Move FM Global News

WASHINGTON D.C.: After the derailment of a freight train in Ohio in early February, the US Justice Department is suing Norfolk Southern on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that the railroad pays the full cost of cleanup and any long-term effects.

The lawsuit, filed in a US District Court in Ohio, is seeking penalties and relief for the unlawful discharge of pollutants under the Clean Water Act, as well as an order addressing liability for past and future costs.

On February 3, a Norfolk train derailment in the village of East Palestine, caused cars carrying toxic vinyl chloride and other hazardous chemicals to spill and catch fire.

“With this complaint, the Justice Department and the EPA are acting to pursue justice for the residents of East Palestine and ensure that Norfolk Southern carries the financial burden for the harm it has caused and continues to inflict on the community,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland.

In February, the EPA issued an order requiring Norfolk Southern to draft plans to clean any contamination and pay for the agency’s response costs.

In response, Norfolk Southern said that it was “cleaning up the site, assisting residents whose lives were impacted by the derailment, and investing in the future of East Palestine and the surrounding areas. We will keep working until we make it right.”

Last week, Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw told lawmakers that the railroad is “committed to addressing potential long-term health issues, home value impacts from the derailment and efforts to protect drinking water.”