Union Pacific Recognizes Chemical Customers for Safety Excellence
Omaha, Neb., March 25, 2009 – Union Pacific today announced the recipients of the railroad's 13th annual Pinnacle Award for chemical transportation safety. The award annually recognizes companies that have successful prevention and corrective plans as well as a rate of zero non-accident releases (NARs) for shipments of regulated hazardous materials.
"The Pinnacle Award gives Union Pacific the chance to acknowledge and thank our customers for their continuing efforts to eliminate chemical releases from rail cars," said Diane Duren, vice president and general manager - chemicals. "We work closely with all customers to help prevent an accidental release during transit of chemical shipments and jointly demonstrate a commitment to the safe transportation of hazardous materials."
The award program, which began in 1996, is open to all of Union Pacific chemical and petrochemical customers. Criteria include safe loading techniques, securement of shipments and zero non-accident releases.
Since 2000, non-accident releases of hazardous material on Union Pacific's network have declined nearly 20 percent, due in part to increased inspections by the railroad's hazardous material safety field personnel and the Pinnacle Award criteria.
The 40 Pinnacle Award recipients for 2009 are:
| Afton Chemical Corporation Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. AKZO Nobel Chemicals, Inc. American Ecology Corporation California Ammonia Company (CALAMCO) CF Industries, Inc. Chevron Oronite Company LLC Cytec Industries, Inc. Devon Energy Corporation Eastman Chemical Company ERCO Worldwide Ergon Asphalt Products, Inc. INEOS Olefins & Polymers KMCO, LP |
Koch Sulfur Products Company LLC LCI Ltd. Lyondell Chemical Company Marathon Petroleum Company Nova Chemical Old World Industries PCS Sales (USA) POET - Biorefinery Ashton POET - Biorefinery EMM POET - Biorefining Jewell POET Biorefining - Hudson PPG Industries Inc. Rohm & Haas Texas Incorporated Sasol North America |
SemMaterials, L.P Shintech Louisiana, LLC SI Group Sunoco, Inc. Taminco Targa Resources Inc. Texmark Chemicals Univar USA US Magnesium LLC Valero Marketing & Supply Co. Western Refining Williams Field Services |
Railroads annually transport approximately 1.7 million carloads of hazardous cargo because rail is the safest way to move this material, with 99.996 percent of hazardous cargo arriving safely.
Union Pacific's rail network enables it to serve the large chemical complexes along the Gulf Coast. Roughly two-thirds of the company's chemical business originates, terminates or travels through this area. Union Pacific's chemical franchise also accesses chemical producers in the Rocky Mountains and on the West Coast.
About Union Pacific
Union Pacific Corporation owns one of America's leading transportation companies. Its principal operating company, Union Pacific Railroad, links 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country. Union Pacific serves many of the fastest-growing U.S. population centers and provides Americans with a fuel-efficient, environmentally responsible and safe mode of freight transportation. Union Pacific's diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Energy, Industrial Products and Intermodal. The railroad emphasizes excellent customer service and offers competitive routes from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways. Union Pacific connects with Canada's rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major gateways to Mexico, making it North America's premier rail franchise.
For further information, contact Tom Lange at (402) 544-3560 or tomlange@up.com.
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