(New York) The US government announced Friday to file a complaint against a railway company after the derailment of one of its trains, which caused environmental pollution in early February in a locality in Ohio.
The Justice Department said in a statement that it had filed a lawsuit against Norfolk Southern for dumping pollutants into the environment after the accident, which upended the lives of residents of East Palestine and sparked fears for their health.
He wants the group to pay penalties and be held liable for all costs related to the derailment.
“When a Norfolk Southern train derailed last month in East Palestine, Ohio, it released toxins into the air, soil and water, endangering the health and safety of people in communities. surrounding areas,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland.
“With this complaint, the Department of Justice and the EPA [l’Agence américaine de protection de l’environnement, NDLR] are taking action to demand justice for the people of East Palestine and to ensure that Norfolk Southern bears the financial burden for the harm it has caused and continues to inflict on the people,” he added.
PHOTO GENE J. PUSKAR, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
This derailment caused a huge fire and some 2,000 evacuations. Among other things, the train was carrying vinyl chloride, a carcinogenic and highly flammable chemical used in the manufacture of plastic.
The railway authorities then carried out “controlled” releases of vinyl chloride to avoid a possible explosion, releasing toxic fumes.
Some residents have since reported experiencing various symptoms, including headaches and rashes, and said they feared they might end up with cancers in a few years.
Questioned by a Senate committee, the CEO of the railway company said he was “terribly sorry” and pledged to change “the safety culture” within the group after several derailments.
The accident shone the spotlight on Norfolk Southern but also, more broadly, on the evolution of the regulations in force within the rail sector.