Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw says his company is “firmly committed” to helping East Palestine and the surrounding communities in Ohio and Pennsylvania, according to an op-ed in The Washington Post Wednesday, ahead of his expected appearance as a witness at a Senate hearing on the toxic train derailment at the beginning of February.
“We have a responsibility to make it right, and we’re committed to do what it takes to help East Palestine recover and thrive,” Shaw wrote.
“I’ve been to the area five times since the accident,” Shaw added. “Many of the people I’ve met are angry, scared and concerned about the future. I understand their skepticism that a big corporation such as Norfolk Southern will do the right thing, and we are determined to earn their trust.”
Shaw noted Norfolk Southern’s work with federal, state and local officials to clean up the site “safely, thoroughly and as quickly as possible,” saying every action is taken with public health and safety in mind.
He also discussed the importance of providing financial support, noting that the company has distributed $21 million in immediate support. “Financial assistance can’t change what happened, but it is an important part of doing the right thing.”
“There are no strings attached — if residents have concerns, we want them to come talk to us,” he wrote.
Shaw also detailed what the company will do to boost safety:
- Install more safety devices along tracks that identify overheated wheels and axles, and reducing the distances between them
- Launch a deeper analysis of data points generated by the existing sensors to improve the ability to predict problems and respond to alerts along our routes
“We will make our safety culture the best in the industry,” Shaw wrote in the op-ed.