Norfolk Southern diesel spill prompts Ohio EPA plan update

Norfolk Southern diesel spill concerns prompted the railroad to submit a revised stormwater pollution prevention plan to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency after inspectors documented diesel fuel and an oil sheen leaving a Portsmouth railyard and reaching the Ohio River, as reported by Scioto Valley Guardian.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Norfolk Southern diesel spill: what the Ohio EPA found

Ohio EPA inspectors conducted a reconnaissance inspection of Norfolk Southern’s Portsmouth Yard on July 17, 2025, as part of a compliance check tied to the facility’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit under 40 CFR Part 122 (NPDES permit programs). The inspection report said an oil sheen was visible at stormwater outfall 004 and at final outfall 001.

Don’t miss…Tri-Rail ridership record: 4.5M+ rides set new 2025 high

Final outfall 001 discharges through the City of Portsmouth’s storm sewer system before entering the Ohio River. Inspectors also reported a strong diesel odor at both locations. The initial inspection report noted that Norfolk Southern did not immediately identify the source of the discharge.

Corrective actions tied to railyard operations

In a corrective action report submitted to the Ohio EPA on Jan. 2, 2026, Norfolk Southern said an internal investigation concluded the discharge was likely associated with railyard operations. The company reported that testing identified a failed underground fuel pipeline serving a truck loading area, and the line was taken out of service.

The report said Norfolk Southern installed a below-grade collection sump near the pipeline and collected approximately 1,100 gallons of petroleum-impacted water, containing an estimated 22 gallons of petroleum. The company reported the impacted water was recovered primarily through August 2025.

Stormwater pollution prevention plan update and monitoring

Ohio EPA records indicate Norfolk Southern updated its stormwater pollution prevention plan to document the diesel release and related operational changes, submitting the update to meet the facility’s discharge permit requirements under the Ohio EPA stormwater program.

The corrective action report also said a temporary truck loading pad was installed near the railroad’s bulk fuel tanks, while construction is underway on a permanent covered loading and parking pad intended to eliminate the underground fuel line. Norfolk Southern said the new facility is expected to be completed in 2026.

Monitoring of the affected outfalls continued into late 2025, the company reported, with no further evidence of petroleum contamination before river containment equipment was removed for winter conditions.

News on railway transport, industry, and railway technologies from Railway Supply that you might have missed: