EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — With the statute of limitations to file suit against Norfolk Southern for damages inflicted by the 2023 train derailment and subsequent chemical release less than a week away, East Palestine Council announced the village and the railroad have reached a settlement.

Council closed Monday night’s regular meeting by passing a resolution to enter into the agreement that resolved all claims made by the village of East Palestine arising from the rail disaster.

Though council did not release any details of the deal, WRL — the public relations firm hired by the village — posted a statement to epohio.org, revealing the general terms of the settlement.

According to the statement, the village will receive $22 million from Norfolk Southern “to be used for priorities identified by the Village in connection with the train derailment.”

The statement also disclosed what the village will not receive — the promised first responder training center that was lauded as both a boon for rail safety and the East Palestine economy.

“As part of the settlement, Norfolk Southern and the village have mutually agreed that the creation and operation of the proposed regional safety training center in the village is not feasible and, as a result, work will not proceed with building the center,” the statement read. “Norfolk Southern has agreed to transfer ownership of approximately 15 acres of land it acquired for the center to the village for another productive use, to be determined by the village in its sole discretion. Norfolk Southern remains committed to providing training for East Palestine’s first responders at other facilities in the region.”

The training center was to be built on the site of the former Jaspar recycling and was meant to provide specialized training to first responders from Ohio and the rest of the East Coast. Just last month, Fire Chief Keith Drabick, who pushed hard for the training center, said the project was moving forward. During a groundbreaking ceremony in September of 2023, the railroad pledged to cover the construction costs of what was to be a state-of-the-art facility and a $25 million endowment to fund its operation for 10 years. All that is now off the table.

According to the post from WRL, the settlement does, however, “reaffirm Norfolk Southern’s commitment of $25 million to the ongoing improvements to the East Palestine City Park.” It also “recognizes the approximately $13.5 million in prior payments that Norfolk Southern has already made directly to the village since the derailment, including replacement of village fire and police equipment and vehicles, improvements to the village’s water treatment plant, and Norfolk Southern’s exterior renovation of the historic East Palestine train depot.”

Council approved the resolution to accept the deal after a brief executive session to discuss “pending litigation.” After passing the resolution, council adjourned the meeting with no discussion.

East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway and acting village manager Misti Martin said no further details could be provided following the meeting but referred to the village’s website where the statement was soon posted.