East Palestine

Judge Benita Pearson gave the deal final approval after a hearing where the lawyers who negotiated it with the railroad argued that residents overwhelmingly supported it, attorneys for the residents and railroad spokesperson Heather Garcia told The Associated Press. Roughly 55,000 claims were filed. Only 370 households and 47 businesses opted out.

The judge ruled that East Palestine residents deserve timely compensation for the 2023 Norfolk Southern train derailment, according to court filings.

A handful of residents filed formal objections to the deal because they believe it’s not fair that some of the people who were most affected by the derailment might wind up with the smallest settlements.

The National Transportation Safety Board held its final meeting on the 2023 East Palestine train derailment on Tuesday.

National Transportation Safety Board staff recommended Tuesday that new guidance be developed for deciding when first responders use the vent and burn tactic and that federal standards should be developed for trackside detectors.

The NTSB is holding its final meeting on the East Palestine train derailment Tuesday morning. The board will vote on the probable causes of the derailment and recommendations to prevent future accidents.

The agreement is designed to address all damage claims against the companies within a 20-mile radius of the derailment and, for residents who choose to participate, personal injury claims within a 10-mile radius of the derailment.

The new federal requirement was a milestone in organized labor’s long fight to preserve the practice of two-person crews and came amid increasing scrutiny into railroad safety.

A team of researchers is studying the impact on residents' health from exposure to toxic chemicals released during the East Palestine train derailment.

If resolved by the court, the settlement agreement would resolve all class action claims within a 20 mile radius of the derailment, according to a press release from Norfolk Southern.