Norfolk Southern is continuing work to make it right for East Palestine and area communities. We’re completing remediation of soil beneath the tracks and the full site, while being an industry leader in support of several initiatives to further rail safety.  

“The folks here love their community and they’re proud of living in East Palestine,” said Alan Shaw, Norfolk Southern President and CEO. “We’re going to help them recover and thrive.”

We have committed from day one to paying for all remediation costs associated with the derailment in East Palestine, and we are making progress as we continue to work closely with local, state, and federal officials to enact a thorough long-term remediation plan.

• To date, we have removed 36,518 tons of waste soil and more than 14.5 million gallons of contaminants and contaminated liquid.
• The South Track soil removal and replacement has been completed through a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-approved protocol.
• The North Track has been removed and excavation is ongoing; contaminated soil and water from the site is being moved to approved disposal facilities.
• We have conducted 631 in-home air tests and collected thousands of data points through outdoor air monitoring.
• Independent testing by the Ohio and U.S. Environmental Protection Agencies have indicated that the air and water are safe in East Palestine.

We are committed to East Palestine for the long haul, and we are developing long-term programs to protect drinking water, support home values, and provide medical compensation for impacted community members. Since February 3, we have invested more than $34.3 million into the region’s economy, including:

• Direct relief to more than 8,500 families, totaling $7.4 million.
• A commitment of $7.5 million to reimburse various Pennsylvania government agencies and communities impacted by the derailment.
• The establishment of a $1 million Community Fund to support immediate community needs in East Palestine.
• The appointment of a dedicated community liaison, reporting directly to Norfolk Southern President and CEO Alan Shaw, who is empowered to distribute $1 million into the community.
• A reimbursement and commitment to the East Palestine Fire Department over $3 million for fire equipment used in the derailment response.
• A $300,000 donation to the East Palestine City School District to support the district’s academics, athletics, and extra-curricular activities.
• A commitment to make meaningful improvements in East Palestine City Park.

A safer railroad is a better railroad and the events of the last few months have strengthened our commitment to enhancing our safety culture. That leadership starts at home as we invest approximately $2 billion every year in various initiatives including cutting-edge technology, equipment, and infrastructure. We are also implementing a six-point operational safety plan to strengthen the safety solutions we have in place, and we are committed to working with regulators and leading the entire rail industry to advance safety.

We thank the East Palestine community, our team members, and collaborators for their support as we continue to make progress and make it right in East Palestine.

“We were here day one – immediately after the derailment. We’re here today and we’ll continue to be here tomorrow and for many years to come,” said Kristin Wong, Director, Corporate Giving. “We’re committed to ensuring this community recovers and thrives.”