Norfolk Southern Promises $7M for Pennsylvania Communities Affected by Ohio Train Derailment

Norfolk Southern has promised to pay $7 million in relief to Pennsylvania communities affected by last month’s train derailment over the border in East Palestine, Ohio.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro called the commitment “a starting point” and said he will continue pushing Norfolk Southern for “further accountability and to cover additional costs that may accrue.”

On Feb. 3, 38 cars of a Norfolk Southern freight train derailed in East Palestine. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, of the 150 cars in the train, 11 containing hazardous materials burned.

Residents in the area were ordered to evacuate on Feb. 6 so that the railroad could perform a controlled release of the rail cars’ chemicals.

Federal, state and local government emergency response units as well as the railway’s disaster teams have been at work at the site since. Some residents continue to worry about long-term health effects.

East Palestine is located on the Ohio border with Pennsylvania, about 40 miles northwest of Pittsburgh.

Shapiro said that in a meeting with the railway firm he demanded Norfolk Southern cover all of the costs incurred by his state agencies and local fire departments that have responded to the derailment, as well as set up a $1 million community relief fund for businesses and residents in Beaver and Lawrence counties who lost revenue as a result of the incident.

These costs are separate from any other legal obligations that might be imposed on Norfolk Southern, the state noted.

The rail transport company says it has to date contributed $13.2 million to residents and agencies, including $2.7 million in reimbursements to the East Palestine fire department and $1 million to an East Palestine community relief fund.

Shapiro reported that Norfolk Southern has agreed to pay Pennsylvania:

• $5,000,000 to reimburse local fire departments in Western Pennsylvania that need to replace contaminated or damaged equipment that was used in responding to the derailment.
• $1,000,000 for a Community Relief Fund to be run by Beaver and Lawrence County officials to support business owners and residents impacted by the derailment.
• $950,000 to cover Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s work in Western Pennsylvania.
• $400,000 for the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s services, including costs associated with the health resource center and the poison control call line.
• $30,000 to cover the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency’s staff time.

Last week, the Pennsylvania Department of Health opened a resource center in Darlington Township for residents of Beaver and Lawrence counties who have health concerns. Residents can sign up for free water testing and obtain guidance on food and animal safety.

According to the government, Pennsylvania continues to see no concerning air or water quality readings based on monitoring that has been in place since the incident began.

Photo: A view of the scene Friday, Feb. 24, 2023, as the cleanup continued at the site of of a Norfolk Southern freight train derailment that happened on Feb. 3 in East Palestine, Ohio. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Topics Ohio Pennsylvania