CHARLESTON — The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), along with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the State of West Virginia announced a tentative settlement with CSX Transportation for the train derailment that occurred in 2015.
Under the tentative settlement, CSX will pay $1.2 million in penalties to the United States and $1 million to West Virginia.
Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division Jeffrey H. Wood said federal law requires the transport of oil through communities like Mount Carbon to be done safely regardless of the mode of travel.
"When accidents happen and public health or the environment is harmed, the Justice Department will respond with strong action in close coordination with our federal and state partners,” Wood said in a news release. "Today’s settlement imposes serious fines under the Clean Water Act for the 2015 CSX train derailment in West Virginia and seeks to deter similar incidents from happening in the future. I applaud the joint efforts of DOJ, EPA, and the State of West Virginia on this case."
EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Assistant Administrator Susan Bodine said the 2015 train derailment caused significant damage and disruption to the Mount Carbon community
"Through this settlement, EPA, DOJ, and the State of West Virginia are holding CSX Transportation accountable for these consequences," Bodine said in a press release.
When the train derailment occurred, the CSX train, which was 109 railcars, was carrying crude oil through Mount Carbon.
Twenty-seven of the cars derailed, causing more than approximately 780,000 gallons of Bakken crude oil to ignite and explode.
The explosions and fires destroyed a nearby home and garage and caused the local government to declare a state of emergency.
Local residents were evacuated and the nearby water intakes were shut down.
CSX was given orders to remedy the damage and disruption the oil spill caused to the community, which it did.
CSX will also help improve surface water quality in the area impacted by the oil spill through a contribution of $500,000 to a state-administered fund to upgrade a water treatment facility in Fayette County.
Some of the oil that was discharged due to the train derailment made its way into the Kanawha River and Armstrong Creek.