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6/27/2023
Norfolk Southern Railway has finished remediating both tracks that run through East Palestine, Ohio, the Class I announced yesterday.
The removal of impacted soil from underneath and between the tracks marks another milestone in the company’s commitment to clean up the site of the Feb. 3 train derailment safely, thoroughly and with urgency, NS officials said in a press release.
The track remediation process included excavating impacted soil and replacing it with approved backfill material, as well as replacing the tracks. Both tracks were reinstalled under a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-approved protocol that confirmed all impacted soil had been excavated.
Now, rail traffic will resume a normal schedule in the coming weeks, NS officials said. The project is part of the railroad’s efforts to help East Palestine recover from the derailment and subsequent fire and hazardous material release.
"We fully understand our responsibility to make things right in East Palestine, and as we mark this phase of remediation, we are dedicated to making further progress and investing in the community," said NS President and CEO Alan Shaw.
Additional remediation work will continue at the site. To date, the company has excavated and transported more than 73,000 tons of soil to off-site locations for proper disposal. Also, more than 20 million gallons of impacted water have been recovered and transported off-site.