The Village of East Palestine and Norfolk Southern have announced a $22 million settlement resolving all of the village’s claims arising from a disastrous train derailment near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border in 2023. The settlement announced Monday is to be used for priorities identified by the village in connection with the derailment, but it also recognizes about $13.5 million that Norfolk Southern has paid to the village. And it reaffirms Norfolk Southern’s commitment of $25 million to ongoing improvements to East Palestine City Park. The freight train derailment included 11 cars transporting hazardous materials. Area residents evacuated and, days later, officials fearing a possible uncontrolled blast intentionally released and burned toxic vinyl chloride from five rail cars.
