Action by federal regulators, Congress and the rail industry is needed in order to prevent train derailments like the one in Ohio this month that has led to concerns over the spread of toxic chemicals in the community of East Palestine, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Thursday.

"The health and safety of New York residents remains my administration's top priority. The train derailment that took place in East Palestine, Ohio emphasizes the need for preventative regulations and the adequate prepositioning of emergency response resources," Hochul said. "New York remains committed to leading on freight rail hazard preparedness and response, and I'm calling on our partners in the freight rail industry, Congress, and federal regulators to curb future disasters by modernizing transportation methods for hazardous materials and strengthening resources for hazard preparedness planning and response."

Hochul's office pointed to steps New York took a decade ago after the Lac-Megantic crash in 2013 in order to curtail the effect of hazardous materials spread following a derailment. 

But Hochul and her administration believe federal action is necessary in order to bolster safety. 

Hochul called for updating braking regulations as well as increasing the use of pneumatic brakes that are electronically controlled. She also wants to require all railraods to provide advanced notification to state emergency response teams when cars with hazardous materials are moving through the state. 

And she called for expanded state and local grants for hazmat preparedness and response planning. 

"The actions outlined by the governor today will ensure the federal government is prioritizing rail safety improvements that will better protect our residents and ensure the nation has the most stringent rail transportation oversight," said Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos. "DEC looks forward to working with our federal, state, and local partners as we review and build upon our nation-leading response capabilities."