Norfolk Southern Freight Train Derails in Pennsylvania, Spilling Diesel and Plastic Pellets

A Norfolk Southern freight train derailed early Saturday morning in the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania, causing a spill of diesel fuel and plastic pellets into a nearby river. This incident occurred in the Lower Saucon Township.

No Injuries Reported

Authorities have reported that there were no injuries resulting from the derailment after conducting a preliminary assessment of the scene. The police and fire rescue departments of the Lower Saucon Township were quick to respond to the incident and confirmed the absence of injuries.

Previous Incident in Ohio

This derailment comes slightly over a year after a similar incident in East Palestine, Ohio, on Feb. 3, 2023, which resulted in the release of toxic chemicals into the surrounding water and air. This caused a damaging fire and led to reports of headaches, nausea, and other symptoms among residents in the days following the incident.

No Immediate Contamination

As of the initial assessments, the Pennsylvania derailment has not resulted in the same level of contamination. The Lower Saucon Township Police Department stated that there are currently no evacuations or hazardous material threats to the community. They have requested that everyone avoids the area to facilitate the ongoing assessments and work by first responders and Norfolk Southern personnel.

Cleanup Efforts

Emergency responders have deployed containment booms in the Lehigh River to control the spread of the spilled diesel fuel. Additionally, crews are working to clean up the plastic pellets that were released from one of the train cars. Norfolk Southern has assured the public that their crews and contractors will remain on-site over the next few days to carry out the cleanup as quickly, thoroughly, and safely as possible.

Environmental Impact

The company has pledged to investigate this incident to understand its cause and prevent similar ones in the future. They announced plans to vacuum out the diesel fuel from the river and temporarily close a nearby road during the cleanup process. This derailment comes as Norfolk Southern continues to deal with the aftermath of the East Palestine incident from the previous year.

Support from President Biden

President Joe Biden visited East Palestine in February to express support for the community and advocate for stronger railway safety regulations. The community remains concerned about the potential long-term environmental impacts resulting from the contamination.