Freight practice derails in Pennsylvania pushing carriages into river
- Norfolk Southern practice derailed in Lower Saucon Township, Pennsylvania
- Train automobiles plunged into the Lehigh River on Saturday morning
- Norfolk Southern CEO Alan H. Shaw noticed his pay rise to $1.1 million in 2023, the identical 12 months of the East Palestine derailment
A Norfolk Southern freight practice has veered off its tracks and plunged right into a river in Pennsylvania.
The derailment occurred close to the 2200 block of Riverside Drive in Lower Saucon Township on Saturday morning.
No accidents or leaks have been reported as of but. Officers imagine three automobiles could have come off the tracks and probably rolled over.
Dramatic photos present the locomotive partially submerged within the Lehigh River.
It comes simply days after it emerged that Norfolk Southern CEO Alan H. Shaw obtained a 37 % pay rise in 2023, the identical 12 months his firm was concerned in one other environmentally disastrous derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
A Norfolk Southern freight practice has veered off its tracks and plunged right into a river in Pennsylvania
The derailment occurred close to the 2200 block of Riverside Drive in Lower Saucon Township on Saturday morning
Shaw’s whole compensation hit an eyewatering $13.4 million in 2023.
Meanwhile, some East Palestine residents are nonetheless but to return to their properties after 1000’s have been compelled to flee when the derailment dumped 1000’s of gallons of poisonous chemical compounds into the ambiance.
Rivers have been polluted and tons of of locals complained of sick well being.
The practice was carrying 700,000 kilos of vinyl chloride when 53 of its carriages derailed on February 3, 2023.
No accidents have been instantly reported on the time, however the cocktail of chemical compounds prompted an enormous fireplace forcing locals to evacuate.
As nicely as being ecologically damaging, the derailment value Norfolk Southern an estimated $1.1 billion and despatched share costs plummeting by greater than a fifth within the two months after the catastrophe.
Still Shaw was awarded the hefty pay rise, taking his base wage rose up by $200,000 to $1.1 million, whereas his inventory and possibility awards rose $2.2 million to $10 million.
It comes simply days after it emerged that Norfolk Southern CEO Alan H. Shaw obtained a 37 % pay rise in the identical 12 months his firm was concerned in a derailment in East Palestine, Ohio
A big plume of smoke rises over East Palestine, Ohio, final 12 months after a managed detonation of a portion of a derailed Norfolk Southern practice to burn off hazardous chemical compounds
In a proxy submitting, Norfolk Southern confirmed its, ‘unanimous help for the corporate’s technique that balances protected and dependable service, steady productiveness enchancment and good progress beneath the management of CEO Alan H. Shaw.’
But the pay rise was slammed by the railroad union Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.
‘It’s alarming that the board rewarded Mr. Shaw with a large elevate and whole compensation of $13.4 million throughout the identical 12 months he presided over industry-worst working outcomes, sustained underperformance and a tone-deaf response to the derailment in East Palestine,’ the group advised CNN in a press release.
‘This failure of company governance … reinforces the necessity for sweeping modifications to Norfolk Southern’s nicely paid board.’
The union is asking to interchange Shaw with Jim Barber Jr., a former chief working officer at UPS.
Air and water exams that state and federal well being officers have been conducting haven’t proven regarding ranges of vinyl chloride, butyl acrylate or different chemical compounds in additional than 115 million measurements since an evacuation order imposed after the derailment was lifted.
However, locals are nonetheless involved about potential well being dangers, usually noting a chemical sheen atop the creeks that circulate by means of the city of 5,000 folks.
The railroad firm estimated that the cleanup would value $800 million, which included $74 million Norfolk Southern pledged to assist East Palestine recuperate
Residents have been repeatedly advised their properties are protected, but the Environmental Protection Agency has put indicators round creeks and water sources warning folks to remain away
It promised to spend $25 million refurbishing the city’s park and one other $4.3 million to improve its water therapy system.
The railroad is spending one other $20 million to construct a regional coaching heart for first responders to assist put together them to cope with the sort of hazardous supplies that spilled within the derailment.
It took President Biden greater than a 12 months to go to the positioning. He spent barely two hours there earlier than earlier than leaving to spend the vacation weekend at his beachside residence.
Locals made their emotions clear in regards to the delayed go to. His motorcade ran a gauntlet of banners proclaiming, ‘Too Little, Too Late,’ and the streets have been lined with folks shouting, ‘F*** you.’
