Making it Right:
  A SIX-MONTH PROGRESS REPORT ON EAST PALESTINE, OHIO, 
 AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES

|  1
Section 1:  Report introduction 
SECTION 1:  Report introduction
Letter from our CEO Alan Shaw .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   . 2
How we’re making it right .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   . 4
___________________________________________________
SECTION 2:  Environmental remediation
Summary of responsive actions .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   . 5
Air .  .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   . 5
Water .  .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   . 5
Soil .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   . 6
___________________________________________________
SECTION 3:  Governance efforts
Summary of commitments and approach  .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   7
SECTION 4:  Safety efforts
Summary of responsive actions .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   . 8 
ANS independent review  .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   . 8
Partnership with craft employees .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   . 8
NTSB investigation .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   . 9
Six-point plan  .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .  9
___________________________________________________
SECTION 5:  Community support
Summary of responsive actions .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .  10
Family assistance center .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   10
Community support .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   10
Open letter: Jeremy Vranesevich .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   . 12
___________________________________________________
SECTION 6:  What’s Next: The work ahead .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   13
Table of Contents
From the beginning, our guiding 
principle has been to make things 
right for East Palestine and the 
surrounding communities.

|  2
How can we help? It’s a question 
my Norfolk Southern colleagues 
and I have been asking for the 
past six months. How can we help 
East Palestine? How can we help 
Darlington Township? How can we 
help the communities impacted 
by February’s train derailment? 
____________________________________________
WE PROMISED TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT, and we’ve made a lot of progress. Our work isn’t 
over, which is why we will keep asking people who live in East Palestine and the surrounding 
communities how we can make things right. I’ve been to the area almost every week, talking 
with folks about ideas and concerns, and checking on our progress. More than 300 of my 
Norfolk Southern colleagues and our contractors are doing the same thing because we promised 
to help these communities recover and thrive, and we’re a company that keeps its promises.  
In the spirit of transparency, Norfolk Southern has compiled the following report detailing our 
efforts thus far, as well as next steps. 
Many people told me they wanted the soil replaced underneath our tracks at the derailment 
site, and we listened. We promised to clean the site safely, thoroughly, and with urgency. 
We’re doing that, coordinating with local, state, and federal agencies every step of the way.
We know there have been concerns about environmental safety and we take that seriously. 
Environmental monitoring continues to show the air and drinking water are safe, and to 
provide an additional level of assurance, we’re working closely with all relevant stakeholders 
on a medical compensation fund.
We promised we would help people whose lives were disrupted by the derailment. We’re 
continuing to do that. Our Family Assistance Center has helped thousands of families. We’re 
also developing an assistance plan for home sellers if their property loses value because of the 
derailment. Getting this and other funds right is an important part of keeping our promises.
Section 1:  Report introduction 
AUGUST 4, 2023
Letter from the CEO
 SECTION 1

|  3
I’ve had conversations with residents about how we can support the long-term economic 
vitality of communities in the area. Based on their feedback, we’re doing that with forward-
thinking investments, including revitalizing East Palestine City Park, a recent donation to the 
Pittsburgh Foundation, and many other contributions large and small. Our financial assistance 
and commitments to date total more than $64 million, with more to come.
We promised to learn from what happened and make a safe railroad even safer. We’re doing 
that, too. I’ve asked all 20,000 of my Norfolk Southern colleagues to speak up about ways we 
can enhance our safety culture. Through July, accidents on our mainline are trending down 
40% from last year. We went outside the railroad industry and brought in an independent 
consultant headed by a retired admiral from the Nuclear Navy – the gold standard in safety. 
We’re partnering with labor unions that represent our front-line railroaders, and I’m advocating 
for federal legislative provisions to enhance safety for the entire rail industry.
You’ll find additional details about these efforts and more in this 
report. Our work isn’t finished. We’re staying in East Palestine 
as long as it takes, and we just bought property for a new Norfolk 
Southern office in the village. As we move forward, we will continue 
to seek out honest feedback from area residents because we know 
supporting a community means listening to the people who call it 
home. We will continue to listen, and we will continue our work to 
help the area recover and thrive.
Alan Shaw
President & CEO, Norfolk Southern
Section 1:  Report introduction 
We’re in it for 
the long haul. 
We will see 
this through.
SECTION 1

