Company officials also told to attend public meetings for the town impacted by chemicals.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan announced that the EPA will order Norfolk Southern to address the toxic chemical pollution in the aftermath of the crash of one of its freight trains in East Palestine, Ohio.
The order will require Norfolk Southern to submit a work plan for the derailment cleanup to the EPA for approval and will require the company to attend all town meetings related to the spill. Last week, Norfolk Southern officials boycotted one of those meetings due to personal safety concerns. This upset the local residents, who are currently exposed to an excessive amount of cancerous chemicals after the train crash.
“Let me be crystal clear: Norfolk Southern will pay for cleaning up the mess that they created and for trauma they’ve inflicted on this community,” Administrator Regan said.
President Joe Biden echoed this sentiment, adding that Norfolk Southern and other railroad companies have lobbied for years against legislation to improve railroad safety. “This is more than a train derailment or a toxic waste spill – it’s years of opposition to safety measures coming home to roost,” President Biden stated. “This is their mess. They should clean it up.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Administrator Regan as he heads the Environmental Protection Agency.
- For federal and state officials as they seek to ensure the environmental recovery.
- For the safety of East Palestine, Ohio, residents as they await remediation.
Sources: AP, Reuters
