Those residents should “ensure that the state and local health agencies understand those experiences because as we force Norfolk Southern to take full accountability for what they’ve done, Norfolk Southern will pay for everything,” Regan said.
On Tuesday Norfolk Southern President and CEO Alan Shaw said, “From day one, I’ve made the commitment that Norfolk Southern is going to remediate the site.”
EPA takes action in toxic train derailment
EPA Administrator Michael Regan announced the federal agency issued a legally binding order, effective Thursday, that Norfolk Southern must fully clean up and pay for the fallout from the incident. The EPA cited its authority under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).
Regan summarized that Norfolk Southern would “Number one: They will clean up every single piece of debris, all of the contamination, to EPA specifications and satisfaction.”
“Number two: They will pay for it – fully pay for it. At any moment, if we have to step in because they refuse to do anything, we will do the cleaning up ourselves. We can fine them up to $70,000 a day,” the EPA chief added.