|  4
HOW WE’RE MAKING IT RIGHT
We are grateful there were no physical injuries or loss of 
life resulting from the derailment – but we know the incident 
disrupted unique and vibrant communities in the area.
On day one, we committed to paying for all remediation costs 
associated with the derailment. Our site remediation efforts 
are progressing, and we continue to coordinate closely 
with local, state, and federal officials on a long-term plan.
Section 1:  Report introduction 
85,000+ tons
of waste soil shipped off site
100+ air purifiers
distributed
27M+ gallons
of impacted water recovered
10,400+ families
helped through the Family 
Assistance Center
750+ wells
of drinking water tested
$64M
committed to support East Palestine 
and surrounding impacted communities 
in Western Pennsylvania – $25M of 
which to fund updates and improvements 
to the East Palestine City Park
5,200 feet
of impacted waterways flushed
14M gallons
of clean water bypassed, eliminating 
the need for more than 600 storage 
tanks and eliminating over 4,000 
truckloads around the community
4 East Palestine Bulldog 
Legacy Scholarships
awarded to area high schoolers
2,600+ samples
of surface water collected
$1M+
to East Palestine nonprofits
In addition to environmental remediation, our efforts 
to make things right include assistance programs 
for people and businesses disrupted by the derailment, 
charitable investments, and broader safety and 
operational enhancements that will make what 
happened in East Palestine less likely to occur 
in the future. 
* Data set forth herein has been provided as of August 1, 2023
SECTION 1

|  5
Section 2: Environmental remediation 
SUMMARY OF RESPONSIVE ACTIONS
As we continue to work 
to make things right in East 
Palestine, safe air, water, 
and soil for the residents 
are our highest priorities.” 
– Josh Raglin, Chief Sustainability Officer
____________________________________________________
The people who call East Palestine and the surrounding 
areas home deserve to know the air is safe to breathe, 
the water is safe to drink, and the land is safe to farm. 
We are committed to cleaning the site of the derailment 
safely, thoroughly, and with urgency, including daily, 
comprehensive testing, guided by scientific best 
practices and working hand-in-hand with the Ohio and 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 
Robust sampling programs at the derailment site and 
in the community at large have continually shown the 
air and water around the site are safe. In addition, the 
results of the EPA-approved soil sampling program show 
concentrations of semi-volatile organic compounds 
(SVOCs) and dioxin/furans were consistent with known 
concentrations for soil in urban and rural areas. We will 
build on these testing results and continue our work to 
reassure people that their community has not suffered 
long-term damage as a result of the accident.
AIR
__________________________________________________
Air quality testing began within hours of the derailment 
and has continued daily ever since. Monitoring has been 
performed by both the EPA and an independent team of 
scientists, including the independent consulting firm, 
CTEH. It continues to show the air in the East Palestine 
community is safe. 
Our teams have tested and sampled the air in East Palestine 
near the incident site and throughout the community. 
These methods include hand-held testing devices around 
the village, data from stationary equipment that has been 
placed along the edge of the derailment site, and state-of-
the-art mobile air monitoring vans capable of detecting 
chemicals of concern in real time. Based on thousands of 
data points, the EPA and toxicologists at CTEH concur; the 
data collected does not indicate any short- or long-term risks. 
WATER
__________________________________________________
The municipal drinking water is safe, as shown through 
weekly sampling by the Ohio EPA and a team of 
independent scientists. In addition, the Columbiana 
County Health Department and independent scientists 
have tested more than 750 drinking water wells and have 
concluded the water from these wells is safe to drink. We 
are developing plans with East Palestine and the State of 
Ohio to ensure municipal and private well drinking water 
remains safe to drink in the future.
We have seen significant ecological recovery in many 
downstream waterways, and we remain committed to 
restoring them, particularly Sulphur Run and Leslie Run. 

