It’s been nearly six months since a Norfolk Southern train carrying hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine on Feb. 3, and work continues to clean up the site and help the community.
Here’s a look at the clean up so far and some of the commitments made by Atlanta-based Norfolk Southern.
Site cleanup:
The Environmental Protection Agency is overseeing ongoing cleanup of the derailment site, including excavation of contaminated soil, air monitoring and sampling of Sulphur Run, a creek contaminated by chemicals from the derailment.
- Estimated more than 26 million gallons of liquid waste shipped
- Estimated more than 80,000 tons of solid waste shipped
- More than 780 private well samples collected
- More than 1,130 EPA assistance calls
- More than 940 visits to the EPA Welcome Center
Source: EPA
Credit: (Matt Freed for the Atlanta Journal Constitution)
Credit: (Matt Freed for the Atlanta Journal Constitution)
Norfolk Southern’s community contributions
Norfolk Southern said it has committed more than $63 million to the community.
That includes $25 million in upgrades and improvements at the East Palestine City Park that Norfolk Southern will fund, including a new swimming pool, a new amphitheater, three new playgrounds and baseball field improvements.
Credit: (Matt Freed for the Atlanta Journal Constitution)
Credit: (Matt Freed for the Atlanta Journal Constitution)
The company says it has assisted more than 10,000 families at the Norfolk Southern family assistance center.
The railroad has also committed $8.6 million in Western Pennsylvania, near the derailment site. The Norfolk Southern train derailed in Ohio less than one mile from the Pennsylvania border. Norfolk Southern sponsored a carnival held July 25-29 in New Galilee, Pa., with $1,000 stipends to farmers for booths. The railroad also made a $1 million contribution to a community foundation and $1 million contribution to a community relief fund.
Other contributions included in the total:
- $3 million reimbursement to the East Palestine Fire Department for equipment used to respond to the derailment
- $1 million community fund established for East Palestine
- $445,000 personal donation by Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw to create a scholarship endowment fund for East Palestine High School seniors to attend college or vocational school
- $300,000 donation to the East Palestine school district
- $300,000 donation to the East Palestine Community Foundation
- $250,000 donation to Ohio-based nonprofit The Way Station
Source: Norfolk Southern
