Soil Removal Nears Completion at Ohio Train Derailment Site, Total Cleanup Costs Approach $1 Billion

169,000 Tons of Soil and 39 Million Gallons of Tainted Water Already Removed as Norfolk Southern Pledges Over $96 Million to Community Recovery; Remaining Cleanup Includes Area's Creeks Assessing as Costs Continue to Mount.

• The soil removal process at the site of the February Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, is expected to complete within this weekend, cutting down heavily on truck traffic in the region.
• Since the February 3 derailment, over 167,000 tons of contaminated soil and around 39 million gallons of tainted water have been removed from the spill site.
• Remaining cleanup operations are expected to include backfilling in excavated areas and assessing chemical contamination in local creeks, which are reported to show regular sheens of chemicals after disturbances.
• Regular testing of air and water will still be conducted, ensuring the safety of residents, despite their lingering fears about potential health risks due to the spilling of toxic chemicals and the release of vinyl chloride.
• The total costs associated with the derailment are nearing a staggering $1 billion, including more than $96 million pledged by the Norfolk Southern to aid the community recovery efforts.

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