La Coalition’s Rail Safety Campaign is an official campaign of the Woods & Wetlands Group, Sierra Club - IL Chapter
Are you among the millions of Americans today living in a hazmat fallout zone?
Drone image above a Pennsylvania farm, 4.2 miles from the East Palestine, Ohio train derailment when Norfolk Southern did a ‘controlled’ release and burn of vinyl chloride from some of the wrecked train cars. Photo: David Anderson
Should you be concerned?
Do you drink water? Do you eat produce? Do you enjoy fresh fish, chicken, steak, or pork?
Then, yes, you should be concerned.
Wind blew a toxic plume of smoke from the East Palestine, Ohio train derailment, fire, and ‘controlled’ release and burn over the border into Pennsylvania, and water carried chemicals downstream into West Virginia. Water and soil may be contaminated for decades, which impacts produce grown and animals grazing for miles and miles away from initial impact.
Chemical fallout from this incident has residents fearing for their lives. They question the long-term impact of chemical exposure on their health. They wonder what the future holds for their children.
Below is a PowerPoint presentation addressing the urgent need to make our railroads safe.
Our mission
La Coalition’s Rail Safety Campaign works to protect people, air, water, and land from the negative impacts of hazardous substances transported by rail. The Rail Safety Campaign conforms to the guidelines set by the Clean Power Lake County community agreement and includes underserved communities as identified under Environmental Justice policy to reduce persistent environmental health disparities.
In order to plan for the unique needs that will arise in the event of a hazmat incident, La Coalition engages legislators, emergency responders, and administrators at schools and other public facilities located near rail corridors where toxic and explosive substances are transported or stored.
Learn more.
EVENTS
VIDEO REPORTS
View playlists of guest speakers, La Coalition Rail Safety Campaign events, and other related issues.
View a playlist of reports about rail safety and related issues.
REGISTER TODAY
Come join our next campaign planning meeting! All are welcome, and meetings are free and open to the public.
Our decision to use La Coalition as our team name is a tribute to Lac-Mégantic's Citizens' Coalition for Railroad Safety whose members continue, to this very day, still cry out for a public commission of inquiry into the Lac-Mégantic rail disaster. The train derailment and explosion in Quebec, Canada serves as the poster child of a worst-case scenario train derailment and symbolizes the extensive moral wrongs resulting from industry greed and regulatory capture. Not only did this close-knit, humble community suffer a significant loss of life, but they also endured reprehensible exploitation afterwards. Our name, La Coalition, honors the 47 souls lost in the Lac-Mégantic tragedy along with another two taken by suicide afterward.