Environmental remediation
SECTION 2

|  6
Section 2: Environmental remediation
We have used a variety of methods to remove impacts 
from local waterways. Sediment testing results will inform 
future work. Testing and monitoring is also focused on the 
impact to local wildlife.
SOIL
__________________________________________________
East Palestine is an important agricultural area, making it 
critical to ensure the soil around the incident site is safe for 
growing food. Farmers are now operating as normal, having 
been reassured by testing from government agencies.
In a community soil sampling program, overseen and 
approved by the EPA, scientists inspected 357 locations in 
and around East Palestine and collected soil samples for 
testing at 146 of those locations. Samples were evaluated 
to determine if shallow soil near the derailment site may 
have been impacted by the initial derailment fire and 
subsequent vent and burn.

All soil samples were analyzed at a laboratory certified 
by the Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program. 
According to the EPA, its preliminary review of results 
indicates the level of contaminants in the soil is not 
outside normal parameters. In May, the Ohio Department 
of Agriculture and Ohio State University also released final 
results from plant tissue sample testing on crops within 
a five-mile radius of the derailment, showing plants did 
not contain any SVOCs.
Norfolk Southern’s remediation plan for soil demonstrated 
its commitment to making it right for the affected 
residents, with both train tracks and the underlying soil 
removed in response to feedback from the community 
and the EPA. In June, Norfolk Southern completed 
remediating both tracks that run through East Palestine.
For example, the EPA has found 
that the Hellbender salamander, 
an endangered species, is thriving 
in the local waterways that have 
been subject to testing.
SECTION 2  
This June, Norfolk Southern completed remediating the soil around
both tracks that run through East Palestine. The underlying soil was
removed in response to feedback from the community and the EPA.

|  7
Section 3: Governance 
Governance efforts
SUMMARY OF COMMITMENTS AND APPROACH
Our commitment to making 
things right goes beyond 
cleaning the air, soil, and 
water. We’re taking a hard 
look at our oversight and 
governance practices to 
ensure we’re as responsive to 
our stakeholders as possible.” 
– Amy E. Miles, Chair of the Board
_________________________________________________
Our response to the incident in East Palestine includes 
looking at our organization top to bottom to determine 
how we can enhance our safety culture and oversight 
to better understand how to prevent incidents like the 
East Palestine derailment in the future.
Our commitment to making things right includes good 
governance practices, including implementing weekly 
board of directors’ meetings after the derailment to 
oversee Norfolk Southern’s community recovery and 
site-specific mitigation efforts. Two new directors have 
also recently been elected to the board, Admiral Philip 
Davidson, U.S. Navy (Ret.) and Francesca DeBiase, 
a seasoned supply chain, sustainability, and finance 
executive. A new chairman of the board’s Safety committee, 
Chris Jones, will rotate in as of Sept. 1. As a former senior 
executive at Northrop Grumman, a retired U.S. Air Force 
maintenance officer, and an engineer by training, 
Jones brings a deep background in operations-driven 
environments to his new role. The Safety committee will 
be further strengthened by the addition of Davidson, 
who led large safety initiatives in the U.S. Navy that 
resulted in the implementation of new training and 
assessment processes. 
Beyond board oversight, a new safety-focused position, 
the Vice President of Safety, was created this year. 
John Fleps, a 17-year veteran of the company, was 
appointed to the role. Fleps is working to enhance our 
safety culture, strengthen trust and collaboration with 
employees, and foster universal respect for risks and 
hazards in the workplace. 
Safety was also added to new executive compensation 
metrics for 2023, with 10% of Norfolk Southern’s annual 
incentive goals now based on measurable and publicly-
reported safety metrics – specifically the Federal Railroad 
Administration (FRA) reportable injury rate and reportable 
train accident rate. 
At NS’ Moorman Yard in Bellevue, Ohio, President 
and CEO Alan Shaw hosted a company-wide Town 
Hall alongside labor union leaders. 
Atkins Nuclear Secured (ANS) Chairman Elmer 
Naples joined NS President and CEO Alan Shaw for 
a tour of our Inman Yard facility in Atlanta, Georgia. 
SECTION 3

