Ohio train derailment: Rail business cancels resident meeting.

(BBC) ⸻ A public meeting in an Ohio town was meant to ease fears about a toxic chemical spill, but the rail firm at the heart of the disaster failed to show up. The Norfolk Southern railway company, whose train carrying the chemicals derailed 13 days ago causing a huge fire, cited security concerns when they pulled out. After the derailment, emergency crews performed a controlled release of vinyl chloride from five railcars that were at risk of exploding, but crews monitoring the air quality sought to reassure locals that it was going as planned. Despite those assurances, many residents are still frightened of the potential harms, which they say had impacted humans and wildlife alike. Thousands of dead fish have appeared in the creeks, and people have reported difficulties getting their water tested, fuelling mistrust at what they see as an ineffective and inadequate response to the crisis. Hundreds of people bombarded officials with questions about air and water quality. East Palestine's Mayor Trent Conaway was frustrated by the lack of answers from Norfolk Southern, which had announced it would not attend the meeting. Chris Wallace, who remains unable to return to his house near a local creek, told the BBC that many townspeople had long been concerned about the speeds at which trains went through East Palestine, as well as the potential dangers of exhausted staff. Mr Wallace and Ms Cozza said they are banding together with other locals to bring in outside experts to examine soil and water and bring in an attorney to answer legal questions. Inside the gymnasium, officials faced repeated questions about what many locals said they see as contradictory and confusing health guidance. Some residents said they experienced headaches and nausea in the days after the crash. The Environmental Protection Agency has reported that it has not detected harmful levels of contaminants in the air and water, and Congressman Johnson has provided a "common sense" perspective. On Thursday, the head of the US Environmental Protection Agency, Michael Regan, is expected to travel to East Palestine to discuss the agency's air monitoring and work to ensure the health and safety of the community. However, some local residents have expressed their lack of faith in the EPA's response.