(WPXI) – NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy testified to Congress Wednesday that a controlled burn and explosion weren’t necessary after a train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio in February 2023. Homendy was questioned by Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) in front of a senate committee. Vance asked Homendy if the Norfolk Southern contractors at the scene lacked a scientific basis when a decision was made on the controlled explosion. “Yes. In fact, they were informed by Oxy Vinyls of the information that should have been taken by the contractors in their decision-making,” Homendy said. “But yes, they did not have that. They lacked the scientific background to address that.” Homendy confirmed that ground crews were told to decide in 13 minutes on the controlled explosion, and no other opinions were offered. Homendy also testified that there was an option to let the chemicals cool down. “This town very well may have been poisoned to facilitate the rapid movement of freight, or at the very least, it was poisoned for reasons that we can’t identify,” Vance said. “That should really concern every single person on this committee.”