Columbiana County, OHIO (WTRF) – It was recently announced that Norfolk Southern has agreed to pay 600 million dollars in a settlement for the toxic East Palestine train derailment.
The settlement would resolve all lawsuits within a 20-mile radius of the disaster and all personal injury settlements within a 10-mile radius for the residents who agree to participate.
Many remain skeptical.
Ohio Senator JD Vance says it’s a good start but needs more work.
Senator Sherrod Brown is skeptical of Norfolk Southern in general and is worried about what the future may hold.
“I want to make sure this settlement doesn’t result in, you know, three or four years from now, somebody who maybe I met that had all kinds of rashes on their arms or their neck develop a cancer or a bronchial disease, and they can’t get compensation then because they’ve signed their rights away.”
Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-OH
Prior to this settlement, some residents of East Palestine had already taken some money from Norfolk Southern, which they are expected to pay taxes on.
Senator Brown tells us that he’s working on a bipartisan effort in Congress to make sure that those dollars will not be taxed.
