David DayenFeb 14, 2023
.@GovMikeDeWine has not made a public statement on East Palestine since saying everyone could return home 5 days ago, at a press conference where a reporter was arrested & charged. DeWine has taken the intervening time to celebrate Ohio inventors, though.
Show threadDavid DayenFeb 14, 2023
If you check presidential actions on http://WhiteHouse.gov, you'll notice that Biden hasn't approved a disaster declaration for East Palestine. That's because DeWine hasn't requested one.
No federal assistance has been asked for.
The White House

President Donald J. Trump and Vice President JD Vance are committed to lowering costs for all Americans, securing our borders, unleashing American energy dominance, restoring peace through strength, and making all Americans safe and secure once again.

The White House
Show threadDavid DayenFeb 14, 2023
If East Palestine is planning to "begin" to conduct soil samples, that means the state hasn't yet, five days after telling residents it's safe to return.
https://www.salemnews.net/train-derails-in-east-palestine/2023/02/ep-residents-assured-of-water-safety-at-council-meeting/
EP residents assured of water safety at council meeting

EAST PALESTINE — It will take the village a long time to recover from the train derailment, but residents can be assured that the drinking water is safe to consume, village officials said Monday. Council fielded questions from Hillside Drive resident Ericka Kinkead during the meeting, specifically with regards to monitoring of the village over […]

Salem News
Show threadDavid DayenFeb 14, 2023
The way America works is that railroads do as little as possible to transport materials safety, one of them fucks up and nukes a city, & then a consultant on behalf of that railroad tells the government how much they'll do to clean it up
https://www.salemnews.net/train-derails-in-east-palestine/2023/02/norfolk-southern-consultant-sets-remediation-goals/
Norfolk Southern consultant sets remediation goals

The railroad has made available its preliminary remediation plan for hazardous materials released into the air, soil and water after the derailment of about 50 cars and tank cars from a train on Feb. 3 east of East Palestine. Arcadis, a sustainable design and engineering consultant, issued the plan on behalf of Norfolk Southern Railway […]

Salem News
Show threadDavid DayenFeb 14, 2023
Another way America works is that the railroad's interest in making sure they can get the tracks up and running again outranks disposing of the contaminated soil they're using to do it
https://www.wkbn.com/news/local-news/east-palestine-train-derailment/epa-says-contaminated-soil-was-covered-to-rebuild-rail-line/
EPA says contaminated soil was covered to rebuild rail line

Vinyl chloride is expected to be highly mobile in soil and may leach to the groundwater.

WKBN.com
Show threadDavid DayenFeb 14, 2023
Here's the relevant portion of the EPA letter
Show threadDavid DayenFeb 14, 2023
"I am JD Vance, a U.S. Senator who doesn't know that FEMA is only authorized to provide federal emergency management if a federal disaster has been approved, which the state government has not asked for."
https://www.wkbn.com/news/local-news/east-palestine-train-derailment/ohio-senator-weighs-in-on-east-palestine-train-derailment/
Ohio senator weighs in on East Palestine train derailment

Senator JD Vance weighed in on the aftermath of the train derailment in East Palestine.

WKBN.com
Show threadDavid DayenFeb 14, 2023
Hey JD, here's a hint: look up 42 U.S.C. §§ 5121-5207 (the Stafford Act) §401, where it says "All requests for a declaration by the President that a major disaster exists shall be made by the Governor of the affected State"
https://www.fema.gov/disaster/how-declared
Show threadDavid DayenFeb 14, 2023
Why hasn't a disaster request been made?
Show thread#SCIENCEMATTERSFeb 14, 2023
@ddayen because the Ohio GOP are too busy sending thoughts and prayers.
Show threadFoxologyFeb 14, 2023

@ottawatts @ddayen There aren’t many powerful people in federal government who dodged this bullet. All but a handful of D Senators, e.g., voted to force rail workers back to unsafe conditions. Pres Biden himself sold out labor.

They *really* want this to go away. It exposes how dumb, indifferent and dangerous the US govt is.

Show thread#SCIENCEMATTERSFeb 14, 2023
@silver_foxology @ddayen it's a little expansive to throw the net that far when you simply have to look at Ohio's current legislature and their attempts to govern for the lack of concern for constituent welfare and the deregulation of industry "partners". They've been suppressing environmental efforts for years.
Show thread#SCIENCEMATTERSFeb 14, 2023
@silver_foxology @ddayen You can hold the federal government accountable AND blame the state for their failures, we're not in a federal vacuum. As an Ohio constituent, I can challenge my state government to fix their issues.
Show threadFoxology

@ottawatts @ddayen

This is how US govt functions at every level: it serves business and property interests first. CA governor Newsom literally picked up trash for the railroads.

All roads lead to dismantling the system.

Feb 14, 2023 at 4:30pmWeb