Facing growing criticism from Democrats as well as Republicans over slow White House response to a February 3 derailment near East Palestine, Ohio, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg wrote to Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw Sunday urging him to support stronger rail safety standards, The Hill reports. The derailment earlier this month resulted in the pileup of 150 freight cars, 20 of them carrying cargoes of hazardous materials. 

Republicans have suggested the derailment in a rural, politically “red” region in Ohio has been treated indifferently by the Biden administration.

Last Friday White House officials said they would welcome Congressional action to beef up safety standards for trains carrying hazardous materials, according to Roll Call. Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Railroad Administration and Department of Health and Human Services are waiting for a report from the National Transportation Safety Board on the derailment.

•••

What do you think? Go to the Comments section in this column, or the one in the right column if that’s how you lean, or email editors@thehustings.news and type “for the left column” or “for the right column” in the subject line.