US government orders railway company to pay full cost of toxic waste cleanup after incident

(Patria) - The US government has ordered the railway company Norfolk Southern to pay the full cost of cleanup after a train carrying toxic substances derailed in the state of Ohio, AFP reported.

"To be clear: Norfolk Southern will pay for the cleanup of the mess they made and for the trauma they have inflicted on this community," said Michael Regan, head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in a statement.

The derailment of a freight train on February 3 in the town of East Palestine caused a huge fire and the release of toxic fumes, including vinyl chloride, a colorless gas that the US National Cancer Institute has declared carcinogenic. Several thousand residents were evacuated at the time.

"The Norfolk Southern train derailment has changed the lives of East Palestine families, and the EPA's order will ensure that the company is held accountable for endangering the health and safety of this community," Regan said. "People of East Palestine, the EPA stands with you now and for as long as it may take," he added.

The legally binding order from the EPA requires Norfolk Southern to identify and clean up contaminated soil and water resources and to reimburse the EPA for cleanup services that will be offered to residents and businesses. The EPA stated that it will approve a work plan outlining all the steps necessary to clean up the environmental damage caused.

"If the company fails to complete any action as ordered by the EPA, the Agency will step in immediately, perform the necessary work, and then seek to compel Norfolk Southern to pay triple the cost," the EPA announced.

According to officials, tests have shown that the air is safe and that no pollutants have been detected in the municipal water supply. However, many residents remain concerned, and some have reported headaches and fear of developing cancer later.

Norfolk Southern's train with 150 wagons was carrying cargo from Madison, Illinois, to Conway, Pennsylvania.

The accident resulted in the derailment of 38 wagons, 11 of which were carrying hazardous materials, including vinyl chloride, butyl acrylate, and other chemicals, the National Transportation Safety Board reported.