Norfolk Southern has agreed to pay a settlement valued at $310 million with the U.S. government over the East Palestine derailment.
Topline
Norfolk Southern has agreed to pay a settlement valued at $310 million and will make additional rail safety improvements in response to its 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, which sparked environmental concerns due to a resulting chemical spill.Key Facts
The settlement includes roughly $235 million worth of past and future cleanup costs, $20 million for a 20-year community health program that includes physical health and mental health monitoring, water monitoring programs and a $15 million civil penalty, among other things, according to the Department of Justice and Environmental Protection Agency.
Norfolk Southern is also required to carry out projects that will make it safer to transport hazardous materials through rails under the terms of the agreement—bringing the company’s total estimated spending on rail safety enhancements since the crash beyond $200 million.
