TUESDAY, HOPING TO GET SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED. I’M JUST HOPING THAT WE GET MORE ANSWERS, FIND OUT WHERE THE HELP IS. I KNOW THEY’RE ONE MILE OUT RIGHT NOW. I’M FOUR MILES OUT, SO JUST TRYING TO FIND OUT WHERE THE HELP IS. LAWMAKERS FROM ACROSS THE STATE GETTING THE CHANCE TO ASK QUESTIONS OF OFFICIALS, INCLUDING SOME FROM THE COMMONWEALTH’S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AS WELL AS THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. THE HEARING BEGAN AROUND ONE AND LASTED WELL INTO THE AFTERNOON, WITH LAWMAKERS HEARING HOURS OF TESTIMONY. MANY OF THEIR QUESTIONS CENTERED ON THE LONG TERM EFFECTS THAT THE DERAILMENT MAY HAVE ON THIS COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THE TESTING THAT’S BEING DONE. THE TESTING IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE NEED TO HAVE UNBIASED RESULTS AND WE NEED TO HAVE SPECIFIC RESULTS THAT ARE DONE THE RIGHT WAY. OFFICIALS HERE SAY THEY KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WATER, THE SOIL AND THE AIR IN BEAVER COUNTY, SAYING IT’S A WAY OF LIFE HERE FOR RESIDENTS. WE HAVE MORE ON THAT TESTING THAT’S BEING DONE
Bipartisan hearing focuses on Pennsylvania's response to train derailment
Lawmakers heard more than three hours of testimony from state and local leaders.
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Updated: 6:18 PM EDT Mar 14, 2023
More than 30 lawmakers from across the commonwealth took part in a bipartisan hearing Tuesday afternoon focusing on Pennsylvania's response to the East Palestine train derailment.The hearing was hosted by state Reps. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver, and Jim Marshall, R-Beaver, as well as the House Majority and Republican Policy Committees. The latter is chaired by Rep. Josh Kail, R-Beaver, Washington."This is personal," Kail said. "I live about 10 miles away from here. And my wife and I, we have eight children." Kail added, "I think the major concern is the testing, particularly of the water in the soil and not just the testing that's being done, but what exactly are we testing for? And better yet, what should we be testing for?" Lawmakers heard more than three hours of testimony from state and local leaders, including leaders from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Lawmakers also heard from Beaver County and Darlington Township leaders.The hearing at the Darlington Township Volunteer Fire Department was open to the public. Around 50 local residents packed the fire hall, hoping to get some answers."You just fear the unknown," said Amanda Kemmer, of Darlington Township. The mother of four is a nurse. She says her kids have all complained of headaches, congestion and sore throats since the derailment."It's like you're a prisoner in your own house. You don't feel safe," Kemmer said. "We just feel unsafe, and we just don't know what to do. We want to know what the long-term effects are."A representative from the Pennsylvania Department of Health said 500 people have been through the resource center offered to Pennsylvania residents. About half of those people were over the age of 60. The Department of Health is working on distributing a survey to residents and first responders in the state to monitor health issues that may have come up post-derailment. So far, 143 residents have completed the survey. According to the Department of Health, the most common concerns or health symptoms reported were headaches, anxiety and ear/nose/throat issues. Officials will be collecting those surveys through the end of the month. "Is there any connection to the sore throats, the coughs, the headaches?" Marshall asked. The Department of Health says it's too soon to say but they should know more when the surveys are complete.Tuesday's testimony also included an update from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Department of Agriculture leaders say they have not seen significant issues with livestock or animal health.Water testing continues, and soil testing is now underway as well. Richard Negrin, acting secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, says the results so far have not exceeded safety thresholds for short-term exposure. "Let me be clear, though. That does not mean we are going to let our guard down moving forward," Negrin said.
DARLINGTON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — More than 30 lawmakers from across the commonwealth took part in a bipartisan hearing Tuesday afternoon focusing on Pennsylvania's response to the East Palestine train derailment.
The hearing was hosted by state Reps. Rob Matzie, D-Beaver, and Jim Marshall, R-Beaver, as well as the House Majority and Republican Policy Committees. The latter is chaired by Rep. Josh Kail, R-Beaver, Washington.
"This is personal," Kail said. "I live about 10 miles away from here. And my wife and I, we have eight children."
Kail added, "I think the major concern is the testing, particularly of the water in the soil and not just the testing that's being done, but what exactly are we testing for? And better yet, what should we be testing for?"
Lawmakers heard more than three hours of testimony from state and local leaders, including leaders from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Lawmakers also heard from Beaver County and Darlington Township leaders.
The hearing at the Darlington Township Volunteer Fire Department was open to the public. Around 50 local residents packed the fire hall, hoping to get some answers.
"You just fear the unknown," said Amanda Kemmer, of Darlington Township. The mother of four is a nurse. She says her kids have all complained of headaches, congestion and sore throats since the derailment.
"It's like you're a prisoner in your own house. You don't feel safe," Kemmer said. "We just feel unsafe, and we just don't know what to do. We want to know what the long-term effects are."
A representative from the Pennsylvania Department of Health said 500 people have been through the resource center offered to Pennsylvania residents. About half of those people were over the age of 60.
The Department of Health is working on distributing a survey to residents and first responders in the state to monitor health issues that may have come up post-derailment.
So far, 143 residents have completed the survey. According to the Department of Health, the most common concerns or health symptoms reported were headaches, anxiety and ear/nose/throat issues. Officials will be collecting those surveys through the end of the month.
"Is there any connection to the sore throats, the coughs, the headaches?" Marshall asked. The Department of Health says it's too soon to say but they should know more when the surveys are complete.
Tuesday's testimony also included an update from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Department of Agriculture leaders say they have not seen significant issues with livestock or animal health.
Water testing continues, and soil testing is now underway as well. Richard Negrin, acting secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, says the results so far have not exceeded safety thresholds for short-term exposure.
"Let me be clear, though. That does not mean we are going to let our guard down moving forward," Negrin said.
