Norfolk Southern Corp. has agreed to an estimated $310 million settlement with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Justice Department more than a year after the railway company’s trains crashed, exploded, and spilled toxic chemicals in East Palestine, Ohio, last year.
If the settlement is approved by a U.S. District Court judge, Norfolk Southern will pay $235 million for cleanup work, $25 million for a 20-year community health program that includes long-term health monitoring, and $15 million each for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act, 10 years of groundwater and surface water monitoring, and a private drinking water monitoring fund.
