(NEWSnet/AP) — Federal investigators will determine the cause of the 2023 Norfolk Southern derailment in eastern Ohio, and announce findings in June.

National Transportation Safety Board announced Wednesday it will hold the hearing at East Palestine High School on June 25 to approve the findings of its investigation.

The Feb. 3, 2023, derailment near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border prompted evacuations and left residents with concern about long-term health effects from chemicals that spilled and burned.

It will be the second time NTSB visits the town. Investigative hearings were held in summer 2023.

“The NTSB is returning to East Palestine for our final board meeting for the same reasons we went last summer: Because the communities most affected by this tragedy deserve to hear our findings in-person and in real-time,” NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said.

Cleanup continues. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials said it may wrap this summer if no additional contamination is found.

The government and railroad have reassured residents that air and water are safe, but some doubt the results, because they don’t think enough testing has been done.

An assortment of toxic chemicals spilled and caught fire after 38 cars piled near the tracks. A few days later, officials decided to burst five tank cars of vinyl chloride and burn the chemical because they worried the cars might explode.

Follow NEWSnet on Facebook and X platform to get our headlines in your social feeds.

Copyright 2024 NEWSnet and The Associated Press. All rights reserved.