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PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE TO FILE 23-1939
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR FURTHER FEDERAL ACTION AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN CONNECTION WITH NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORPORATION’S OPERATIONS
WHEREAS, on the 3rd day of February 2022, a Norfolk Southern freight train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in the municipality of East Palestine, State of Ohio, in a residential area bordering the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The catastrophic incident ignited a fire that covered the town in toxic smoke; and
WHEREAS, in fear of a major explosion, authorities created an evacuation zone near the crash and carried out a controlled release of toxic chemicals to neutralize burning cargo inside some of the train cars; and
WHEREAS, five of the aforementioned train cars were carrying vinyl chloride, an industrial chemical used to make hard plastic that is classified by the National Cancer Institute as a “cancer-causing substance;” and
WHEREAS, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, hazardous materials including butyl acrylate, ethylhexyl acrylate, and ethylene glycol monobutyl ethers, were transported inside the train cars, and were likely released into the air, surface soil, and surface waters; and
WHEREAS, after being permitted to return to their homes by the local authorities, residents in the crash zone reported feeling sick with including but not limited to headaches and sore throats while continuing to smell a strong chemical odor; and
WHEREAS, the collateral damage from this incident to the environment, the local ecosystem and both the human and animal populations will not be known for some time; and
WHEREAS, Governor Josh Shapiro of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania denounced Norfolk Southern Corporation for its failure to report the crash to the state authorities as was required by law, and instead learned of the derailment independently in the hours after it occurred. This created confusion within the state’s emergency management system, risking the health and safety of first-responders; and
WHEREAS, two federal lawsuits have been filed against Norfolk Southern Corporation in the State of Ohio and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for negligence; and
WHEREAS, dozens of Norfolk Southern employees have reportedly warned the company of possible safety hazards influenced by the corporation’s recently adopted Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR) management approach. According to press accounts of the recent United States Senate hearing on the derailment, since approximately February 2019, Norfolk Southern has prioritized the movement of trains on fixed schedules out of terminals and rail yards while arguably scaling back on safety inspection times and personnel to move more freight at a lower cost; and
WHEREAS, some experts contend that PSR and staffing are proximate issues to be assessed in railway safety nationwide; and
WHEREAS, Norfolk Southern reported record profits of $4.8 billion from operations in 2022; and
WHEREAS, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its preliminary report on the investigation of the derailment and found that the workers were not at fault, and that this accident could have been prevented; and
WHEREAS, since the date of the derailment, there have been multiple train derailments across the United States of America, and the most recent happened again in Ohio by another Norfolk Southern train.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County President and Board of Commissioners does hereby request the United States Department of Transportation investigate its regulatory approach to our national rail system; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Cook County President and Board of Commissioners does hereby call for the Norfolk Southern Corporation to cooperate with the appropriate state and federal agencies to improve their safety standards for workers, residents living along the rail lines and incorporate policies and procedures that focus on prevention of future derailments; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, suitable copies of this resolution will be sent to the United States Department of Transportation in Washington, D.C. and to the Norfolk Southern Corporation in the City of Atlanta, State of Georgia.
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