Norfolk Southern CEO Pledges to Improve Safety Culture and Make East Palestine Whole Again After Train Derailment

A congressional hearing on Thursday saw the CEO of railroad giant Norfolk Southern, Alan Shaw, pledge to drastically improve the company’s safety culture and make East Palestine and surrounding communities whole again following a disastrous train derailment last month.

The derailment, which occurred on February 3rd, released toxic chemicals into the air and nearby water, and has had a significant impact on the community. One resident, John Stewart, had been planning to put his three-bedroom home on the market this spring, but has since lost all his options due to the derailment. Even though state officials are saying the water is safe to drink, convincing potential homebuyers otherwise is an uphill battle.

Despite Shaw’s pledge to make things right, he refused to commit to a number of specific actions that senators view as key to fulfilling those promises, such as supporting new rail safety legislation and temporarily halting stock buybacks.

Senator Tom Carper, the ranking Democrat on the committee, said he was “disappointed” that Shaw was unwilling to commit to the proposed actions. “I am concerned that the company’s commitment to safety may be overshadowed by its commitment to shareholders,” he said.

Shaw responded by saying that Norfolk Southern is “committed to safety first,” and that the company is “working hard to ensure that the safety of our employees and the communities we serve is our top priority.” He also said that the company is “working closely with local, state and federal agencies to ensure that the site is cleaned up safely and thoroughly.”