The head of the National Transportation Safety Board, Jennifer Homendy, told Congress on Wednesday that the decision to blow open five tank cars and burn the toxic chemical inside them after a freight train derailed in Eastern Ohio last year was not justified. She explained that the key decision-makers who feared the tank cars were going to explode never had the information they needed. The vinyl chloride released during the derailment, along with other chemicals that spilled and caught fire, have left residents with lingering fears about possible long-term health consequences.

Homendy revealed that experts from Oxy Vinyls, the company that made the vinyl chloride in the tank cars, were telling contractors hired by Norfolk Southern railroad that they believed no dangerous chemical reaction was occurring. However, this information was not relayed to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and the first responders in charge. The NTSB hearings last spring in East Palestine brought this information to light, with Homendy stating that the vent-and-burn action was not necessary.

East Palestine Fire Chief Keith Drabick had previously stated that releasing and burning the chemicals was the "least bad option," but Homendy emphasized that they never heard Oxy Vinyls' opinion that the vinyl chloride was stable. Republican Sen. JD Vance criticized the inadequate information provided on the ground, saying it was to the detriment of the community.

Norfolk Southern defended the decision, stating that the controlled release prevented a potentially catastrophic uncontrolled explosion. However, residents like Krissy Ferguson, who has not been able to return home since the derailment, expressed disappointment in the latest updates from the NTSB. Misti Allison, who lives near the site, believed the vent and burn did not need to happen and accused Norfolk Southern of prioritizing profits over people.

While the NTSB attributed the derailment to an overheating bearing on one of the railcars, questions about potential long-term health effects remain unanswered. Many residents of East Palestine are still experiencing health issues, despite Norfolk Southern's costly response to the disaster. An investor group critical of the railroad's response is now pushing to fire CEO Alan Shaw and take control of the company. Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio condemned the unnecessary explosion and the lasting impact on the community, accusing Norfolk Southern of prioritizing profits over safety.