Source: Gizmodo

Excerpt:

Norfolk Southern is facing more fallout over the February 3 derailment of one its trains in East Palestine, Ohio. That disastrous derailment, in which multiple tanker cars carrying hazardous chemicals overturned and spilled, forced the evacuation of thousands of residents of the Ohio town, killed tens of thousands of fish, and left locals concerned over long-term health impacts.

Now, the Department of Justice, on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency, has filed a federal lawsuit against the rail company. The complaint claims that, by spilling the toxic chemicals, Norfolk Southern violated the Clean Water Act. A portion of the vinyl chloride, a plastic precursor being carried by the train, and other hazardous materials leaked into a stream alongside the rail tracks. The controlled burn of the chemicals released additional toxic compounds that also potentially entered waterways.

So far, millions of gallons of wastewater have been removed from the site of the derailment and as part of the ongoing clean-up. Much of that contaminated water has been hauled to hazardous waste storage sites in Ohio and elsewhere, per the Associated Press. In addition to the water removal, federal and state environmental and health officials have also been overseeing continued soil, air, and water testing. 

For all of those efforts, the feds want the company responsible to pay up. The suit seeks civil penalties and that Norfolk Southern cover the cost of clean-up, government response, and damage triggered by the accident.

Read more: Norfolk Southern Violated the Clean Water Act in East Palestine Disaster, DOJ Lawsuit Alleges