After Norfolk Southern Derailment in Pittsburgh on Saturday, Summer Lee, Lindsay Williams To Hold Press Conference to Call for an End to Train Derailments, “bomb trains” and Corporations Putting Profits over the Safety of People and Communities 

Leaders to highlight the need to end the prioritization of profits before people and lack of regulation that encourages corporations to poison our air and water for profit

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Who: U.S. Rep. Summer Lee (D-PA) and PA Senator Lindsay Williams (D-38) will join representatives from Conservation Voters of PA, Climate Power, Vanessa Lynch from Moms Clean Air Taskforce, Zach Barber, Penn Environment’s Clean Air Advocatem, Patrick Campbell, Executive Director, Group Against Smog & Pollution (GASP), and other federal and state elected officials. 

What: A press conference to call for the prioritization of protecting citizens from the dangers of “bomb trains” like the one which derailed in East Palestine, Ohio in February on a route that runs directly through Pittsburgh and caused serious threats to clean air and water in Western PA–including a boil water advisory throughout the region. Lee will also discuss her co-sponsorship of the DERAIL Act legislation which would make big railroads accountable for the safety of their trains. 

This press conference comes after five Norfolk Southern train cars derailed on Saturday near Pittsburgh’s West End Saturday shortly before 1 p.m. in the area of West Carson and Telford streets. While no injuries or safety hazards resulted this time, it’s the second in Western PA in the past month and a clear indication of a larger safety crisis. There are 1700 train derailments every year and the rate of train accidents has risen 27% over the last 10 years. In the past week alone, almost every major rail company in the United States has had a multi-car derailment. As of April 4th, at least 157 cars derailed in six train accidents around the country in the prior week alone.

When: Wednesday, April 10 at 10:30 am

Where: The Kingsley Association, 6435 Frankstown Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206. The site is approximately 500 feet from Norfolk-Southern tracks used by the train which derailed in East Palestine. This event will also be livestreamed on Facebook by PennEnvironment.

Key Visuals: In addition to the officials participating in the press conference, media will be able to get footage/photography of the tracks used by the Northfolk-Southern train.

Additional Information: “Bomb trains” like the one which recently derailed in East Palestine, OH, regularly pass through highly populated areas in Western Pennsylvania, including the city of Pittsburgh and surrounding communities. Had the Northfolk-Southern train derailed here, tens of thousands of lives would have been at risk in a community disproportionately affected by past acts of environmental injustice.

Big oil and gas corporations and their rail company partners, in addition to receiving government subsidies, are making record profits while opposing regulations that would make the refining and transportation process of these dangerous fossil fuel products safer.

Corporate tax giveaways, excessive oil company profits and lax safety regulations and enforcement are indefensible when considering the East Palestine derailment. Rep. Lee, Senator Williams, Conservation Voters of PA and others will reaffirm their commitment to make sure people are prioritized before profits in the policymaking process.

Conservation Voters of PA is the state affiliate of the League of Conservation Voters and is sponsoring the event in conjunction with Climate Power, which advocates for bold action to address climate and environmental threats.

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