President Joe Biden told reporters Friday that he has no plans to visit East Palestine after the community experienced a serious toxic train wreck earlier this month.
The catastrophic February 3 train derailment in the small Ohio community was caused by an overheated wheel bearing on the 23rd of 149 rail cars. Local officials subsequently evacuated all residents within one mile of the accident and started a controlled burn of the vinyl chloride that the train was transporting in an effort to prevent a massive explosive from occurring.
Vinyl chloride, a known human carcinogen used to manufacture PVC, was emitted from five train cars in the form of massive plumes of black smoke visible throughout eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania.
When asked by reporters if he had plans to visit East Palestine, Biden said, “no,” and proceeded to defend his administration’s response to the incident.
NEW: Pres. Biden tells reporters he has no plans to visit East Palestine, but defends admin…
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