Public Asked To Comment on Norfolk Southern Settlement with EPA Over East Palestine Derailment
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The comment period for the public to provide feedback regarding last week's settlement between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Norfolk Southern following last year's train derailment is open until July 1, the EPA reported.
Details of the settlement as well as directions to submit a public comment are available on the Department of Justice website at justice.gov. Residents wishing to comment can also follow links available on the EPA website at epa.gov/east-palestine-oh-train-derailment.
On May 23, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Justice announced a settlement valued at over $310 million with Norfolk Southern.
The settlement is meant to hold the railroad "accountable for addressing and paying for the damage caused by the Feb. 3, 2023 train derailment in East Palestine."
"Norfolk Southern will be required to take measures to improve rail safety, pay for health monitoring and mental health services for the surrounding communities, fund long-term environmental monitoring, pay a $15 million civil penalty, and take other actions to protect nearby waterways and drinking water resources," the EPA said.
The settlement requires Norfolk Southern to pay the civil penalty to resolve the alleged violations of the Clean Water Act.
Other allotted amounts dedicated by the settlement include $25 million for a 20-year community health program that includes medical monitoring for qualified individuals and mental health services for individuals residing in affected counties as well as first responders who worked at the site, $15 million to implement long-term monitoring of groundwater and surface water for a period of 10 years and an additional $15 million to monitor both municipal and private wells for 10 years.
The complaint filed in Younsgtown's U.S. District Court alleged that "at least 11" of the 38 rail cars that derailed last year were carrying hazardous materials that have been associated with various health risks, including cancer, fetal development issues and organ damage.