National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) chair Jennifer Homendy admitted the controlled burn from the Norfolk Southern train disaster in East Palestine‚ Ohio‚ was unnecessary. The controlled burn released highly-toxic chemicals into the environment. Homendy made the admission while testifying before the Senate Committee on Commerce‚ Science and Transportation on Wednesday. “There was no justification to do a vent and burn‚” Homendy said. WATCH: WATCH: NTSB Chair Homendy tells Senator @JDVance1 the chemical explosion in East Palestine‚ OH did not have to happen “They were provided incomplete information to make a decision…there was no justification to do a vent and burn.” pic.twitter.com/5vR5sd8CDZ — Senator Vance Press Office (@SenVancePress) March 6‚ 2024 Just the News reports: After the Norfolk Southern train derailed‚ the public was initially informed that a controlled burn was necessary because the alternative would be an uncontrolled explosion because the train cars filled with toxic chemicals were getting hotter. The decision makers on the ground of the derailment had only 13 minutes to make a decision on the controlled burn‚ Homendy confirmed Wednesday. “There was another option: Let it cool down. It was cooling down‚” Homendy said. Experts from Oxy Vinyls‚ the company that produced the vinyl chloride in the derailed cars‚ were on the scene providing information to Norfolk Southern’s contractors following the derailment. Oxy Vinyls said a vent and burn was not needed‚ but the chemical producer was “left out of the room” when the final decision was made. “Biden’s NTSB Chair has just admitted to in a Senate hearing today the ‘controlled explosion’ of the train in East Palestine‚ Ohio was UNNECESSARY. She says the chemical tank cars had already cooled and stabilized‚ meaning there was NO risk of an ‘uncontrolled explosion‚'” journalist Nick Sortor wrote. “The explosion severely contaminated the waterways and showered the town with toxic materials—much of which is could potentially lead to widespread &; long term health issues for residents The government has been telling us for over a year now that they had no choice to but to blow up the train cars‚ or else they’d blow up anyway‚” he continued. “Did they lie or are they just totally incompetent?” he asked. #BREAKING: Biden's NTSB Chair has just admitted to in a Senate hearing today the "controlled explosion" of the train in East Palestine‚ Ohio was UNNECESSARY She says the chemical tank cars had already cooled and stabilized‚ meaning there was NO risk of an "uncontrolled… pic.twitter.com/Pq3d6Mcox0 — Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) March 6‚ 2024 “This is outrageous.  This explosion – which devastated so many – was unnecessary. The people of East Palestine are still living with the consequences of this toxic burn. This is more proof that Norfolk Southern put profits over safety &; cannot be trusted‚” Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) said. This is outrageous. The people of East Palestine are still living with the consequences of this toxic burn. This is more proof that Norfolk Southern put profits over safety &; cannot be trusted.https://t.co/SOs3dfJUfr — Sherrod Brown (@SenSherrodBrown) March 6‚ 2024 “Today’s testimony by NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy was shocking. The implication is clear: Norfolk Southern forced an unnecessary vent and burn of toxic chemicals to clear the tracks and get their trains moving. That greed threatened the health of my constituents—because profits mattered more than our safety. We cannot trust big railroads to regulate themselves. It’s time to pass my bill‚ the Railway Safety Act‚” Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA) said in a statement. East Palestine residents reacted to Homendy’s testimony. WPXI reports: Channel 11′s Rich Pierce went to East Palestine and spoke with residents after what Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) called an “extraordinary finding.” The testimony confirmed what many already believed‚ that they never needed to be exposed to the chemicals. “Honestly‚ when I watched this testimony‚ I was in tears‚” Misti Allison said. “It’s extremely troubling and disheartening.” “One of the things I realized that was new information today is that whether or not this was information that was accidentally or intentionally withheld‚ this now feels like a crime‚” Jess Conard said. A crime‚ Conrad says‚ against the people of East Palestine. “Is the vinyl chloride stabilized? Is the temperature decreasing? Is the car doing its job?” Conrad said. “These questions seem very common sense and seem like sense isn’t very common in this situation we’re going through.” The outlet obtained this statement from Norfolk Southern: “The final decision to conduct a controlled release was made by the Incident Commander‚ with input from multiple stakeholders‚ including Norfolk Southern and local‚ state‚ and federal authorities. The top priority of everyone involved was the safety of the community‚ as well as limiting the impact of the incident. The successful controlled release prevented a potentially catastrophic uncontrolled explosion that could have caused significant damage for the community. To date‚ continuous environmental testing in coordination with and alongside US and Ohio EPA has shown the air and drinking water in the community are safe.” NewsNation reports: