Norfolk Southern CEO Shaw visits East Palestine

By | February 18, 2023

Railroad sets up website with community information

Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw at a 2022 luncheon of the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers and Traffic Club of Chicago. David Lassen

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EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw made his second visit to East Palestine today (Saturday, Feb. 18), visiting the ongoing cleanup from the Feb. 3 derailment and chemical release, as well as meeting with Mayor Trent Conaway, U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, and other officials.

WBKN-TV reports Shaw said the controlled release of vinyl chloride, which remains a point of contention, was the correct one and that it prevented “a much riskier event” because of the chemical involved. He also said that if the tracks that were laid down to restore service through East Palestine need to be removed to clean up contaminated soil underneath, NS will do it. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has said the railroad failed to properly dispose of contaminated soil in the process of reopening its rail line [see “Norfolk Southern plans wells …,” Trains News Wire, Feb. 14, 2023].

“This has been devastating to this community,” Shaw said, according to WBKN. “I want to make sure you understand, I am terribly sorry that this happened to the community. Norfolk Southern is fully committed to doing what’s right for this community.”

Also, Norfolk Southern has set up a website to address the East Palestine situation, including Shaw’s open letter to the community, updates on environmental cleanup, information on the railroad’s Family Assistance Center, and other community information.

The latest environmental update, issued Friday, says the railroad has now removed more than a million gallons of contaminated water and more than 9,000 tons of contaminated debris and soil.