Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost Files Lawsuit Against Norfolk Southern for Train Derailment and Release of Toxic Chemicals

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced Tuesday that the state has filed a lawsuit against railroad Norfolk Southern in federal court, seeking to make sure the company pays for the cleanup and environmental damage caused by a train derailment and subsequent release of toxic chemicals last month.

The derailment occurred on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border in East Palestine, Ohio, and the complaint alleges that the company violated hazardous waste and water quality laws and was negligent for causing the incident. It is estimated that more than 1 million gallons of hazardous materials were released.

The lawsuit seeks to force the company to pay for groundwater and soil monitoring in the years ahead and economic losses in the village of East Palestine and surrounding areas. Yost said the lawsuit is necessary to ensure that the company is held accountable for the damages caused by the derailment.

The derailment has had a significant impact on the local community, with many businesses and residents affected by the release of hazardous materials. The lawsuit is the latest legal action taken against Norfolk Southern in the wake of the incident, and could be a legal route to address long-lasting impacts from spilled and burned chemicals in East Palestine.

The Ohio Attorney General’s office is committed to ensuring that the company is held responsible for the damages caused by the derailment, and is working to ensure that the state, its economy, and its natural resources are adequately compensated.