The US government on Tuesday ordered a railroad whose train carrying toxic chemicals derailed to clean up pollution caused by the crash and take financial responsibility for operating it, threatening to charge “triple” the cost ask if she didn’t comply.
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On February 3, the derailment in the town of East Palestine, Ohio, caused a huge fire and the evacuation of hundreds of people. Among other things, the train carried vinyl chloride, a carcinogenic and highly flammable chemical used in the manufacture of plastics.
The railway authorities had carried out “controlled” releases of vinyl chloride to avoid a possible explosion that would release toxic fumes.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said in a press release that it had asked the Norfolk Southern company to “remediate contaminated soil and water resources” and “reimburse the EPA for cleaning services provided to residents and businesses in New York are offered to reassure her even more.”
This is a mandatory order according to the EPA.
The agency said it would approve a plan detailing “all necessary actions to remedy the environmental damage caused by the derailment.”
“If the company fails to take the actions ordered by the EPA, the agency will step in immediately, do the necessary work and then attempt to force Norfolk Southern to pay three times the cost,” the EPA said.
“To be clear, Norfolk Southern will pay to clean up the mess it has caused and the trauma it has inflicted on this population,” said EPA chief Michael Regan.
When asked by AFP, the company said it recognized “a responsibility”.
“We have paid for the cleanup work to date and will continue to do so. We are committed to cleaning the site thoroughly and safely, and we are in the process of reimbursing residents for the disruption caused to their daily lives,” Norfolk Southern said.
“We will learn from this horrific accident and work with regulators and elected officials to improve rail safety,” she added.
President Joe Biden’s administration scrambled to provide safety after the derailment, as residents expressed anger and concern over the pollution and possible health consequences.
Some have told the media they have had various symptoms, including headaches, and said they fear they will develop cancer in a few years. Around 3,500 fish also died in the surrounding waters, according to the local natural resources agency.
Authorities said the air was “safe” and tests of the water from the city’s system had found no pollutants, but residents are skeptical and some have already lodged complaints against the railway company.