[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 104 (Wednesday, May 31, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 34899]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[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:

 Hazard Communications and Emergency Responder Preparedness for 
the Initial Emergency Response
 Circumstances that Led to the Decision to Vent and Burn Five 
Vinyl Chloride Tank Cars
 Freight Car Bearing Failure Modes and Wayside Detection 
Systems
 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 [email protected].
    The investigative hearing will be transmitted live via the NTSB's 
YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/NTSBgov. 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 [email protected].
    NTSB Investigative Hearing Officer: Stephanie D. Shaw_
[email protected].
    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