Last Updated on April 15, 2023 at 12:08pm
After testing shows impacted soil has been removed, the south track is being replaced, clearing the way for work to begin on north track.
ATLANTA, April 14, 2023 – Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) completed excavation of the impacted soil beneath the removed south track and will complete the track restoration in the coming days. In February, Norfolk Southern announced plans to excavate the soil beneath the set of tracks at the derailment site after hearing from the community. This marks a significant step in Norfolk Southern’s commitment to clean up the derailment site safely, thoroughly and with urgency. Immediately after the derailment, the company pledged to ensure the site was fully remediated and that it would pay for the associated costs.
“We are making progress every day on our commitment to clean up the derailment site and make it right for the community of East Palestine,” said Norfolk Southern President and Chief Executive Officer Alan H. Shaw. “Today marks a major milestone in the remediation process, and we will not stop until the job is done safely and thoroughly.”
This section of track was reinstalled after testing – using a U.S. EPA-approved protocol – confirmed the impacted soil under the removed track has been excavated. Norfolk Southern continues to work closely with the community and the East Palestine Train Derailment Unified Command to complete all remediation efforts at the site and in the surrounding community.
The track remediation is part of the larger effort by Norfolk Southern to fully restore the derailment site in East Palestine. With the completion of the south track, remediation work on the north track is expected to begin next week. For a brief period, trains may run on both tracks to ensure the replaced track properly settles and is safe for normal train traffic. Traffic will stop on the north track to continue remediation work, including removing impacted soil and water and conducting daily environmental monitoring.
Testing continues to show the air and water are safe, and remediation efforts are ongoing both at the derailment site and in the surrounding area. Norfolk Southern rerouted Sulphur Run around the derailment site and continues downstream testing. Any contaminated sections are undergoing remediation.
To date, the company has excavated and transported more than 25,000 tons of soil off-site for proper disposal. Additionally, over 12 million gallons of impacted water have been recovered and transported off site. All of Norfolk Southern’s work at the site has been performed in accordance with widely accepted environmental practices and under the supervision of the U.S. EPA, Ohio EPA, and other agencies in Unified Command.
For more information on Norfolk Southern’s community engagement and progress in East Palestine, please visit: NSMakingitRight.com.
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About Norfolk Southern
Since 1827, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) and its predecessor companies have moved the goods and materials that drive the U.S. economy. Today, it operates a customer-centric and operations-driven freight transportation network. Committed to furthering sustainability, Norfolk Southern helps its customers avoid 15 million tons of yearly carbon emissions by shipping via rail. Its dedicated team members deliver more than 7 million carloads annually, from agriculture to consumer goods, and is the largest rail shipper of auto products and metals in North America. Norfolk Southern also has the most extensive intermodal network in the eastern U.S., serving a majority of the country’s population and manufacturing base, with connections to every major container port on the Atlantic coast as well as the Gulf of Mexico and Great Lakes. Learn more by visiting www.NorfolkSouthern.com.
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