The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Tuesday ordered Norfolk Southern to clean up the site of its train derailment in Ohio.
Federal regulators finally stepped in to hold Norfolk Southern accountable for the Feb. 3 train derailment incident that led to a large release of toxic chemicals in East Palestine, a town near the Pennsylvania border.
“In no way, shape or form will Norfolk Southern get off the hook for the mess they created,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said at a news conference. “I know this order cannot undo the nightmare that families in this town have been living with, but it will begin to deliver much-needed justice for the pain that Norfolk Southern has caused.”
“The combination of Norfolk Southern’s corporate greed, incompetence and lack of concern for our residents is absolutely unacceptable to me,” Shapiro said at the news conference.
If Norfolk Southern does not comply, the EPA will impose a steep penalty that is three times the cost of the damages, forcing the agency to complete the work on its own.
According to Ohio Gov. Michael DeWine, the railroad company has already removed 4,600 yards of polluted soil and 1.1 million gallons of contaminated water. He said that before fixing the railroad tracks to transport freight once more, it neglected to remove the polluted dirt from beneath them.
Norfolk Southern must now raise the rails once again to remove the contaminated soil, DeWine added.
The company was criticized for what Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro called “failed management of this crisis.”
“The combination of Norfolk Southern’s corporate greed, incompetence and lack of concern for our residents is absolutely unacceptable to me,” Shapiro said at the news conference.
Many residents living near the site have reportedly been experiencing symptoms such as irritation to the eyes, nose, throat, and skin, as well as blood in urine and vomiting. while some may also cause nausea, headaches, and dizziness.
Jeff Zalick, who lives with his 100-year-old mother just a few blocks from where the train derailed, said Norfolk Southern must pay to clean his home.
“They’re going to pay for it. There’s no ifs or buts,” Zalick said.
