proposals have been put forward, progress in Congress has stalled. As the community continues to grapple with the aftermath of the incident, the focus remains on ensuring that such a disaster does not happen again.