{"id":1277,"date":"2024-01-30T16:19:48","modified":"2024-09-02T20:20:22","slug":"casey-fetterman-continue-push-to-hold-norfolk-southern-accountable-to-pennsylvanians-after-company-starts-process-of-joining-close-call-reporting-system","link":"https:\/\/www.fetterman.senate.gov\/casey-fetterman-continue-push-to-hold-norfolk-southern-accountable-to-pennsylvanians-after-company-starts-process-of-joining-close-call-reporting-system\/","title":{"rendered":"Casey, Fetterman Continue Push to Hold Norfolk Southern Accountable to Pennsylvanians After Company Starts Process of Joining Close Call Reporting System"},"content":{"rendered":"

WASHINGTON, DC \u2013\u202f<\/b><\/span>Pennsylvania U.S. Senators Bob Casey and John Fetterman today continued their push to hold Norfolk Southern accountable after the company <\/span>announced<\/span><\/a> that it would take steps towards joining the Federal Railroad Administration\u2019s Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS), a program that allows employees to anonymously report near-misses or close calls on railroads when they see them and protects employees from retribution when they report these events.<\/span><\/p>\n

In August, Sens. Casey and Fetterman <\/span>sent a letter<\/span><\/a> to Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw regarding the company\u2019s continued failure to join the program, after Norfolk Southern <\/span>previously said they would join<\/span><\/a> shortly after the derailment affecting East Palestine, OH and Darlington Township, PA.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Norfolk Southern announced that the pilot program they negotiated will only cover approximately 1,000 workers represented by two unions in Georgia, Indiana, and Virginia, the Pennsylvania Senators pushed Norfolk Southern to fully follow through on its commitment and include all Norfolk Southern workers in Pennsylvania as well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhile the announcement that Norfolk Southern will finally begin to join this critical reporting system at our urging is a good first step, the company now needs to expand the group to include Pennsylvania workers and support the\u00a0Railway Safety Act<\/i>\u00a0to do right by its workers and our Nation\u2019s rail communities. With families in Darlington still hurting from last year\u2019s derailment, we must do more to support communities suffering from the reckless failures of big rail companies and prevent Pennsylvanians from ever having to go through this hell again,\u201d<\/b><\/span>\u00a0said Sen. Casey.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNearly one year after the train derailment in East Palestine, Norfolk Southern finally took our advice and began the process of joining the Federal Railroad Administration\u2019s Confidential Close Call Reporting System. This is a positive step, but the fact that they haven\u2019t committed to covering all workers in Pennsylvania \u2013 one of the two states most deeply affected by the toxic derailment a year ago \u2013 is just not enough. We need rail companies to implement these safety measures nationwide, and before a derailment, not after. Now, let\u2019s pass the Railway Safety Act and make sure we hold these companies accountable,\u201d<\/b><\/span> said Sen. Fetterman.<\/span><\/p>\n

Calling for Norfolk Southern to join C3RS was just one action that Sens. Casey and Fetterman have taken to push for accountability from Norfolk Southern and stand up for local residents affected by the toxic derailment.<\/span><\/p>\n

Last year, Sen. Fetterman\u202f<\/span>held\u202f<\/span><\/a>a roundtable with local farmers in Darlington Township affected by the derailment, while while Sen. Casey\u202f<\/span>visited<\/span><\/a>\u202fDarlington Township to\u202f<\/span>push<\/span><\/a>\u202ffor rail safety bills and hear from local residents.<\/span><\/p>\n

Previously, Sens. Casey and Fetterman\u202f<\/span>wrote<\/span><\/a>\u202fto Shaw about the company\u2019s legal and moral obligation to the residents of East Palestine and Darlington Township, demanding answers on how the company plans to be an active member of response and clean-up operations. They\u202f<\/span>pressed<\/span><\/a>\u202fthe Environmental Protection Agency on its plan to hold Norfolk Southern accountable for releasing hazardous materials into the air and water. They\u202f<\/span>wrote\u202f<\/span><\/a>to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to share rail safety concerns they have heard from constituents, rail experts, and railroad workers as NTSB conducts its investigation into the derailment.\u202fAnd finally, they worked with Congressman Chris Deluzio (D-PA) to\u202f<\/span>urge<\/span><\/a>\u202fNorfolk Southern to provide assistance to Pennsylvanians in Darlington Township after repeated reports that Pennsylvania residents were being turned away at the Family Assistance Center in East Palestine.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Pennsylvania Senators also joined with Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and J.D. Vance (R-OH) to introduce the bipartisan\u202f<\/span>Railway Safety Act of 2023<\/i><\/span><\/a>\u202fwhich would take much needed steps to improve rail safety protocols and prevent future train disasters like the derailment that devastated East Palestine and Darlington Township. The bill will take key steps to improve rail safety protocols, such as enhancing safety procedures for trains carrying hazardous materials, establishing requirements for wayside defect detectors, creating a permanent requirement for railroads to operate with at least two-person crews, increasing fines for wrongdoing committed by rail carriers, and more.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false}}