EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — The head of the Environmental Protection Agency threatened expensive consequences if Norfolk Southern fails to fully clean up itsThe EPA's new, legally binding order — set to take effect Thursday — "will ensure that Norfolk Southern pays for the mess that they've created," EPA Administrator Michael Regan told CNN on Wednesday.
"Ensure that the state and local health agencies understand those experiences, because as we force Norfolk Southern to take full accountability for what they've done, Norfolk Southern will pay for everything," Regan said. Norfolk Southern said it's been working with the EPA and local crews on the ground since the derailment on Feb. 3.
Norfolk Southern has committed millions of dollars' worth of financial assistance to East Palestine, including $3.4 million in direct financial assistance to families and a $1 million community assistance fund, the company has said. "There's been a concern by citizens, very understandably, that the railroad started, got the tracks back on and started running and the soil under the tracks had not been dealt with," DeWine said. "So, under the administrator's order, that soil will be removed. So the tracks will have to be taken up and that soil will have to be removed."