Norfolk Southern reimburses Darlington Twp. for repairs to East Palestine Road

Garret Roberts, Beaver County Times
·2 min read
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Darlington Township Municipal Building.

DARLINGTON TWP. ― As officials from Norfolk Southern continue to reimburse Pennsylvania communities for the Ohio toxic train derailment near the state border earlier this year, a new portion of funds has been secured to repair one of the roads damaged by the accident.

On Aug. 3, Pennsylvania's elected officials and Darlington Township Supervisors announced their requests for $544,700 in reimbursement related to the damages to East Palestine Road during the derailment were officially approved by Norfolk Southern.

“In the six months since Norfolk Southern’s disastrous train derailment, I have fought to hold the rail company accountable for the hell they’ve put the Darlington community through,” saidSen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, who assisted in the requests for reimbursement. “This money will help fix East Palestine Road, but that’s just the start of what Darlington residents, businesses, and the wider Beaver County community, are going to need. It will take years for Darlington families to rebuild their lives, and Norfolk Southern owes it to them to be there every step of the way.”

With the recent reimbursement for road repairs, Norfolk Southern has paid more than $2.5 million to Pennsylvania communities recovering from evacuations and potential exposure to vinyl chloride released during the accident. In addition to direct payments, the corporation has sponsored several events in the state, such as the New Galilee Carnival and the connected Farmers Market events.

Previous reimbursement coverage: Lawrence County and Darlington Twp. to receive $1 million for train derailment relief

Elected officials from the governor's office to municipal boards have said they will continue to seek funds to continue supporting those affected by the incident. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said that the recent funding is part of a "multi-million-dollar commitment" to Pennsylvania that was made by Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw.

“The Darlington Township Board of Supervisors, along with our state and federal partners, will continue to hold Norfolk Southern accountable for their actions," said Mike Carreon, chairman of the Darlington Township Supervisors. “The repair of East Palestine Road is just another small step. We will continue in discussions with Norfolk Southern until all of our current and future concerns are addressed."

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Norfolk Southern reimburses community for repairs to East Palestine Road