Train Crash: Santorum To Probe Federal Role

As word of the train crash and subsequent chemical spread through Emporium and other parts of Cameron County spectators flocked to affected parts of Portage Creek and the Driftwood Branch of the Sinnemahoning River to see what had resulted. The bottom photo was taken on Portage Creek last Friday evening, about 10 hours after a train carrying sodium hydroxide overturned and dumped as much as 42,000 gallons of the chemical into the stream. The top photo was taken on the Driftwood Branch near Cameron before heavy rains raised water levels and washed dead fish down stream. Thousands of wild trout, stocked trout, small mouth bass, fall fish and many other species died as a result of the spill.

U. S. Senator Rick Santorum had immigration reform and other national issues on his mind when he arrived in Emporium for Wednesday's town meeting.

But Santorum, a Republican facing a tough re-election challenge in November, quickly shifted gears when he learned of a more local concern.

After the senator was apprised of the environmental devastation resulting from last Friday's Norfolk Southern train derailment at Gardeau, he pledged to investigate.

Santorum spokesperson Patty Bowman told the Endeavor after Wednesday's meeting that the senator will follow up with local officials once he determines how the federal government might be able to help.

Cameron County Watershed Specialist Jim Zoschg Jr. summarized the damage to aquatic life and asked Sen. Santorum to help hold Norfolk Southern accountable.

Others attending the meeting at the Cameron County Health Care Center asked the senator to support federal laws to protect local manufacturers from Chinese competition.

As for immigration reform - a theme Santorum has been pounding in recent TV ads in his campaign against Democrat Bob Casey Jr. - the senator said his top priority is border security, including more fencing and additional agents to help stem the flow of illegal immigrants.

Santorum also believes a national ID card could be part of the solution. Lastly, he supports a temporary worker program so aliens can legally work in the U.S. for six to 12 months, but then must return hoSen. Santorum also discussed the Combat Meth Epidemic Act, which would restrict the sales of over-thecounter medicines containing ingredients used to manufacture methamphetamine.

"By making precursor materials harder to obtain and providing new tools for law enforcement, this bill will help communities to effectively address this growing problem," the senator said.

Prior to his Emporium appearance, Sen. Santorum toured the Morgan Advanced Materials and Technology (AM&T) plant in St. Marys, a leading manufacturer of engineering components for the aerospace, industrial and defense sectors.