Debris from a Norfolk Southern freight train littered the tracks and burned on February 4, 2023, the day after the derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. A federal judge on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 signed off on a $600 million class action settlement over last year’s catastrophic Norfolk Southern railroad derailment in eastern Ohio, but many who live near East Palestine are still wondering about them How much money will be lost in the end.
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The U.S. Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency announced a settlement Thursday with Norfolk Southern over the railroad’s toxic emissions following a 2023 derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
Under the agreement, Norfolk Southern will pay nearly $235 million to cover the EPA’s past and future cleanup costs of contaminated air, water and soil in and around the area where the train derailed.
In addition, the railroad agreed to pay a $15 million civil penalty, $25 million in 20-year community health plan costs, and will spend approximately $15 million to implement long-term groundwater and surface water monitoring for 10 years.
Norfolk Southern estimates it will spend more than $1 billion to repair pollution and other hazards caused by the derailment and to improve rail safety and operations, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
“No community should have to experience the trauma experienced by residents of East Palestine,” EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said in a statement.
He added: “Today’s enforcement action delivers on that commitment, ensuring the company pays for cleanup costs and helping to prevent a similar disaster from happening again.”
In April, Norfolk Southern agreed to pay $600 million to settle a class-action lawsuit over the Feb. 3 derailment. The agreement will resolve all class action claims within a 20-mile radius of the derailment and personal injury claims within a 10-mile radius for residents who choose to participate.
While the company agreed to pay $600 million as part of the settlement, it took no responsibility for the derailment and admitted any wrongdoing.
“Individuals and businesses will be able to use the compensation in the settlement in any way they see fit to address the potential adverse effects of the derailment,” the company said in a statement after the April settlement was reached. “This may include Healthcare needs and medical monitoring, property restoration and abatement, and compensation for any net business losses.”
The agreement still requires approval from a federal judge in the Northern District of Ohio.
On February 3, 2023, 38 train cars, 11 of which were carrying toxic chemicals, derailed near the Pennsylvania Line in suburban East Palestine, Ohio. A derailed train car sparked a fire that sent toxic smoke wafting over the town.
Nearly 2,000 of the town’s 4,900 residents were forced to evacuate.
NPR’s Joel Ross contributed to this report.
