There Are Environmental Takeaways For Cleveland From The East Palestine Train Derailment

The Cleveland City Club on Wednesday convened environmental activists to discuss the parallels between the train derailment in eastern Palestine and environmental issues in Cleveland.

Among the attendees were representatives from the Ohio Environmental Council, Environmental Health Watch, Cleveland Neighborhood Progress and the River Valley Organization, which has worked in eastern Palestine since the February derailment.

The Norfolk Southern train passed through Cleveland and other urban areas before derailing in eastern Palestine. River Valley CEO Daniel Winston said the derailment has a major impact that state residents should consider.

“This is not a District of Columbia problem. This is not the resort's problem. This is not a small town problem. This is a railroad problem and an even bigger petrochemical problem." "So we have to make sure we take this fight to the right place."

Speakers emphasized the importance of supporting existing rail safety legislation, such as rail safety and reducing rail accidents, and engaged local, state and federal representatives to raise environmental welfare concerns.

"Ohiolists care about our air, we care about our water, we care about our environment," said Emily Bacha, vice president of public affairs for the Ohio Environmental Council. "Letting those who represent you know that you care about the issue and want to take action is, I think, an easy way to do it."

Environmental Health Watch Executive Director Kim Forman defines environmental justice as "the equitable treatment and meaningful participation of all people, regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, in the development, implementation, and enforcement of laws, regulations, and policies environmental . . "

Including multiple voices and experiences in the conversation is essential to achieving environmental justice, says Foreman.

"It's public input that can influence decisions by regulatory agencies," Forman said. “Community concerns will be factored into the decision making process and decision makers will seek out and encourage the involvement of those who may be affected. And we can look around and see if it's actually happening."

This is not a District of Columbia problem. This is not the resort's problem. This is not a small town problem. This is the railway problem, and the bigger problem is the petrochemical problem. So we have to make sure we take this fight where it's needed.

Daniel Winston, chief executive officer of River Valley Organizing

When it comes to rail safety, Foreman said cutting costs has long been an issue in the rail industry, but elected officials need to figure out how to divert trains to prevent future derailments in residential neighborhoods.

"Safety protocols are great, but how do we change trains so they don't pass through our communities and our neighbors?" He says. "There's no need to reinvent the wheel. We need to take it out and revise it and work with our local emergency planning committee."

Participants also drew comparisons between the East Palestine train derailment and Cleveland's environmental problems, such as environmental degradation, according to Divya Sridhar, Cleveland's climate resilience and sustainability manager at Environmental Advances.

“Our community here suffers as one of the [communities] most affected by asthma. We're one of the worst egalitarian companies in this country," he said. "When you own this business, it all comes together because you feel like you're maximizing your operations, you're maximizing your logistics because you're prioritizing your revenue. And that's where we come in."

When asked how residents can support environmental efforts, Winston stressed the importance of reaching out and donating to local environmental organizations.

"There are many organizations that need your money," he said. "My grandmother used to tell me: show me where you spend your money. I'll show you what interests you." So I always tell people, don't lie when you say you're thinking of something [but] you're not paying a dollar.

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