Officials continue to conduct operations and inspect the area after a train crash in East Palestine, Ohio, USA, February 17, 2023.
Environmental Protection Agency | Anadolu | Getty Images
Norfolk Southern has agreed to pay $310 million to settle charges stemming from a toxic train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, in February 2023, the company said. announced on Thursday.
The bulk of the settlement is valued at $235 million to cover all past and future cleanup costs. Under the agreement, the company will also pay a $15 million civil penalty to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Water Act.
The agreement resolves a lawsuit filed in March 2023 by the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Justice against Norfolk Southern for violating the Clean Water Act after a freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed a days-long fire that displaced local residents. evacuate and pollute the environment. soil and waterways.
“We are pleased that we were able to reach a timely resolution to these investigations that recognizes our comprehensive response to the needs of the community and our mission to be the gold standard for safety in the railroad industry,” Alan Shaw, president and CEO of Norfolk Southern, said in a statement. “We will continue to deliver on our promises and invest in the future of the community for the long term.”
Smoke rises from a derailed freight train in East Palestine, Ohio, on February 4, 2023.
Dustin Frantz | Afp | Getty Images
The settlement, if approved by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, would require Norfolk Southern to not only “take steps to improve railroad safety” but also to “pay for health monitoring and mental health services for surrounding communities,” including other actions, the Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday. This includes paying approximately $7 million for restoration projects aimed at curbing pre-existing pollution and improving water quality in the region.
“No community should have to endure the trauma inflicted on the people of East Palestine,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a statement. “Today’s enforcement action fulfills that commitment, ensures the cleanup is paid for by the company, and helps prevent another disaster like this from happening again.”
US President Joe Biden receives updates from officials on ongoing response and recovery efforts at the site of a train crash that resulted in a hazardous chemical spill a year ago in East Palestine, Ohio, on February 16, 2024.
Mandel Ngan | Afp | Getty Images
Norfolk Southern is estimated to have spent about $1.7 billion to cover costs related to the incident. The company said Thursday’s settlement would not increase that total because it had already set aside money and expected costs.
The entire cleanup effort is currently expected to wrap up around November 2024, but that “may change,” according to EPA spokesman Remmington Belford.
The decision with the EPA comes a month after the company agreed to pay $600 million as part of a class-action settlement stemming from the 2023 crash.