Norfolk Southern reaches $310m settlement

Drone footage shows the freight train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. NTSBGov/Handout

More than a year on from the East Palestine, Ohio, derailment and its associated chemical spill that forced residents from their homes and led to the deaths of thousands of animals, US rail operator Norfolk Southern has agreed to a $310m settlement with the government. $235m will be spent on cleaning up the contaminated air, soil, and water, while the US Department of Justice said the carrier will bear responsibility for the cost of long-term environmental monitoring and mental health services for residents, according to BBC. In total, Norfolk Southern expects the cost of the February 2023 derailment to exceed $1bn after it reached a $600m class-action settlement with the town’s residents in April.