The group comprised of U.S. Senators Bob Casey and John Fetterman along with Representative Chris Deluzio have written a letter to Norfolk Southern, urging them to provide assistance to residents in Pennsylvania affected by the train derailment.
The train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio on February 3rd wreaked havoc on many families lives in the surrounding area.
Norfolk Southern has implemented a Family Assistance Center in East Palestine to answer questions and assist those impacted.
The company has assisted affected residents in Darlington Township on a case-by-case basis, but they are facing additional hurdles after many families from PA have been turned away from the center.
The senators have pushed the EPA to hold Norfolk Southern accountable as well for releasing hazardous chemicals into the air and water in the community and not providing proper assistance. They also wrote the NTSB on rail safety concerns in the incident.
"Norfolk Southern's policy of only reimbursing the residents of the roughly 130+ dwellings that were officially evacuated ignores the reality of the situation for residents across Beaver and Lawrence Counties. Families across these counties, not just those officially evacuated, saw a toxic plume and acted to protect their families at a time of considerably uncertainty. Similarly, local officials took action to keep them and their families safe. Their decisions were justified, as is their ongoing concern for their health and wellbeing," The members wrote in their letter.
Beaver County officials have also been pressing for the three zip codes in question from Darlington Township to be given appropriate assistance.
"They should not be denied assistance because Norfolk Southern, a multi-billion-dollar corporation, insists on adhering to rigid, unrealistic boundaries that do not reflect the lived reality of the derailment or the impact of the derailment," said the group.
They expect the three zip codes to be given eligibility and a response from Norfolk Southern within the next 2 days.
