(The following article by Christi Mathis appeared in the Southern Illinoisian.)
TAMAROA, Ill. — Although some Tamaroa residents filed a class action lawsuit in United States District Court in Benton Thursday to seek compensation of $20,000 per person from the Canadian National Railway for damages and losses from the Feb. 9 hazardous chemicals railcar derailment, many more have signed releases and received settlement checks from the railroad.
The claims office will be open for the last time from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at the Tamaroa Community Center but the railroad has announced a telephone number Tamaroa area residents may call for help with additional claims.
“As of about 4 p.m. (Saturday) we had settled with 851 evacuees and 33 businesses,” said Jack Burke, assistant vice president for United States Public Affairs for CN. “The total payout is in excess of $330,000 and we’ll still have people at the Community Center Sunday, ” Burke added
Those with claims not resolved today may call the railroad at (618) 533-3362 Burke said. He asked residents to leave a message at that number and railroad claims representatives will contact people to make arrangements to handle their claims. He said the number will be operational today.
Meanwhile, “work is progressing” at the site, Burke said. “There’s a steady stream of trucks going in and out. We plan on having the (train) cars completely removed by Friday.”
Burke said that in addition to soil excavation there are other things, some that won’t be noticeable to residents, that must be done at the derailment site. That includes things like scoping 200 feet of sewer line under the track to make sure there is no damage. He said the railroad will comply with all of the specifics set forth in the agreement between the company, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Perry County State’s
Attorney David Stanton on behalf of the people, the county and the Tamaroa area residents. The legal agreement specifically details how the cleanup and restoration of Tamaroa will be completed.