Senate committee grills Norfolk Southern CEO about East Palestine derailment

Members of a Senate committee today grilled Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw and environmental officials over the response to the Feb. 3 toxic derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

Shaw repeated his promise that the railroad will do whatever it takes to make things right in East Palestine, now and over the long term.

The railroad has spent $20 million to date in the form of reimbursements and investments in the community, which Shaw said was just a down payment on the railroad’s commitment to cleaning up the derailment site as thoroughly and quickly as possible. (Shaw’s prepared remarks are available here.)

Senators said they would hold NS accountable for paying for cleanup costs, medical bills, and for the financial toll the derailment has taken on the residents and businesses of East Palestine.

Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and other Democrats on the Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works were critical of job cuts and multi-billion dollar share buyback programs at NS and other railroads over the past few years, which they claim have jeopardized rail safety.