Notice2023-11486
Investigative Hearing
Primary source
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Published
May 31, 2023
Issuing agencies
National Transportation Safety Board
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 104 (Wednesday, May 31, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 104 (Wednesday, May 31, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 34899]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-11486]
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NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD
Investigative Hearing
A recent Norfolk Southern Railway accident in East Palestine, Ohio,
has motivated this investigative hearing.
On February 3, 2023, about 8:54 p.m. local time, eastbound Norfolk
Southern Railway general merchandise freight train 32N derailed 38
railcars on main track 1 of the Norfolk Southern Fort Wayne Line of the
Keystone Division in East Palestine, Ohio. The derailed equipment
included 11 tank cars carrying hazardous materials that subsequently
ignited, fueling fires that damaged an additional 12 non-derailed
railcars. First responders implemented a 1-mile evacuation zone
surrounding the derailment site that affected up to 2,000 residents.
There were no reported fatalities or injuries.
The investigative hearing will discuss the following issue areas:
<bullet> Hazard Communications and Emergency Responder Preparedness for
the Initial Emergency Response
<bullet> Circumstances that Led to the Decision to Vent and Burn Five
Vinyl Chloride Tank Cars
<bullet> Freight Car Bearing Failure Modes and Wayside Detection
Systems
<bullet> Tank Car Derailment Damage, Crashworthiness, and Hazardous
Materials Package Information
Parties to the hearing are the Federal Railroad Administration;
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration; Norfolk
Southern Corporation; Trinity Rail Management Leasing Services; Oxy
Vinyls, LP; Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen;
International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation
Workers; Transportation Communications Union/IAM; Brotherhood of
Railroad Signalmen; International Association of Fire Fighters; Ohio
State Highway Patrol; and the Village of East Palestine.
Order of Proceedings
1. Opening Statement by the Chair of the Board of Inquiry
2. Introduction of the Board of Inquiry and Technical Panel
3. Introduction of the Parties to the Hearing
4. Introduction of Exhibits by Hearing Officer
5. Overview of the incident and the investigation by Investigator-In-
Charge
6. Calling of Witnesses by Hearing Officer and Examination of Witnesses
by Technical Panel, Parties, and Board of Inquiry
7. Closing Statement by the Chair of the Board of Inquiry
The investigative hearing will be held at East Palestine High
School, 360 West Grant Street, East Palestine, Ohio on Thursday, June
22, 2023, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. eastern daylight time (EDT), and
Friday, June 23, 2023, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EDT.
Media planning to cover the investigative hearing are asked to
contact Keith Holloway at (202) 314-6100 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a2cfc7c6cbc3d0c7cec3d6cbcdccd1e2ccd6d1c08cc5cdd4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e38e86878a8291868f82978a8c8d90a38d979081cd848c95">[email protected]</span></a>.
The investigative hearing will be transmitted live via the NTSB's
YouTube channel at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/NTSBgov">https://www.youtube.com/user/NTSBgov</a>. An archival
video of the hearing will be available via the website for 30 days
after the hearing.
Individuals requiring reasonable accommodation and/or wheelchair
access directions should contact Stephanie Shaw at (202) 314-6014 or by
email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#420723313612232e2731362b2c270a2723302b2c25022c3631206c252d34"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6e2b0f1d1a3e0f020b1d1a07000b260b0f1c0700092e001a1d0c40090118">[email protected]</span></a>.
NTSB Investigative Hearing Officer: Stephanie D. Shaw_
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e4a1859790b485888197908d8a81ac8185968d8a83a48a909786ca838b92"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="83c6e2f0f7d3e2efe6f0f7eaede6cbe6e2f1eaede4c3edf7f0e1ade4ecf5">[email protected]</span></a>.
The National Transportation Safety Board is holding this public
hearing pursuant to the provisions of the Government in the Sunshine
Act (5 U.S.C. 552b) and as authorized by 49 CFR 845.2.
Candi R. Bing,
Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023-11486 Filed 5-30-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7533-01-P
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