|  8
Section 4: Safety 
Safety efforts
SUMMARY OF RESPONSIVE ACTIONS
Meaningful safety 
improvements will be a team 
effort – requiring everyone 
in the industry, from the railcar 
and tank manufacturers to 
the railroad companies, 
to work together.” 
– John Fleps, Vice President of Safety
____________________________________________________
At Norfolk Southern, everything starts with safety, and 
while the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) 
continues its investigation into the cause of the accident, 
we are not waiting for the final results to enhance our 
safety culture, and we’ve already identified specific actions.
INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF SAFETY BY ANS
We are seeking input from outside the rail industry for 
unique perspectives on impactful improvement. To that 
end, Norfolk Southern appointed Atkins Nuclear Secured 
(ANS), an independent consultant headed by a retired 
admiral from the Nuclear Navy. ANS will conduct an 
independent review of our safety culture and safety-
related training programs.
The nuclear industry is the gold standard for industrial 
safety. Supported by their partnership with ANS, Norfolk 
Southern seeks to become the gold standard in safety for 
the rail industry. Full results of ANS’s review are expected 
in Q4 2023, and agreed-upon recommendations will be 
implemented in phases, as part of a larger roadmap for 
long-term success.
PARTNERSHIP WITH CRAFT EMPLOYEES
When it comes to safety, our craft employees are Norfolk 
Southern’s first line of defense. 
In May, our CEO, 
along with leaders of 
12 Norfolk Southern 
labor unions, issued a 
joint letter underscoring 
our shared commitment 
to driving continuous 
safety improvements. 
Norfolk Southern leadership plays a key role in setting the 
tone for our workforce, which is why we’re working with all 
our ballast line supervisors to ensure every conversation 
starts with safety. Our leadership has also been on the 
ground listening to front line employees’ concerns and 
needs. As part of these efforts to ensure we are fostering 
a culture of transparency, Chief Operating Officer Paul 
Duncan has had multiple meetings with large groups of 
our craft railroaders across our 22-state network. 
Additionally, in June, at the start of National Safety 
Month for the rail industry, we held a companywide town 
hall meeting to directly communicate with our 20,000 
employees. At the meeting, CEO Alan Shaw and labor 
union leaders talked about the importance of safety.
We are encouraged by the progress we’ve made enhancing 
our safety culture, and our efforts to make a safe railroad 
even safer will continue. 
“Working together – 
and broadening the 
conversation to ensure 
everyone plays a part 
– is the best way to 
achieve meaningful 
improvement.”
SECTION 4
12% drop
INJURY FREQUENCY 
RATIO
We’ve seen our injury frequency 
ratio drop 12% year over year 
through the first half of the 
year. Our accident rate through 
the first half of the year is also 
down from prior years.
40% improvement
MAINLINE TRAIN
ACCIDENT RATE
Our mainline train accident rate 
improved 40% compared to last 
year through the first half of 
the year.

