Board Leader
Posted 09 April 2024 - 08:59 AM
CNN, 4/9/24:
Norfolk Southern reaches $600 million settlement to settle East Palestine derailment suit
Norfolk Southern has reached a $600 million settlement that, if approved by a court, will resolve all class-action lawsuits within 20 miles of its 2023 East Palestine, Ohio, derailment that spilled more than a million pounds of hazardous chemicals into the soil, water and air.
Kevin Korell
OTOL Board Leader
Lakewood, NJ
Administrator
Posted 14 April 2024 - 04:28 PM
News Nation, 4/10/24
East Palestine residents unhappy with Norfolk after settlement
- Train derailment left East Palestine residents with health issues
- Railroad company Norfolk Southern settled class action lawsuit
- Residents want to see Norfolk Southern do more to 'make it right'
(NewsNation) — Norfolk Southern agreed to a $600 million settlement in a class action lawsuit, but some residents of East Palestine, Ohio, say they still want to see more from the company after a fiery train derailment in the town left them with health issues.
About 100,000 residents and businesses are eligible to get money from the settlement. They have to be within a 20-mile radius of the derailment. Split per person, that means these residents can expect to get about $6,000 each before attorney’s fees are added in, although lawyers tell NewsNation some will get more and others will get less depending on their claims.
Administrator
Posted 20 May 2024 - 06:57 AM
Associated Press, 5/14/24
Whistleblower questions delays and mistakes in way EPA used sensor plane after fiery Ohio derailment
The U.S. government has a specialized plane loaded with advanced sensors that officials brag is always ready to deploy within an hour of any kind of chemical disaster. But the plane didn’t fly over eastern Ohio until four days after the disastrous Norfolk Southern derailment there last year.
A whistleblower told The Associated Press that the Environmental Protection Agency’s ASPECT plane could have provided crucial data about the chemicals spewing into the air around East Palestine as the wreckage burned and forced people from their homes.
The man who wrote the software and helped interpret the data from the advanced radiological and infrared sensors on the plane said it also could have helped officials realize it wasn’t necessary to blow open five tank cars and burn the vinyl chloride inside because the plane’s sensors could have detected the cars’ temperatures more accurately than the responders on the ground who were having trouble safely getting close enough to check.
Administrator
Posted 24 May 2024 - 07:02 AM
Trains News Wire
Norfolk Southern reaches $310 million East Palestine settlement with EPA, Justice DepartmentBy Trains Staff | May 23, 2024The agreement includes a $15 million fine for the hazardous materials derailment in Ohio
A view of the East Palestine, Ohio, derailment site on July 27, 2023 shows progress made on cleanup. Norfolk Southern
WASHINGTON — Norfolk Southern reached a $310 million settlement today with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Justice Department regarding cleanup and ongoing monitoring in East Palestine, Ohio, which was the site of a disastrous hazardous materials derailment last year.
The agencies said the agreement, which must be approved by a federal court, holds NS accountable for picking up the tab for the Feb. 3 derailment, which likely was caused by the catastrophic failure of a wheel bearing.
NS 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 agencies said.
Administrator
Posted 24 May 2024 - 01:38 PM
CNN, 5/23/24
Feds reach $310M settlement with Norfolk Southern after toxic Ohio train derailment. Here’s what else the company has to do
CNN — The Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Justice have reached a $310 million settlement agreement with Norfolk Southern after last year’s train derailment that spilled more than a million pounds of hazardous chemicals into the soil, water and air in Ohio.“If the settlement is approved by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, 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 Thursday.
SNIP
When asked whether the $15 million civil penalty is enough, EPA Administrator Michael Regan told reporters Norfolk Southern is “going above and beyond and actually doing things they had not planned to do,” and “so I think it is a strong step forward.”
Administrator
Posted Today, 07:29 PM
Progressive Railroading, 6/14/24
NTSB sets meetings for East Palestine final report
The National Transportation Safety Board will return to East Palestine, Ohio, on June 25 for its final board meeting on the February 2023 Norfolk Southern Railway train derailment and subsequent hazardous material release and fires.
NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy announced yesterday that the board will hold two community meetings — one on June 24 and one after the June 25 board meeting — for East Palestine and area residents who’ve been affected by the derailment.
Administrator
Posted Today, 07:31 PM
NTSB Media Advisory
NTSB to Meet and Approve Final Report on Norfolk Southern Train Derailment Investigation in East Palestine, Ohio
6/13/24
NTSB Chair will also hold two community meetings
WASHINGTON (June 13, 2024) — The National Transportation Safety Board will return to East Palestine, Ohio, on June 25 for its final board meeting on the 2023 train derailment and subsequent hazardous material release and fires. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy will hold two community meetings for residents of East Palestine and surrounding areas impacted by the derailment on June 24 and after the board meeting on June 25.
BOARD MEETING
During the public meeting, the five NTSB Members will hear presentations from investigators, deliberate over the draft report and vote on the proposed findings, probable cause and safety recommendations. The board will also vote on any changes to the draft final report. An executive summary of the final report will be available after the meeting. The report will be published on the NSTB website several weeks after the meeting.
WHAT: NTSB board meeting on the Feb. 3, 2023, Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio
WHO: NTSB investigative staff and board members.
WHEN: Tuesday, June 25 at 9:30 a.m. Eastern time.
WHERE: East Palestine High School
360 West Grant Street
East Palestine, OH 44413
HOW TO VIEW: Attend in person to observe the board meeting or watch livestream on the NTSB YouTube channel.
COMMUNITY MEETINGS
NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy will hold two public community meetings in East Palestine, Ohio, on June 24 and 25 open to residents of East Palestine and surrounding areas, including neighboring communities in Pennsylvania. The meetings will provide an opportunity for the public to ask about the NTSB and its investigative process.
WHAT: Community meeting on the NTSB and our investigative process.
WHO: NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy and area residents.
WHEN: Monday, June 24 (NTSB investigative process) & Tuesday, June 25 (Investigative findings, probable cause, and safety recommendations) 6-8 p.m. Eastern time.
WHERE: East Palestine High School
360 West Grant Street
East Palestine, OH 44413
HOW: Attend in person only.
See our East Palestine investigation page for more details about the investigation.
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