Watchdog: Early federal model predicted thousands at risk from East Palestine chemicals

Documents obtained by the Government Accountability Project show that a federal model projected nearly 18,000 people could face severe injury from phosgene exposure and hundreds more from hydrogen chloride after the 2023 East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment. The projections were not made public at the time, though evacuations were ordered. Critics argue residents should have been informed of the initial risk estimates.