|  9
Section 4: Safety 
NTSB INVESTIGATION RESULTS & RESPONSE 
We are cooperating fully with the NTSB, an independent 
federal agency charged by Congress with investigating 
significant events in modes of transportation, as the 
agency continues its investigation into the cause of the 
incident. We seek a clear understanding of what 
caused the derailment and how similar incidents can 
be prevented in the future. 
The NTSB’s preliminary report, released on Feb. 23, indicates 
Norfolk Southern’s rail crew operated the train within the 
company’s rules and operated the train below the track 
speed limit. Under the supervision of the Federal Railroad 
Administration (FRA), the company has inspected all 
wayside detectors in the area of the incident. The NTSB 
has traced the derailment and the initial fire to an 
overheated axle on car number 23.
Our positive progress on this plan was shared in a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation, 
Pete Buttigieg on July 25. In the letter, we stressed our commitment to collaborating with others 
across the industry on an “ongoing, iterative effort to find the best new methods for early detection.”
Enhancing the hot bearing detector network.
After analyzing our 10,000 mile core network, we 
anticipate adding approximately 250 hot bearing 
detectors – the first two have been installed near 
East Palestine. In alignment with new industry 
consensus, as of May 2023 we lowered the critical 
alarm thresholds from 200 to 170 degrees.
Piloting next-generation hot bearing detectors. 
We are working to accelerate the testing and 
deployment of new technology that can scan a 
greater cross-section of a railcar’s bearings and 
wheels, increasing the chance of detecting an 
overheated bearing before it fails.
Working with industry on practices for hot 
bearing detectors. We plan to work with peers 
to review best practices and analyze data for 
patterns that could provide earlier warnings of 
potential safety issues. We’re also working with 
suppliers to shore up the supply chain for hot 
bearing detectors, and while that process takes 
place, we are moving forward with all supporting 
engineering at the sites to expedite installation 
once the devices arrive.
SIX-POINT PLAN
Soon after the East Palestine incident and taking into account the preliminary findings of the NTSB, Norfolk Southern 
announced a six-point plan focused on enhancing the safety of all operations. 
 
Deploying more acoustic bearing detectors. 
In addition to five acoustic bearing detectors 
already in service, Norfolk Southern has installed 
three new detectors, with plans to install 14 
more. These detectors use sound to identify 
potential problems that may escape visual 
detection. All of the new detectors will be in 
place by November, putting us ahead of the 
original rollout schedule.
Accelerating our Digital Train Inspection 
program. We are partnering with Georgia Tech 
Research Institute to develop a next generation 
of advanced safety inspection technology, 
leveraging ultra high-resolution cameras, 
machine vision and algorithms powered by 
artificial intelligence.
 
Supporting a strong safety culture. Norfolk 
Southern has agreed to join the FRA’s Confidential 
Close Call Reporting System (C3RS), working 
with the Association of American Railroads (AAR) 
and the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee 
(RSAC). This builds upon our own long-standing 
Close Call Experience Program in partnership 
with our SMART-RD and BLET unions.
1
2
3
4
5
6
SECTION 4

|  10
Section 5: Community support 
Community support
SUMMARY OF RESPONSIVE ACTIONS
We committed to the East 
Palestine community that we 
will be here for the long haul. 
We will continue to listen 
to and work with residents 
to focus our support on the 
areas of greatest need.” 
– Annie Adams, EVP & Chief Transformation Officer
____________________________________________________
Norfolk Southern will continue to invest in East Palestine and 
the surrounding areas for as long as it takes to help these 
communities recover and thrive. Our financial assistance is 
only part of our promise to make these communities whole.
FAMILY ASSISTANCE CENTER
The Family Assistance Center (FAC) is the main point 
of contact between Norfolk Southern and community 
members. It opened the day after the derailment and has 
been the main channel for our efforts to help those whose 
lives were disrupted by the derailment. We have helped 
thousands of families, many of them multiple times. 
On June 1, to provide even more convenient access, the 
FAC moved to a more permanent home right in the heart 
of East Palestine. 
The center is open five days a week, 
and residents can file claims forms and 
seek additional forms of assistance. 
If community members are unable 
to physically make it to the center, a 
company representative will go to them. 
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Norfolk Southern is committed to supporting impacted 
communities through financial contributions and 
community engagement. Since the derailment, CEO 
Alan Shaw has visited and met with residents more than 
a dozen times. To build connections and trust with the 
community, members of the Norfolk Southern team have 
hosted a variety of events, including promotional events for 
local businesses. They’ve also attended countless community 
meetings to listen to concerns, and gone door-to-door 
to affected businesses. In order to be transparent and 
accountable, Norfolk Southern continuously mails information 
about remediation efforts directly to residents, and runs 
a website as well. The website, nsmakingitright.com, 
is updated daily based on community feedback and 
provides information regarding ongoing efforts to support 
East Palestine and surrounding communities. 
Norfolk Southern team members worked 
side-by-side with residents to help beautify 
the town during the annual Day of Service.
10,400+ families
helped through the 
Family Assistance Center 
Our goal 
is to assist 
community 
members 
as quickly 
as possible.
SECTION 5

|  11
Section 5: Community support 
Other examples of Norfolk Southern’s dedication to the 
community include: 
 
