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EAST PALESTINE -- In the days following the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern train derailment, company CEO Alan Shaw promised Norfolk Southern would "make it right" and pledged to address potential property losses, health impacts and long-term water protection. On Tuesday, the company issued a statement that indicates that Norfolk Southern is moving forward with those commitments.
In the statement, Norfolk Southern (NS) reported the company met with Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost to discuss three additional programs that the railroad "plans to develop in conjunction with his office and other community leaders and stakeholders."
Those plans include establishing a fund that would compensate residents for long-term medical impacts of the disaster.
"Many residents are worried about what they will do if health impacts related to the derailment are discovered years from now. We appreciate Ohio Governor Mike DeWine's leadership and advocacy on this point," NS said via the statement. "To date, environmental monitoring continues to show the air and drinking water are safe. To provide an additional level of assurance, we are committed to a solution that addresses long-term health risks through the creation of a long-term medical compensation fund."
In April, DeWine spearheaded the opening of a permanent health clinic in East Palestine. The clinic, a partnership between the Ohio Department of Health and East Liverpool City Hospital, was fast-tracked to serve the needs of the community in the wake of the rail disaster. DeWine said the clinic was the first step in assessing health impacts related to the derailment and voiced confidence that NS would follow through on the fund for long-term monitoring and care.
NS announced in May it would compensate homeowners for diminished property value related to the rail disaster and chemical spill when Shaw penned a letter to federal lawmakers. The letter stated that "residents within an approximately 5-mile radius of the derailment, and who sell their homes for less than their property's pre-February 3 appraised value." Though the complete details of that plan were not released, the meeting with Yost demonstrates NS is getting close to rolling out the program.
"We also know residents are worried about their home values. While we are working with local leaders on investments to support the community's long-term prosperity, we understand these concerns," the NS statement read. "We are committed to working with the community to provide tailored protection for home sellers if their property loses value due to the impact of the derailment."
The final program discussed with Yost is to ensure long-term monitoring and prediction of the East Palestine water supply.
"We have heard the community's interest in programs that protect drinking water over the long term," the company said. "We are prepared to work with stakeholders toward that goal as well."
Norfolk said the railroad is working with Yost and community leaders, and other stakeholders to finalize, coordinate and implement the programs, though no definite dates or timeframe were mentioned. The railroad also reiterated its commitment to East Palestine's recovery and revitalization. To date, the company reports it has pledged $68.7 million to those efforts.
"Every day since the derailment, our goal has been to make it right for the people of East Palestine and the surrounding communities. We are making progress every day cleaning the site safely and thoroughly, providing financial assistance to residents and businesses that have been affected, and investing to help East Palestine and the communities around it thrive."