Ohio is suing Norfolk Southern Railway after one of its trains derailed in East Palestine with toxic chemicals on board, Attorney General Dave Yost announced Tuesday.
The eastbound freight train derailed and spilled hazardous materials into the air, water and soil on Feb. 3, rattling the small village of 4,700 in northeast Ohio. Five of the derailed cars contained vinyl chloride, which Norfolk Southern officials released to prevent an explosion.
The train went off the tracks moments after crew members became aware of an overheated wheel bearing and tried to stop, according to preliminary findings from the National Transportation Safety Board.
The wreck and subsequent controlled release of vinyl chloride temporarily forced people out of their homes. While state and federal officials say the air and municipal water are now safe, residents worry about the long-term health effects of the derailment.
“This lawsuit is designed to make sure Norfolk Southern keeps their word to the people of East Palestine and the people of Ohio,” Yost said during a news conference Tuesday.
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Yost previously warned Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw that his office was considering legal action, according to a letter obtained by the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau. Yost instructed the company to preserve all information relevant to the lawsuit, including employee and contractor records.
Since the incident, Shaw has repeatedly pledged that Norfolk Southern won’t leave East Palestine until the community is safe and cleaned up. Yost met with company officials recently and said he believes they recognize the problems they caused for the village.
This story will be updated.
Haley BeMiller is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.
