South Norfolk CEO Alan Shaw told CNBC he thinks families could return to East Palestine, Ohio, nearly three weeks after the toxic chemical was released following the derailment earlier this month.
When asked by CNBC’s Morgan Brennan if he would bring his kids to town, Shaw said: “Yes, yes, I’ve been back many times. I’m drinking here. I’ve interacted with families. family here.”
The company will also continue to help the town’s residents, Shaw said.
On February 3, a Norfolk Southern freight train carrying dangerous chemicals derailed, fire lasts all day. The environmental extent of the derailment may remain unknown for many years and further testing may be required. Officials say the town’s air and water levels are free of harmful contaminants, although residents have express skepticism about those guarantees.
“Our focus right now is on remediation of the environment, cleaning this site, continuous air monitoring, water monitoring, financial support for the residents of this community, and investments in this community.” so that communities in East Palestine can thrive,” Shaw said in an interview that aired on Tuesday.
Early Tuesday, the federal Environmental Protection Agency order the company to process and pay for all cleanup efforts. It would require Norfolk Southern to clean up any sources of contaminated soil and water, reimburse EPA for cleaning services, and participate in public meetings as required by EPA.
A company spokesperson told CNBC Norfolk Southern has been in contact with the agency and has complied with agency requests since the incident.
Ron Fodo, EPA Ohio Emergency Response Team, looks for signs of fish and also stirs the water in Leslie Run Creek to check for chemicals that settle to the bottom after a train derailment is causing concerns on the environment on February 20, 2023 in East Palestine, Ohio.
Michael Swensen | beautiful pictures
Three days after the derailment, the company’s independent consultant and the Ohio EPA proposed a unified order for a release control to ignite harmful chemicals, including known carcinogens.
“The fact that at the time we knew that the pressure relief valves on cars were failing, the temperature was so high, made our independent expert very concerned about the possibility of an uncontrolled explosion that would fire. toxic gases and shrapnel into the population,” Shaw said.
Officials said air monitoring found no traces of the toxic chemical, though Shaw acknowledged “how it can scare people off.”
Ohio opened a new health clinic on Tuesday to address growing reports of headaches, nausea and rashes in East Palestine. People are also worried Report dead fish and chickens as the authorities said it’s safe to return. Earlier this week, medical teams from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the US Department of Health are expected to arrive in the community.
A ‘traumatic experience’
Shaw said the air monitoring device was installed within an hour of the derailment, and the water monitoring device was installed a few hours later. He said all air and water tests have come back clean, but he said communities can get more air and water tested at their homes.
“If people experience symptoms they’re not used to, I strongly encourage them to see a trusted medical professional,” Shaw said, acknowledging it was a “traumatic experience.”
Tests showed no signs of carcinogens including vinyl chloride in the environment, officials said. However, there is still the possibility that the full impact will not appear for many years. Shaw said some researchers have said this is not a cause for concern and that testing will continue in the future.
Shaw said the company has so far removed about 450 cubic meters of contaminated soil and secured about 1.1 million gallons of contaminated water. He said the company will continue to “do the right thing for this community” and see the recovery effort along the way. He did not set a timeframe.
Shaw said it is safe for families to return to the community because the environmental remediation process with the Ohio EPA is underway. He said Norfolk Southern had already refunded or pledged a “prepayment” of $6.5 million to East Palestine and would continue to provide financial assistance to residents.
The company had previously provided residents with “inconvenience” checks for $1,000, but a Cleveland attorney warned residents that the checks would cause residents to waive their claims against them. with the company in the future. Shaw in the interview denied the attorneys’ claims after the company publicly stated that performing the trial removed Norfolk Southern from liability.
“I know they’re hurt. I know they’re scared. I know they’re confused. Who are they looking for and trusting,” Shaw said.
Shaw said Norfolk Southern is working fully with the NTSB and the FRA to find the root cause of the derailment. He avoided talking about security footage showing a wheel sparking about 20 miles before derailed.
“We’ll be here tomorrow. We’ll be here a year from now. We’ll be here five years from now. We’ll do what’s right for this community and help it.” This community gets back on its feet and helps this community grow,” Shaw said.
Responding to Criticism
Transport Minister Pete Buttigieg sent a letter Sunday to Norfolk Southern, warning that the company must “show clear support for the people” of East Palestine.
Buttigieg writes that Norfolk Southern and other rail companies have “spent millions of dollars in the courts and lobbying members of Congress to oppose conventional safety regulations, outright blocking some regulations and reduce the scope of other regulations.”
Some companies have adopted a precisely scheduled rail system, which includes running longer trains, while cutting costs and staff numbers to create a more efficient — and capable network. profitability potential.
In response, Shaw said Norfolk Southern invests more than $1 billion a year in “science-based solutions,” including maintaining tracks, equipment and technology.
Senator Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, said in a CNN interview that the railroads “simply didn’t invest the way they should in the safety of cars and the railroads themselves”, leading to layoffs and stock buybacks.
“Clearly our safety culture and investments in safety did not prevent this accident,” Shaw replied. “We need to look at this and see what we can do differently and what we can do better.”
