A federal judge has ruled that Norfolk Southern will be solely responsible for covering the costs of the cleanup following a fiery train derailment that occurred in East Palestine, Ohio, on February 3, 2023. The decision, issued recently, dismissed the railroad's claim that other companies involved in the incident should share the financial burden of the cleanup.
The derailment resulted in a spill of various chemicals, some of which ignited, prompting officials to detonate five tank cars carrying vinyl chloride out of safety concerns. Residents in the area have expressed ongoing worries about potential health implications stemming from the chemicals released during the incident.
According to Norfolk Southern, the ongoing cleanup efforts have already incurred costs exceeding $1.1 billion, with expenses continuing to accrue. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) anticipates the completion of the cleanup later this year.
U.S. District Judge John Adams emphasized that prolonging the legal dispute by involving other companies in sharing the costs would not expedite the resolution of the lawsuit filed by the EPA and the state of Ohio against Norfolk Southern. The judge noted that the primary focus should be on remediating the contamination and damages caused by the derailment.
The National Transportation Safety Board attributed the crash to an overheating bearing on a railcar carrying plastic pellets, which led to the train derailing. Despite sensors detecting the issue prior to the incident, the crew had insufficient time to prevent the derailment.
While Norfolk Southern contended that companies like Oxy Vinyls and GATX should also bear responsibility for the damages, the judge's ruling upheld the railroad's sole liability. GATX expressed satisfaction with the decision, asserting that Norfolk Southern is accountable for ensuring the safe transportation of all commodities on its rail lines.
Both Oxy Vinyls and GATX are still defendants in a class-action lawsuit filed by East Palestine residents, indicating that they may potentially share some responsibility for the derailment in the future.
