Norfolk Southern Settles $310M for East Palestine Derailment Cleanup

Norfolk Southern Railway Company has agreed to a $310 million settlement with the U.S. Justice Department and EPA for the February 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The settlement includes measures to improve rail safety, health monitoring, environmental cleanup, and a $15 million civil penalty. The company has already spent $800 million on environmental response and faces nearly $2 billion in total costs. The settlement is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval. Concerns have been raised that the settlement may undercompensate affected residents.