After Ohio train mishap, Sen. Schumer pushes for railroad accountability. What to know

Citing a Norfolk Southern train derailment in 2011 in downtown Elmira, along with an early February rail mishap in eastern Ohio that posed an environmental threat to residents and wildlife, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., used a stop in Elmira on Monday to promote efforts to increase railroad transparency and accountability.

Schumer, the Senate majority leader, joined Elmira Mayor Dan Mandell and other local officials in front of the Elmira Fire Department headquarters to discuss a letter he sent to Norfolk Southern and other major rail carriers, along with bipartisan federal legislation introduced in Congress.

The recent Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine, Ohio released vinyl chloride and other chemicals into the environment, killing thousands of fish and raising concerns about the safety of air and drinking water in the vicinity.

“The horrifying train derailment in Ohio has people in the Southern Tier and across upstate New York rightfully concerned about the safety of trains coming through their communities every day," said Schumer, who noted about 12 Norfolk Southern trains pass through downtown Elmira on a daily basis.

What happened in Elmira in 2011

On Nov. 19, 2011, a Norfolk Southern rail car derailed while the train was passing through Elmira and landed upside down, partly in a Hilliard Corp. parking lot.

The Elmira Fire Department responded to verify that hazardous material was not involved. Nevertheless, city officials were incensed Norfolk Southern failed to notify the city or local emergency personnel about the incident.

Public safetyEndwell man, 59, drowns after falling through ice while pond fishing in Newark Valley

For subscribers15M pounds of toxic pollution was released in NY in one year. See top local polluters

Public safetySuspect indicted for murder in connection with January shooting death of Elmira man

Schumer was also highly critical of Norfolk Southern's response at the time, noting the company's policy was to notify local officials only if an accident involves five or more cars or hazardous materials.

What Schumer is telling railroad companies

Schumer revealed Monday he wrote a letter to major rail companies demanding answers on the actions they are taking to prevent an accident like what happened in Ohio from occurring in Upstate New York.

He blamed a long pattern of lack of transparency and said rail companies need to work with local leaders and emergency responders so they are better prepared for the possibility of a derailment.

Local officials often are unaware of the types of materials that are hauled through their cities by train on a daily basis, Schumer said, making it difficult to prepare for disasters as different types of chemicals require different responses.

What proposed federal legislation would do

The bipartisan Railway Safety Act of 2023 will increase transparency and regulations for trains carrying hazardous materials, get advanced notifications for emergency response, and hold railroads accountable for wrongdoings, Schumer said.

Among the specifics, the legislation would increase fines for safety violations, require highly trained crews with a two-person minimum to work aboard each train, and establish a $1 million annual fee on railroads to pay for training local emergency responders who are the first on the scene to any accident.

"This will require Norfolk Southern and other rail companies to finally be transparent," Schumer said.

What local officials are saying

Schumer was joined Monday by Elmira Mayor Dan Mandell and other city officials, along with representatives from Chemung and Steuben County governments.

Mandell supports the new legislation and said he's concerned about the condition of some of the rail infrastructure around the city.

"Especially on the Southside, there's a lot of infrastructure with concrete falling off. We're passing those concerns onto Norfolk Southern," he said. "(The new legislation) will let first responders know what's going through our city. It will make (railroads) improve their infrastructure."

Steuben County Director of Public Safety Timothy Marshall said any kind of rail disaster in his county could have a serious impact on the water supply.

"Most of the rail lines run parallel to most of our rivers," Marshall said. "An incident could affect water for hundreds of communities downstream. We need to be cautious of anything that happens along the rail lines."

Follow Jeff Murray on Twitter @SGJeffMurray. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Ohio train derailment prompts concern: Inside NY push for transparency