Norfolk Southern ordered to pay for cleaning up Ohio train derailment site

On Tuesday, EPA announced sweeping legal action against Norfolk Southern for derailment of a train carrying toxic chemicals in East Palestine, Ohio on Feb. 3. The rail company will also be responsible for cleanup costs. 

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As part of his remarks prepared for a news conference held in East Palestine, EPA Administrator Michael Regan said the Norfolk Southern train derailment had upended the lives of East Palestine families, and that his order would ensure that the company would be held accountable for jeopardizing their safety and health. In the words of Norfolk Southern: "We will pay for the trauma this railroad has inflicted on this community and the mess they have created."

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If Norfolk Southern fails to comply with the EPA's order, the agency will "immediately" conduct the required work before seeking to force the company to pay triple the amount. EPA will have to pay any costs incurred by the company, including reimbursement for cleaning services that the company will offer residents and businesses; participate in public meetings at EPA's request; and post information online. This order requires the company to identify and clean contaminated soil and water.

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Several class-action suits have already been filed against the rail company by residents of East Palestine, whose homes were evacuated after the incident.

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Norfolk Southern has been ordered to pay a fine by the Ohio attorney general's office for its actions.

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After the derailment of the 150-car train carrying hazardous chemicals through the eastern Ohio town, Norfolk Southern released and burned a toxic chemical in the area to avoid an explosion.

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On Tuesday, the Ohio Health Department opened a clinic in East Palestine to address mounting health concerns among residents.

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The department said in a news release Sunday that it would open the clinic in partnership with the Columbiana County Health Department and with support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 

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It said the clinic will be available to East Palestine-area residents “who have medical questions or concerns related to the recent train derailment.”

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Within 24 hours of the derailment, the EPA claims it started evaluating the East Palestine area's air quality, using a mobile analytical laboratory among other methods. According to a voluntary test program made available to people, the agency said it helped monitor the indoor air in more than 550 households. It also stated that "no detections of vinyl chloride or hydrogen chloride were discovered above levels of concern."

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The EPA will "continue to coordinate closely with our local, state, and federal partners through a whole-of-government approach to support the East Palestine community during the remediation phase," according to Regan, who also expressed gratitude to first responders and EPA personnel on the ground in Ohio. EPA stands with the people of East Palestine right now and for however long it takes.

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An inquiry for comment was not immediately answered by Norfolk Southern.