•  Working side-by-side with residents to help beautify 
the town during the annual Day of Service. 
•  Lending a helping hand in large and small ways. For 
example, when we learned that the local florist was 
going to be closed because of the derailment – right 
before one of the busiest days of the year on Valentine’s 
Day – we bought flowers and delivered them to local 
nursing homes. 
•  Sponsoring community events, including the 
Pennsylvania New Galilee Carnival to make the fun, 
family tradition free for all residents. 
Overall, Norfolk Southern has committed more than 
$64M to support East Palestine and nearby communities 
in Ohio and Pennsylvania, including:
•  Contributing $8.5M in financial assistance to 
Pennsylvania emergency responders, health and 
environmental agencies, and the community.
•  Giving $1M to the Pittsburgh Foundation to support 
nonprofits in Lawrence and Beaver Counties in 
Western, PA.
•  Providing $3M in reimbursements and support to the 
East Palestine Fire Department for equipment used in 
the response.
•  Donating more than $1M to support nonprofits 
in the East Palestine community.
•  Establishing a $1M fund for East Palestine 
community leaders to identify and direct donations 
with the most impact.
•  Setting up a $1M fund to support the immediate needs 
of the East Palestine community, overseen by a Norfolk 
Southern craft railroader who lives in town and has been 
appointed to serve as a community liaison.
•  Pledging $25M for upgrades and improvements to the 
East Palestine City Park, including a new aquatic center, 
three new playgrounds, upgraded baseball fields, 
a new amphitheater, and more.
•  Renovating and donating the historic train depot to the 
Village of East Palestine, along with a $100K grant for 
future development.
SECTION 5  
We will continue to invest in East 
Palestine and the surrounding 
communities for as long as it takes 
to help them recover and thrive. 
Our financial assistance is only 
part of our promise to make these 
communities whole.

|  12
Section 5: Community support 
When I first moved to East Palestine 
with my family, I didn’t know much 
about the community. In the years 
since, I’ve seen first-hand how 
special it is. It’s a great place to 
raise a family — a place where 
people work hard and take care 
of their neighbors. 
____________________________________________
BEFORE THE DERAILMENT, I SPENT 
MY NORFOLK SOUTHERN CAREER as a 
machinist at Conway Yard. As an employee of 
the railroad and resident of the village, I was 
in a unique position to take on a new role after the accident. I welcomed the opportunity 
to serve as community liaison, helping to connect my neighbors with the assistance 
they needed. I wanted to ensure the resources being offered by Norfolk Southern made 
the most impact possible. It’s important to me that our efforts honor the spirit of this 
hardworking community, and I’m proud of the progress we’ve made to this point.
We’re working to clean up the effects of the derailment. We’re providing financial support 
for local schools, youth organizations, businesses, and more. Just as important, if not 
more so, we’re engaging with the community. Residents want to be heard—and I’ve found 
that listening goes a long way.
                                    My child attends our schools and plays at our park. For as long as 
                                    it takes, I’m determined to do everything I can to make things right. 
Through it all, I’ve received full support from Norfolk Southern, and I’m grateful for the 
opportunity to help my neighbors and my community recover. I can say confidently, 
we’re here for the long haul.
Jeremy Vranesevich is a community liaison for 
Norfolk Southern and an East Palestine resident.
_____________________________________________
Open Letter: Jeremy Vranesevich
East Palestine 
is my home.
SECTION 5

