The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Inspector General has launched an investigation into why the agency’s specialized plane, which is equipped with advanced sensors, was not deployed sooner after the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The plane, known as ASPECT, can detect chemicals in the air and provide crucial information in the event of a disaster. However, it was not deployed until four days after the derailment, and even then, it only gathered limited information in two brief flights. The investigation aims to determine whether the EPA followed proper procedures in deploying the plane and to identify areas for improvement in responding to future emergencies.
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