Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw advised CNBC he thinks it is protected for households to return to East Palestine, Ohio, almost three weeks after poisonous chemical compounds have been launched following a prepare derailment earlier this month.

Requested by CNBC’s Morgan Brennan whether or not he’d convey his youngsters to the city, Shaw mentioned: “Sure, sure, I’ve come again a number of occasions. I am consuming the water right here. I’ve interacted with the households right here.”

The corporate can even proceed to assist residents of the city, as properly, Shaw mentioned.

On Feb. 3, a Norfolk Southern freight prepare carrying hazardous chemical compounds derailed, igniting a dayslong hearth. The environmental magnitude of the derailment might stay unknown for years and extra testing could also be required. Officers have mentioned air ranges are protected and the city’s water is freed from dangerous ranges of contaminants, though residents have expressed skepticism about these assurances.

“Our focus proper now’s on environmental remediation, cleansing up this web site, continuous air monitoring, water monitoring, monetary help to the residents of this group, and investing on this group in order that the group in East Palestine can thrive,” Shaw mentioned in an interview that aired Tuesday.

Earlier Tuesday, the federal Environmental Safety Company ordered the corporate to deal with and pay for all cleanup efforts. It’s going to require Norfolk Southern to wash any contaminated soil and water assets, reimburse the EPA for cleansing companies and take part in public conferences on the EPA’s request.

An organization spokesperson advised CNBC Norfolk Southern has been in communication with the company and in compliance with its requests because the incident.

Three days after the derailment, the corporate’s impartial guide and the Ohio EPA really helpful unified command for a managed launch to burn off poisonous chemical compounds, together with recognized carcinogens.

“The truth that we knew at the moment that the strain reduction valves on the vehicles had failed, temperatures have been rising, prompted our impartial skilled to turn out to be very involved concerning the potential for an uncontrolled explosion that may shoot dangerous fuel and shrapnel right into a populated group,” Shaw mentioned.

The air monitoring picked up no traces of poisonous chemical compounds, officers mentioned, though Shaw acknowledges “the way it might scare of us.”

Ohio opened a brand new well being clinic Tuesday to handle rising reviews of complications, nausea and rashes in East Palestine. Frightened residents additionally reported useless fish and chickens as authorities mentioned it is protected to return. As early as this week, medical groups from the U.S. Facilities for Ailments Management and Prevention and the US Division of Well being are anticipated to reach in the neighborhood.

Shaw mentioned air monitoring was put in inside an hour of the derailment, and water monitoring was in place a number of hours afterward. He mentioned all checks for air and water have come again clear, however he mentioned the group can get extra air and water testing of their properties.

“If of us are experiencing signs with which they don’t seem to be accustomed, I might strongly encourage them to go see a trusted medical skilled,” Shaw mentioned, acknowledging it has been a “traumatic expertise.”

Checks have revealed no indicators of carcinogens together with vinyl chloride within the atmosphere, officers mentioned. Nonetheless, there stays the chance that the complete affect will not floor till years from now. Shaw mentioned some researchers have mentioned this isn’t a priority and testing will proceed into the longer term.

Shaw mentioned the corporate up to now eliminated about 450 cubic yards of contaminated soil and secured about 1.1 million gallons of contaminated water. He mentioned the corporate will proceed to “do the suitable factor for this group” and see the restoration effort all over. He didn’t lay out a time-frame.

Shaw mentioned it is protected for households to return to the group as environmental remediation with the Ohio EPA is underway. He mentioned Norfolk Southern has reimbursed or dedicated a “downpayment” of $6.5 million to East Palestine and can proceed monetary help to residents.

The corporate beforehand provided residents $1,000 “inconvenience” checks, however a Cleveland lawyer cautioned residents these checks would get residents to waive future claims in opposition to the corporate. Shaw within the interview denied the lawyer’s claims after the corporate made public statements that doing testing absolved Norfolk Southern of no legal responsibility.

“I do know they’re harm. I do know they’re scared. I do know they’re confused. They’re searching for data and who to belief,” Shaw mentioned.

Shaw mentioned Norfolk Southern is absolutely cooperating with the NTSB and the FRA to give you the basis explanation for the derailment. He prevented speaking about safety footage exhibiting a wheel taking pictures off sparks about 20 miles earlier than the derailment.

“We’ll be right here tomorrow. We’ll be right here a 12 months from now. We’ll right here 5 years from now. We’ll do what’s proper for this group and assist this group get again on its ft and assist this group thrive,” Shaw mentioned.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg despatched a letter Sunday to Norfolk Southern, warning that the corporate should “show unequivocal help for the folks” of East Palestine.

Buttigieg wrote that Norfolk Southern and different rail firms have “spent tens of millions of {dollars} within the courts and lobbying members of Congress to oppose commonsense security laws, stopping some fully and decreasing the scope of others.”

Some firms have adopted precision-scheduled railroading, which incorporates working longer trains, and chopping prices and headcounts to create a more practical community — and doubtlessly revenue.

In response, Shaw mentioned Norfolk Southern invests over $1 billion a 12 months in “science-based soutions,” together with sustaining tracks, gear and expertise.

Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, mentioned in a CNN interview that railroads “are merely not investing the way in which they need to in automotive security and the rail strains themselves,” leading to layoffs and inventory buybacks.

“It is fairly clear that our security tradition and our investments in security did not stop this accident,” Shaw mentioned in response. “We want to check out this and see what we will do in a different way and what we will do higher.”