NILES — Under an agreement proposed by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, Norfolk Southern has committed to hiring Ohio companies and workers to do all future repair and replacement work from the Feb. 3 East Palestine train derailment.

Yost, with Guy Coviello, president / CEO of the Youngstown / Warren Regional Chamber, made the announcement Wednesday at a news conference at the Eastwood Event Centre in Niles.

Yost said Norfolk Southern is under a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administrative order to clean up the East Palestine damage, forcing the railroad to spend “tens of millions of dollars” for the effort.

“The question is: Where will they get the the goods and services that are necessary to do that?” Yost said.

He said an agreement was reached between his office and Norfolk Southern that the company will spend the money in Ohio by hiring Ohio contractors and getting materials from Ohio businesses.

“I am very excited about this. We didn’t ask for this accident to happen here in Ohio or in East Palestine, and we would be quite happy not to have to deal with it. But since this accident did happen, I’m pleased that Norfolk Southern has signed off on the agreement and that Ohio businesses are going to benefit,” Yost said.

Ohio businesses, including some in the Mahoning Valley, will benefit from the money that has to be spent on the cleanup and remediation, Yost said.

He said he was not sure exactly how much Norfolk Southern will need to spend to get the work done because of a series of things the company must accomplish.

“Norfolk Southern is welcoming this opportunity with open arms. They were very receptive to the idea. The money that is already required to be spent will be spent with Ohio companies for Ohio services and goods,” Yost said. “Ohioans are highly capable, so there’s no reason to look elsewhere.”

He said the railroad will focus on Ohio companies — unless some particular area of work or expertise needs to be done but can’t be found in any Ohio location.

Yost said The Regional Chamber will serve as a local contact for the railroad to access local businesses and services.

“Attorney General Dave Yost has been on top of the East Palestine situation from the moment it happened. Ours is the third-largest chamber of commerce in Ohio with 3,000 members, so the ‘business first’ focus that he is placing on this — as well as the safety of the people of East Palestine — is very gratifying to us,” Coviello said.

Yost said the attorney general’s agreement with Norfolk Southern has no bearing on the lawsuit the state filed earlier this month against the railroad company.

“Norfolk Southern will be in East Palestine as long as it takes to help the community recover and thrive. As we make progress every day, we are continuing our efforts to hire Ohio companies and Ohio workers to perform future work in the East Palestine area. We look forward to supporting local businesses,” said Alan Shaw, Norfolk Southern president / CEO.

Ralph Zerbonia, a local software company businessman who is president of Universe Central Corp. of Youngstown, attended the news conference.

He said he doesn’t believe this would have happened if Yost had not asked the company to hire and work with Ohio companies.

“I like what the attorney general wants them to do. On that basis, what he is doing is certainly good for local business. I hope East Palestine benefits from this as well. I am sure many area businesses will be talking about this because it could help them,” he said.