The federal government filed a lawsuit Thursday against Norfolk Southern, blaming the freight carrier for last month’s train derailment that allegedly contaminated waterways and air in northeast Ohio.
The U.S. Department of Justice, acting on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency, filed the civil complaint two weeks after the state of Ohio also took similar action against the rail giant.
No one was injured in the Feb. 3 derailment that forced thousands to evacuate from East Palestine for severals days as toxic chemicals were released, to head off a potential explosion.
“As a result of this incident, hazardous materials vented into the air and spilled onto theĀ ground,” according to the complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. “These substances contaminated local waterways and flowed miles downstream.”
A rep for Norfolk Southern could not be immediately reached for comment on Friday.
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