A federal trial over who must fund a $600 million settlement for residents of East Palestine saw a breakthrough last week as the Norfolk Southern railroad and chemical giant OxyVinyls reached a deal on splitting the cost.
Josh Funk reports for The Associated Press.
In short:
- Norfolk Southern and OxyVinyls agreed to share financial responsibility for a $600 million class-action settlement related to the 2023 East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment.
- The settlement does not alter the payout amounts for residents or the village but determines which companies are financially responsible for those payments.
- The trial continues for the third company involved, GATX, which owned the railcar linked to the derailment and has not yet reached a resolution.
Why this matters:
The toxic train derailment in East Palestine became one of the most high-profile environmental disasters in recent U.S. history, raising alarms about the transportation of hazardous materials and the consequences of emergency responses. Residents were forced to evacuate after chemicals ignited and a controlled burn of vinyl chloride sent dark plumes of smoke over the region. The long-term health effects from inhaling or being exposed to such chemicals remain unknown, as residents continue to report symptoms and environmental contamination persists. Disputes over who should pay for the damage illustrate the difficulty of holding powerful corporations accountable when multiple parties — railroads, chemical manufacturers, and car owners — are involved. Meanwhile, delays in payouts prolong the suffering of those still recovering.
Related: Displaced and distraught: East Palestine remains at risk and without answers
