Indiana Congressman Calls for Immediate Halt of Hazardous Shipments From Ohio Derailment

Some of the derailed railcars from when a Norfolk Southern freight train derailed are in the process of being cleaned up in East Palestine, Ohio, on Feb. 9, 2023. Gene J. Puskar/AP Photo

Rep. Jim Baird (R-Ind.) urged the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) on Friday to immediately halt the transportation of contaminated materials from the East Palestine train derailment to a Roachdale facility.

“Last week, our state was blindsided by the announcement that the EPA would be relocating hazardous materials from the East Palestine train derailment to Roachdale,” Baird said in a statement. “Hoosiers deserve to know exactly what’s happening in their own backyard, and until we have full transparency and proper oversight, I am respectfully asking IDEM to halt further transportation of hazardous materials to our state.”