(NewsNation) — A year ago, a Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, releasing toxic chemicals into the environment. Fear and anxiety continue to plague the town's residents as the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency continues to insist its air and water are safe.
“The majority just want to move on and put this in the past. You know, we're a quiet little village and we weren't used to media attention. We want to go back to normal life. We want to, but it's going to take a while to get there,” East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway said.
Conway appeared on NewsNation's “Morning in America” to discuss what he thinks should happen next.
“It can be frustrating at times. But I trust the EPA. They're a great partner to work with. So we're going to get everyone's facts, collect everyone's data, and help our residents. We just try to make the best decisions for them,” Conway said.
Meanwhile, some residents say they will never feel safe again.
“I don't know if anyone will feel safe here. There's been a lot of trauma for a lot of people in this town. And I don't know if we'll ever get answers or if these people will feel safe.” I don't know if we can provide factual data that would make us think it's safe,” Conway said.
