FILE – A black plume rises over East Palestine, Ohio, as a result of a controlled detonation of a portion of the derailed Norfolk Southern trains, on Feb. 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

Very few people who live near the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment opted out of a $600 million class action settlement despite residents’ reservations about whether the deal offers enough, so lawyers argue the agreement should be approved later this month.

The lawyers who negotiated the deal with Norfolk Southern on behalf of everyone affected by the disastrous February 2023 derailment said only 370 households and 47 businesses in the 20-mile (32-kilometer) radius around the derailment opted out of the property damage payments.

That includes only 82 opt-outs from households within 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) of the crash who were promised $70,000 for property damage. People who lived at the outer edge of the area will only receive a few hundred dollars if a federal judge approves the settlement after a Sept. 25 hearing.

Altogether, 54,925 claims had been filed as of last week, and that number should be close to the final total because there was an Aug. 22 deadline to submit forms.

“It is deeply satisfying that this community overwhelmingly supports this settlement,” the plaintiffs’ lawyers said in a statement. “This result would not have been possible without their resolve and determination to hold Norfolk Southern accountable.”

A separate payment of up to $25,000 for personal injuries was more controversial because residents were required to give up any right to sue in the future if they develop cancer or other serious ailments. But some 97% of East Palestine residents still signed onto that.

Some residents have complained that even though the lawyers have said this settlement is bigger than any other derailment settlement, the payments still aren’t enough to compensate them for all their suffering. Many people don’t like the fact that aid payments they have received from the railroad will be deducted from any settlement they ultimately receive.

One of the key concerns for those objecting to the deal is that the contamination left behind after hazardous chemicals spilled and burned after the train crash could be worse than they know. That’s why they filed a motion asking the judge to order the lawyers to release all the tests their expert did in the community.

The plaintiff’s lawyers said in their motion that they can’t release those tests because it would violate the terms of the settlement. They tried to reassure the community that they did extensive research to make sure the settlement was adequate by interviewing some 70 people and reviewing nearly 1.35 million pages of documents.

A separate federal settlement between the government and the railroad will ensure that Norfolk Southern pays for the cleanup that is still ongoing and for long-term medical monitoring of residents and tests of groundwater.

The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed early this summer that the derailment was caused by an overheated wheel bearing that wasn’t caught in time by trackside detectors. Investigators also said they determined that officials never needed to blow open five tank cars containing vinyl chloride and burn the plastic ingredient because those tank cars weren’t going to explode.

The plaintiffs’ lawyers said that because of their extensive investigation they weren’t surprised by anything that came out at the NTSB hearing in June.

AMBRIDGE, Sept. 9 – School districts in the 16^th Legislative District will have funding for repairs and upgrades to ensure students and staff enjoy a healthy learning environment thanks to new grants totaling $540,363, state Rep. Rob Matzie announced today.

Matzie, D-Beaver, said the funding – awarded through the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Environmental Repairs Grant program – includes $381,778 to Central Valley School District and $158,585 to Freedom Area School District.

“Our students thrive with the best educators, support staff and curriculum, but they also need modern, safe classrooms that keep them warm, breathing clean air and protected from any environmental hazards,” Matzie said. “That’s why I fought for budget funding that will support equipment upgrades, repairs and any other improvements our schools need. Our kids – and the educators and school staff who work so hard to support them – deserve no less.”

The funding is part of a package of $75 million secured in the state’s 2023-24 budget and awarded under the PDE Environmental Repairs Grant program. Schools can use the money to improve water infrastructure and eliminate contamination, install point-of-use treatment devices to reduce lead and other contaminants, remediate mold or asbestos contamination and perform other projects that remediate environmental hazards.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published September 10, 2024 1:58 P.M.

(Raccoon Township, Pa) Raccoon Township Police reported that last Thursday night at 9pm, officers responded to Route 3016 in the area of Route 18 in the township for an accident. Fire rescue had to extricate a passenger from one of the vehicles involved. A driver and a passenger were life flighted to a Pittsburgh hospital. Police reported that the cause if the crash was improper turning and yielding.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published September 10, 2024 1:55 P.M.

(Aliquippa, Pa) Early Friday morning, September 6, 2024, a Hyundai was stolen from the Hollywood section of Plan 12. The vehicle was recovered, according to the police report on Wade Street. The vehicle was towed from the scene and is being processed.

Story by Sandy Giordnao – Beaver County Radio. Published September 10, 2024 1:49 P.M.

(Raccoon Township, Pa) Brandon McCauley and Felicia Mouhoutis are wanted on charges of burglary and other related charges, according to police. The burglary occurred last week and police reported the pair’s whereabouts are unknown. If anyone can provide information on the pair, they are asked to call police at 724-775-0881.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published September 10, 2024 1:47 P.M.

(East Rochester, Pa) State Police issued a report on Monday morning, September 9, 2024, stating that an Aliquippa man’s vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation following a crash on Ohio River Boulevard in East Rochester. The incident occurred Tuesday, August 27, 2024 just before midnight.

Story by Sandy Giordano – Beaver County Radio. Published September 10, 2024 1:44 P.M.

(Greene Township, Pa) On Sunday, September 8, 2024 just after 7:30pm, police were called to Greene Road at Red Dog Road in Greene Township for 2 vehicles parked near private property. According to the report, a state trooper that responded to the scene  found empty beer cans scattered around the vehicles. He spoke to 4 individuals involved and they all smelled of alcohol.  The foursome admitted to drinking alcohol.