|  13
Section 6: What’s next: The work ahead
SUMMARY OF RESPONSIVE ACTIONS
We are encouraged by early 
results, but we know much more 
work lies ahead of us to not only 
make it right in East Palestine 
but to ensure that Norfolk 
Southern is the safest railroad 
for our employees, customers, 
and communities.”
– Paul Duncan, EVP and Chief Operating Officer
____________________________________________________
NEXT STEPS: ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION
Norfolk Southern is committed to long-term testing to 
establish the air, water, and soil around the derailment 
site are safe.
Additional details on cleanup efforts will be forthcoming, 
including:
•  Completing excavation 
activities north and south 
of the tracks and disposing 
of excavated soils.
•  Taking thousands of soil 
samples to assess whether 
impacts remain at the site.
•  Assessing sediments in local waterways to inform potential 
future stream-washing or other remedial activities.
•  Offering a home cleaning program as an additional 
service where residents have voiced concerns about 
potential lingering odors. 
The majority of waste disposal from the derailment 
is currently scheduled to be completed by the end 
of October.
NEXT STEPS: SAFETY
Norfolk Southern is a safe railroad, and we will continue
pushing to become even safer. It’s part of our vision for 
making decisions in the best long-term interests of our 
employees, our customers, and the communities we serve. 
Our six-point safety plan is a roadmap for how to do that, 
but it’s just a starting point.
In his recent remarks to Congress, our CEO noted that two 
bipartisan pieces of proposed legislation, the Railway Safety 
Act and the RAIL Act, contain “measures with the potential 
for meaningful improvement, such as funding additional 
training, better advanced notifications, accelerating the 
phase out of older tank cars, and much more.”
Modernization efforts are also underway at Norfolk 
Southern that will have an impact on safety, including 
purchasing 22 DOT-117 tank cars used for transporting 
flammable liquids with enhanced safety features to 
replace currently operating DOT-111 cars. Beyond rail cars, 
we are modernizing the equipment used by workers in 
the field, including mobile-friendly programs that notify 
crew members and dispatchers when critical alarms occur, 
and infrared temperature guns that will display a digital 
temperature reading at the bearing. Other new safety 
measures in progress include:
•  Creating Mechanical Department Instruction (MDI) as 
a clear process for mechanical employees to follow when 
called to assist with critical bearing alarms.
•  Using artificial intelligence and years of historical data 
to find trends that could identify defects even earlier.
•  Purchasing 10,000 169-degree surface temperature 
measurement sticks to replace the higher temp 
units deployed.
•  Rolling out the first five of 17 inspection corridors 
including two portals with ultra high-resolution cameras 
that will provide 360-degree views.
•  Continuing to work with industry groups to develop 
additional benchmarking initiatives around temperature 
trending algorithms.
What’s next: The work ahead
We are making 
progress in our 
recovery efforts 
but know our work 
is not yet done. 
SECTION 6

©2023 NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORPORATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
www.norfolksouthern.com
Connect with us:
NEXT STEPS: COMMUNITY SUPPORT
East Palestine is a special community, and we’re 
committed to continuing to support the village 
long-term. We are listening to people who live there to 
understand how we can best support them. In addition 
to the efforts outlined in this report, Norfolk Southern 
is working to:
•  Create long-term funds that will help support health 
outcomes in the community, ensure municipal and 
private well drinking water remains safe to drink, and 
mitigate any effect of the incident on a seller’s home 
property value.
•  Make renovations to the historic train depot, which 
are expected to be completed this fall.
•  Continue our work to strengthen the community, with 
a particular focus on supporting the local economy.
•  Complete the enhancements to East Palestine City Park, 
including presenting the revitalization plans and timeline 
to the city council.
•  Follow through on other large-scale philanthropic 
investments.
We will continue to update nsmakingitright.com
on our progress and continued efforts to keep our 
promise to make things right for East Palestine 
and the surrounding communities. Please 
continue to check for the latest information.
SECTION 6