WASHINGTON — The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against Norfolk Southern seeking to hold the railroad company accountable for the derailment last month in East Palestine, Ohio and its toxic aftermath, according to court records.
The civil lawsuit on behalf of the EPA seeks injunctive relief and monetary penalties from Norfolk Southern for the response costs to the Feb. 3 derailment, including a nearly $65,000 fine for every day it violated clean water laws.
The derailment and its aftermath have sparked a firestorm of criticism and concerns from residents about their health. The filing also seeks to single out the actions of Norfolk Southern's corporate board, noting its executives received approximately 80% of their compensation for performance metrics like increasing revenue and reducing the expenses of its railroad subsidiaries. As a result, the DOJ says that over the past four years there has been"a stark contrast between the increases in operating income and the drop in railroad operating costs.
The lawsuit goes on to provide further details about the crash itself. At least 11 of the 38 rail cars involved in the crash were carrying hazardous materials, including vinyl chloride, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylhexyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, isobutylene and benzene residue. Five additional rail cars were carrying oil.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Department of Justice sues Norfolk Southern for East Palestine derailmentThe Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Norfolk Southern following the train derailment in East Palestine seeking injunctive relief, cost recovery and civil penalties.
Read more »
DOJ files lawsuit against Norfolk Southern following East Palestine derailmentThe Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against Norfolk Southern, in an attempt to hold the rail operator accountable for the train derailment in East Palest
Read more »
US Justice Department sues Norfolk Southern following February's train derailment in East Palestine | CNNThe Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Norfolk Southern Railway Company on Thursday, seeking damages for alleged Clean Water Act violations for the pollutants that were said to have been discharged with the rail derailment in Ohio earlier this year.
Read more »
Department of Justice sues Norfolk Southern over East Palestine train derailmentThe Department of Justice announced they will be suing Norfolk Southern over the train derailment in East Palestine.
Read more »
DOJ sues Norfolk Southern over East Palestine derailmentThe DOJ is suing Norfolk Southern over its Ohio train derailment last month that spewed toxic materials. In the lawsuit, federal prosecutors accuse the company of unlawfully polluting waterways with oil and hazardous substances from the derailed trains.
Read more »
DOJ sues Norfolk Southern for alleged environmental violations in East Palestine derailmentThe DOJ is seeking fines for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act from Norfolk Southern in the East Palestine, Ohio derailment.
Read more »