Biden to visit East Palestine in February, one year after train derailment

President Biden will travel next month to East Palestine, Ohio, roughly one year after a train derailment spilled toxic chemicals into the community, the White House said Wednesday.

Biden will meet with residents affected by the Norfolk Southern train derailment that occurred on Feb. 3, a White House official said. No date was given, but it fulfills the president’s pledge last March to visit the area “at some point.”

A Norfolk Southern train derailed near East Palestine and spilled toxic chemicals — including vinyl chloride, a hazardous chemical used in the production of plastics — into the area, raising concerns about the environment and health effects in the region.

The White House has repeatedly emphasized that Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials were on the ground within hours of the derailment and that teams went door-to-door in the community in the aftermath of the incident to check on residents and provide information about health and environmental concerns. 

EPA Administrator Michael Regan also made multiple trips to the area, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visited East Palestine to meet with local leaders and community members.

Biden issued an executive order directing Norfolk Southern to be held accountable and address any long-term cleanup efforts. The president last September issued an executive order calling for the appointment of a dedicated coordinator for long-term recovery efforts in the community.

But the president faced calls from Republicans in particular to visit the area himself, and the White House had faced repeated questions about a trip to East Palestine after Biden said he would go eventually.

Former President Trump, who is Biden’s likely opponent in November’s general election, visited the derailment site last February.