EAST PALESTINE, Ohio - Norfolk Southern says it has submitted a final work plan to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency outlining its strategy to address remaining contamination in local streams following the February 2023 train derailment.

The plan, submitted last week to federal and state agencies, focuses on mitigation efforts for parts of Sulphur Run and Leslie Run where sheens were identified during a stream reassessment conducted in March and April 2025.

Data from that reassessment, which was also reported to the EPA last week, indicated no human health risks related to the derailment were found in surface water during two previous assessments in 2024, according to Norfolk Southern.

Once the mitigation plan receives approval, Norfolk Southern says it will implement the outlined plan, followed by another stream reassessment.

The railroad reported that overall site restoration activities continue and are expected to be largely complete within the coming weeks. Particulate air monitoring is ongoing in areas of active operations and will be reduced as work concludes.

Ongoing monitoring of surface water, groundwater, and drinking water wells continues according to schedule. This includes water and sediment sampling in the East End wetland, which has received EPA approval.

Since the derailment, Norfolk Southern reports that 74 million gallons of water and 237,693 tons of waste soil have been removed. The company says it has also flushed 5,200 feet of affected waterways and sampled 1,923 drinking water wells.