(Bloomberg) -- The Biden administration on Tuesday took control of Norfolk Southern Corp (NYSE:NSC).’s cleanup of the freight train derailment in eastern Ohio, marking its strongest response yet to the disaster.
Under a formal order issued by the Environmental Protection Agency, the company will be required to conduct those cleanup operations in accordance to an EPA work plan, and pay for the remediation costs.
That includes operations the EPA conducts, such as newly available cleaning services being offered to area businesses and families, the agency said. The order also compels the company to attend and participate in public meetings at EPA’s request and post information online.
The directive comes weeks after the fiery derailment that unleashed hazardous chemicals in East Palestine, Ohio, and amid mounting frustration with the Biden administration’s response. EPA Administrator Michael Regan was meeting with state and local officials on the matter Tuesday, after a previous visit last week. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg also is vowing to strengthen regulation of high-hazard flammable trains in the aftermath of the accident.
“The Norfolk Southern train derailment has upended the lives of East Palestine families, and EPA’s order will ensure the company is held accountable for jeopardizing the health and safety of this community,” Regan said in a news release. “Norfolk Southern will pay for cleaning up the mess they created and for the trauma they’ve inflicted on this community.”
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