NS
NS earlier this month invited East Palestine real estate agents and their clients to a workshop on the interim home VAP, which it developed “to address East Palestine homeowners’ concerns and protect them from any loss of value in the sale of their home related to the February derailment.” They were able to learn about the program’s benefits and ask questions.
NS announced the program in September, explaining that it would “compensate any reduction in value of eligible residential properties located in East Palestine, Ohio, and some surrounding communities.”
“Norfolk Southern understands residents of the Village [of East Palestine] may have concerns about maintaining their home’s value, and the Value Assurance Program is our way of addressing those concerns,” NS Senior Director Legal Claims Will Harden said. “We look forward to continuing our work to make things right for the long term.”
NS reported that since February it has committed approximately $103 million to East Palestine and the surrounding communities.
Among its contributions:
- For first responders: $25 million to fund a regional safety training center for first responders, located in East Palestine; $5 million to cover costs of Pennsylvania state agencies and local fire departments that responded to the derailment; and $3 million reimbursed and committed to the East Palestine Fire Department for equipment and vehicles.
- For community support: $25 million for upgrades and renovations to East Palestine City Park; $4.2 million to Pennsylvania communities to support local events and grants for nonprofits; $1 million donation to the East Palestine School District for academics, interscholastic athletics and long-term development; $1 million for community priorities as determined by an East Palestine-based NS Community Liaison, informed by residents and business leaders; $534,000 to fund a state-run Community Resiliency Center to address mental health issues; and $300,000 to support the East Palestine Community Foundation.
NS recently reported that since major excavation and soil removal activities were completed at the end of October, including the opening of Taggart Street, temporary relocation assistance to residents who chose to move during soil excavation efforts will conclude Feb. 9, 2024.
Also, NS reported hosting the Teens in the Driver Seat® (TDS) Georgia Safe Driving Summit at its Atlanta headquarters “to help reduce injury and death among teens due to car crashes.” More than 60 students and teachers from Atlanta-area middle and high schools attended the one-day event that included hands-on learning with the goal of developing future “traffic safety advocates,” according to the railroad.
TDS is an initiative under the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s Youth Transportation Safety Program. The program is free to Georgia middle and high school students and supported by NS, the Georgia Department of Transportation, and other public and private partners.
“Car crashes are a leading cause of injury and death for teens in America,” NS Director of Public Engagement Will Miller said. “We are proud to partner with TDS to help reinforce the importance of railroad crossing safety, and all other safe driving behaviors, to prevent tragic events from occurring.”
“Teens in the Driver Seat envisions a future with zero crashes and it’s teens like the students who are a part of this program that will make that vision a reality,” said Stacey Tisdale, Project Manager at Texas A&M Transportation Institute. “When teens can come together to learn about traffic safety, we know lives will be saved. We have Norfolk Southern and all our partners to thank for such a meaningful day.”
UP
UP on Dec. 15 reported being honored by LyondellBasell for the eighth consecutive year for providing “safe, reliable service” at nine of the plastics company’s production facilities across Texas, along with sites in Westlake, La., and Clinton, Iowa. To earn this annual safety award, “rail and truck carriers must maintain a top-notch record across several categories, including shipment accuracy, and employee and environmental safety while incurring minimal community impact,” according to the Class I railroad.
UP hauls LyondellBasell’s polyethylene polypropylene plastic pellets, along with various industrial chemicals, in covered hoppers year-round. It noted that in the last four years alone, its Hazmat team has trained more than 19,000 first responders on hazmat response.
