Decision to burn chemicals after Ohio derailment under scrutiny at hearing

The decision to vent and burn five train cars’ carcinogenic chemicals in East Palestine, Ohio, in February came under renewed scrutiny Thursday as federal investigators questioned officials in the community still reeling from the aftermath of a toxic train derailment.

The National Transportation Safety Board, or NTSB, on Thursday held the first of two days of investigative hearings in East Palestine, a village of around 4,700 near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border where the Feb. 3 derailment occurred.

It was revealed Thursday that Norfolk Southern’s train twice needed repairs by mechanical personnel the day before the derailment in East Palestine, according to investigators, who say fire from the train was seen on camera as far as roughly 26 miles from the derailment site.