To the Editor:

The recent train wreck in East Palestine, Ohio raises some very important questions for the rail communities of Altamont, Guilderland Center, Guilderland, and Voorheesville.

Vinyl chloride (known carcinogenic), butyl acrylate (causing skin, eye, and respiratory issues), ethylhexyl acrylate (which produces hazardous vapors under heat), and ethylene glycol monobutyl (acutely toxic) all escaped from the derailed cars.

The real problem that caused the derailment was an overheated wheel bearing. This was not detected by sensors 20 miles back but was detected by a sensor very close to the community of East Palestine.

By that time, it was too late and 38 of the 149 train cars derailed. This was not an accident. It was incompetence by the carrier Norfolk Southern in the placing of its sensors.

The communities mentioned above need to set up a meeting with knowledgeable representatives (no flunkies) of CSX as well as Norfolk Southern. The government agencies involved should be from all levels from governor to state legislators to local county executives and county legislators to local municipal, town, and village leaders.

We are so vulnerable.

Think about the  proximity of the rails to residential housing. Think of the proximity of the rails to the water supply of Guilderland and Watervliet.

Think of the lack of confidence that residents in the community would have in living in an area that has been contaminated by air pollution and subsequent ground pollution by the contaminants or their like listed above.

There is much work to be done in this matter. The most important is the prevention of derailments by the closer placement of sensors along the rails. Our communities need to think about prevention, not clean up.

John B. Haluska

Guilderland