Norfolk Southern is donating $250,000 to Ohio-based nonprofit The Way Station
Norfolk Southern announced Thursday it will be donating $250,000 to The Way Station, an Ohio-based nonprofit. The Way Station has been supporting the citizens of East Palestine since the train derailment. The organization provides residents with food, clothing, water, hygiene products and diapers, cleaning supplies, and gift cards to purchase other necessities. After the evacuation order was lifted, the organization provided additional direct assistance to residents through its field office in East Palestine. Norfolk Southern said the donation will help the organization establish a larger, permanent site in the area and hire additional staff, including a social worker. “We are committed to doing what is right for East Palestine to help the community recover and thrive. Through meetings with community leaders, business owners, school officials, clergy and local residents, we are finding ways to invest in the future of the community and support its long-term needs,” said Alan H. Shaw, Norfolk Southern President and CEO. Last month , The US The Environmental Protection Agency directed Norfolk Southern to carry out the necessary actions to clean up the aftermath of the train derailment in eastern Palestine.The company was also asked to pay for the cleanup work as an extra layer of reassurance for local residents and to attend public meetings at EPA’s request Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost filed a lawsuit with Norfolk Southern in early March for damages following the train derailment: “Ohio shouldn’t have to bear the financial burden of Norfolk Southern’s blatant negligence,” Yost said in a he explanation. “The fallout from this highly preventable incident may linger for years to come, and we still don’t know that much about the long-term effects on our air, water and soil.” Yost said the lawsuit believes it will seek $75,000 in damages that the damage goes far beyond that.
Norfolk Southern announced Thursday it will be donating $250,000 to The Way Station. an Ohio-based nonprofit organization.
Since the train derailment, Way Station has been supporting the citizens of East Palestine.
The organization provides residents with food, clothing, water, toiletries, diapers, cleaning supplies and gift cards to buy other necessities.
After the evacuation order was lifted, the organization provided additional direct assistance to residents through its field office in East Palestine.
Norfolk Southern said the donation will help the organization establish a larger, permanent site in the area and hire additional staff, including a social worker.
“We are committed to doing what is right for East Palestine to help the community recover and thrive. Through meetings with community leaders, business owners, school officials, clergy and local residents, we are finding ways to invest in the future of the community and support its long-term needs,” said Alan H. Shaw, President and CEO of Norfolk Southern.
Last month, the US Environmental Protection Agency ordered Norfolk Southern to take the necessary measures to clean up after the train derailment in eastern Palestine.
The company was also asked to pay for cleaning services as an added safety measure for residents, and to attend public meetings and share information with the public at EPA’s request.
U.S. EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said if Norfolk Southern doesn’t clean up, the EPA will step in, do the work itself and ask Norfolk Southern to pay double and triple the cost.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost filed a lawsuit against Norfolk Southern earlier in March for damages following the train derailment.
“Ohio should not have to bear the enormous financial burden of Norfolk Southern’s blatant negligence,” Yost said in a statement. “The fallout from this highly preventable incident may linger for years to come, and there is still so little we know about the long-term effects on our air, water and soil.”
Yost said the lawsuit seeks $75,000 in damages, although he believes the damages far exceed that.
