Ohio sues Norfolk Southern over toxic train derailment

Ohio has filed a lawsuit against Norfolk Southern to ensure it pays for the cleanup and environmental damage caused by a fire train derailment on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border last month, the state’s attorney general said Tuesday.

The federal lawsuit also seeks to force the company to pay for groundwater and soil monitoring in the coming years and economic losses in East Palestine Village and surrounding areas, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said.

“The effects of this easily preventable accident will reverberate throughout Ohio for years to come,” Yost said.

No one was hurt in the February 3 crash, but half of East Palestine’s estimated 5,000 residents were forced to evacuate for days when emergency services deliberately burned toxic chemicals in some of the derailed vehicles to prevent an uncontrolled explosion, leaving residents with lingering health problems. . Government officials say tests conducted last month found no dangerous levels of chemicals in the air or water in the area.

Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw apologized to Congress last week for the impact the rail derailment had on East Palestine and surrounding communities, but he made no specific commitment to pay for long-term health and economic damage.

So far, the railroad has pledged more than $20 million to help the Ohio community recover, and has also announced several voluntary safety updates. A message asking for comment on the lawsuit was left with Norfolk Southern.

Many in East Palestine remain resentful of the railroad and worried about what will become of the countryside.

These fears include concerns about their long-term health, the value of their homes, and the economic future for local businesses.