The Judiciary Secretary said in a statement that it had filed a lawsuit against Norfolk Southern for releasing pollutants into the environment after the accident, which upended the lives of residents of eastern Palestine and sparked fears for their health.
He wants the company to pay fines and be held liable for all costs related to the derailment.
” When a Norfolk Southern train derailed in eastern Palestine, Ohio last month, it released toxins into the air, soil and water, endangering the health and safety of people in nearby communities. »
With this complaint the Department of Justice and the EPA [l’Agence américaine de protection de l’environnement] Take action to seek justice for the people of East Palestine and ensure that Norfolk Southern bears the financial burden for the harm it has caused and continues to cause to the people
he added.
About 2,000 evacuations
This derailment caused a huge fire and around 2,000 evacuations. Among other things, the train carried vinyl chloride, a carcinogenic and highly flammable chemical used in the manufacture of plastics.
The railway administration then refused controlled
Vinyl chloride to avoid possible explosion releasing toxic fumes.
Some residents have since reported various symptoms, including headaches and rashes, and feared they might develop cancer in a few years.
When asked by a Senate committee, the CEO of the railway company said terribly sorry
and obliged to change safety culture
within the group after several gaffes.
The accident highlighted not only Norfolk Southern but also, more generally, the development of current regulations in the railway sector.
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