President Joe Biden visits Ohio site of toxic train derailment

Feb. 16 (UPI) -- President Joe Biden on Friday visited the site of last year's massive train derailment in the small village of East Palestine in northeastern Ohio.

Air Force One delivered Biden in Pittsburgh at 2:25 p.m. EST, where he afterward traveled by ground to East Palestine, arriving at 4:30 p.m. EST.

In his opening remarks, Biden assured residents, "we're not going home, no matter what, until this job is done."

Biden received an operational update on recovery efforts once on the ground in East Palestine, where a Norfolk Southern freight train derailed on Feb. 3, 2023, spilling thousands of gallons of hazardous chemicals and igniting a multiday fire.

The spill also contaminated nearby drinking water.

The derailment forced hundreds of residents to evacuate their homes in the village with a population of 4,700.

The train was carrying 115,580 gallons of vinyl chloride, a colorless hazardous gas.

A preliminary report issued by the National Transportation Safety Board found the train failed to stop after an audible alarm activated because of an overheated wheel bearing.

"While there are acts of God, this was an act of greed that was 100% preventable ... Norfolk Southern failed its responsibility," Biden said, noting an executive order he signed to hold the company fully accountable and ensure it thoroughly cleaned up the spill.

Biden also announced the award of six National Institute of Health grants for institutions -- including Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland -- that will study the short- and long-term impacts of the spill.

Biden also was scheduled meet with residents directly affected by the disaster, the White House confirmed earlier in the month.

Biden's visit comes at the invitation of East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway, according to White House Press Secretary Katherine Jean-Pierre.

Conaway previously criticized the president for not coming to the disaster site last year shortly after the derailment.

The issue quickly escalated into a political football with former president Donald Trump visiting the disaster site on Feb. 22, 2023. Trump at the time criticized Biden's failure to appear.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg arrived a day later to observe the toxic derailment, delivering a briefing on the disaster from the NTSB.