By Sarah Fitzpatrick —
NBC News
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Tuesday a broad action against Norfolk Southern, forcing the railroad company to carry out and pay for cleanup actions associated with the February 3 derailment of a train that was transporting toxic chemicals in East Palestine, Ohio.
“The Norfolk Southern train derailment has upended the lives of families in East Palestine, and the EPA order will ensure the company is held accountable for endangering the health and safety of this community,” the EPA administrator said. , Michael Regan, in remarks prepared for a press conference in East Palestine.
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"Let me be clear: Norfolk Southern will pay to clean up the mess it has created and the trauma it has inflicted on this community," he added.
If the company fails to carry out any of the actions ordered by the EPA,
the agency will “immediately” perform the necessary work
and then try to force Norfolk Southern to pay triple the cost.
The order will require the company to identify and clean up contaminated soil and water;
pay all EPA costs, including reimbursement to the agency for the cleanup services it will provide to residents and businesses;
and to participate in public meetings at the request of EPA and post information online.
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The railway company is already facing multiple class action lawsuits from members of the East Palestine community over the incident, which forced residents within a radius of about a mile to evacuate their homes.
The Ohio state attorney general's office has also indicated that it plans to take legal action against Norfolk Southern.
Following the derailment of the 150-car train carrying hazardous chemicals through the eastern Ohio town, Norfolk Southern released and burned a toxic chemical in the area to prevent an explosion.
On Tuesday, the Ohio Department of Health opened a clinic in East Palestine to address growing health concerns among residents.
The department said in a statement that it would open the clinic in collaboration with the Columbiana County Health Department and with the support of the Department of Health and Human Services.
A black column rises over East Palestine, following the controlled detonation of part of the derailed Norfolk Southern trains on February 6. Gene J. Puskar / AP
He added that the clinic will be available to residents of the East Palestine area "who have medical questions or concerns related to the recent train derailment."
The EPA claims that it began testing air quality in the East Palestine area within 24 hours of the derailment, using a mobile analytical laboratory.
The agency said Tuesday that it has assisted with indoor air monitoring of more than 550 homes under a voluntary screening program offered to residents, and that "no detections of vinyl chloride or hydrogen chloride were identified above levels of concern".
Regan expressed her gratitude to EPA first responders and staff on the ground in Ohio, saying that EPA “will continue to coordinate closely with our local, state, and federal partners through a whole-of-government approach to support the East Palestine community during the remediation phase.
To the people of East Palestine, EPA stands with you now and for as long as it takes."
Norfolk Southern did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
