Deluzio Statement on $310 Million EPA-Norfolk Southern Settlement over East Palestine Train Derailment

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) released a statement following the announcement of a settlement between Norfolk Southern Railway Company and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Justice. 

The more than $310 million settlement will hold the company accountable for addressing and paying for the damage caused by its Feb. 3, 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio—just over the state line from Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District. If the settlement is approved by the U.S. District Court, Norfolk Southern will be required to take measures to improve rail safety, pay for health monitoring and mental health services for the surrounding communities, fund long-term environmental monitoring, pay a $15 million civil penalty, and take other actions to protect nearby waterways and drinking water resources. More details on the deal are here. 

Congressman Deluzio made multiple visits to the site of the derailment and nearby Beaver County communities in his congressional district. He commissioned a report on the proximity of freight rail to the constituents of his district and introduced several pieces of legislation on rail safety, including the DERAIL Act, the Assistance for Local Heroes During Train Crises Act, and the Railway Safety Act. 

Congressman Deluzio’s bipartisan Railway Safety Act was introduced in March of 2023. The bill is a comprehensive measure to make rail safer, and is supported by the Biden Administration, former President Trump, several rail worker unions, and has both Democratic and Republican House co-sponsors, including members from across the political spectrum. President Joe Biden highlighted the importance of this bill as a part of his visit to Ohio and Pennsylvania in February.

To mark one year since the derailment, Congressman Deluzio gave a speech on the floor of the House of Representatives and sent a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson calling on him to advance the Railway Safety Act in the U.S. House. Despite the widespread, bipartisan support for the Railway Safety Act, the House Republican leadership has not taken any action on the bill, and the Senate version has not yet come up for a vote. 

Following the announcement, Congressman Deluzio made the following statement: 

“Norfolk Southern’s toxic train derailment unleashed havoc and fear upon the people of Western Pennsylvania, and I am glad to see the federal government hold the railroad accountable. 

“I am grateful that the Biden Administration is standing strong against Norfolk Southern and is standing up for the people of Western Pennsylvania and East Palestine.  

“This derailment made it abundantly clear that we cannot trust these big railroads to regulate themselves—they will always prioritize profit over public safety. 

“The next step is to pass policy to make freight rail safer, and we can do that right now by passing my bipartisan bill, the Railway Safety Act.” 

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