Norfolk Southern agrees to pay $600 million to settle a class-action lawsuit over the toxic train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
The company announced today the agreement, if approved by the court, resolves all class action claims within a 20-mile radius of the derailment and personal injury claims in a 10-mile radius.
The railroad says the settlement doesn’t include an admission of liability, wrongdoing or fault.
A U.S. District Court is expected to get the agreement in April. Payments to class members could begin by the end of the year, subject to court approval.
“This settlement furthers the work Norfolk Southern has done to make it right in East Palestine and the surrounding communities,” the company said in a statement.”
$104 million in community assistance to East Palestine and the surrounding areas in Ohio and Pennsylvania, including $25 million for a regional safety training center, $25 million in planned improvements to East Palestine’s city park, $21 million in direct payments to residents, and $9 million to local first responders;
$4.3 million to support upgrades to drinking water infrastructure; $2 million for community-directed projects; $500,000 grant for economic development; and Ongoing support to the community through the Family Assistance Center and programs such as the Interim Value Assurance Program.”
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