NS Reaches East Palestine Remediation Milestone

“In cooperation with federal, state, and local authorities, Norfolk Southern is advancing environmental recovery efforts in East Palestine,” reports the Class I, which says it has “reconstructed both mainlines after successfully excavating the impacted soil under the removed tracks and transporting it off-site.”

NS Photograph, June 18, 2023

Norfolk Southern (NS) on June 26, nearly five months after the East Palestine, Ohio derailment, reported completing remediation of both tracks that run through the village, with rail traffic slated to resume “a normal schedule in the coming weeks.”

The removal of the impacted soil from underneath and between the tracks marks another milestone in NS’s commitment to clean up the site, the Class I railroad said.

The track remediation process included excavating impacted soil and replacing it with approved backfill material, as well as replacing the tracks. Both tracks were reinstalled under a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved protocol that confirmed all impacted soil had been excavated, NS said. (The railroad in April wrapped up excavation of the impacted soil beneath the removed south track, and finished track restoration to make way for work to begin at the north track.)

Additional remediation work will continue at the site, according to the railroad. It includes:

• Characterization of soil in potentially impacted areas outside of the tracks.
• Additional soil excavation and restoration in other impacted areas.
• Management and disposal of additional waste.
• Assessment and washing of Sulphur and Leslie Run.

NS reported that regular testing continues to show the air and water are safe. To date, the railroad has excavated and transported more than 73,000 tons of soil off-site for disposal. Additionally, more than 20 million gallons of impacted water have been recovered and transported off-site. All of NS’s site work has been supervised by the U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA and the Unified Command.

“We promised to listen to residents and support East Palestine for the long haul,” NS President and CEO Alan H. Shaw said. “Fully cleaning up both tracks shows that we are keeping our promises. We fully understand our responsibility to make things right in East Palestine, and as we mark this phase of remediation, we are dedicated to making further progress and investing in the community.”

Further Reading:

NS to Move Forward With Master Plan for East Palestine City Park

NS Hosts Inaugural Safety-Focused Town Hall

Alan Shaw at NARS: “We Can Do Better”

NS Donates Historic Train Depot to East Palestine Community

NS Opens New Family Assistance Center in East Palestine

NS: ‘Safety First’ Gets ‘Nuclear Power’

NS, 12 Unions Issue Joint Safety Letter

NS Issues East Palestine Progress Report

NS to Compensate East Palestine Homeowners

Alan Shaw: Together, There is No Limit to What We Can Accomplish

NS’s Shaw: ‘Focusing on Long-Term Priorities and Value’ (UPDATED, TD Cowen)

CEO PERSPECTIVE: Safety First, Safety Always