Ohio sues Northfolk Southern for derailment

Ohio has filed a lawsuit against the Norfolk Southern Railroad to make sure it pays for the cleanup and environmental damage caused by a derailment on the Ohio-Pennsylvania line last month, the state’s attorney general said Tuesday. State.

The federal lawsuit also seeks to force the company to pay for groundwater and soil monitoring in future years and for the economic losses suffered by people in and around eastern Palestine, said Dave Yost, a prosecutor. .

“The consequences of the highly preventable accident will reverberate in Ohio for many years to come,” Yost said.

The February 3 derailment caused no injuries, but half of the 5,000 residents of eastern Palestine had to evacuate the city for days when rescuers intentionally burned toxic chemicals in some derailed cars to prevent an uncontrolled explosion , raising fears for the health of some residents. Government officials say tests last month found no dangerous levels of chemicals in the air or water.

Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw apologized to Congress last week, but made no specific commitment to pay for the long-term health or financial problems it may have caused.

The railroad has so far pledged more than $20 million to help the Ohio city get back on its feet and announced safety upgrades. A request for comment has been sent to Northfolk Southern regarding the lawsuit.

Many in eastern Palestine remain outraged by the railway and fear what will happen to the village.

They fear for their long-term health, the value of their homes and the future of local businesses.