Chemical Transportation Safety and Responsible Care

Lincoln County (LincUP) Community Advisory Panel

LincUP provides open dialogue on health, safety and environmental issues between representatives of the community and Union Pacific Railroad to promote awareness and understanding for mutual benefit. For a complete listing of members, see 2009 LincUP Panelists.

Questions? Comments?

Contact the LincUP Facilitator, Lorre McKeone.

Minutes of Meeting: Jan. 25, 2010

Present: Jessie Allen, Sue Buhlig, Marcia Colvin, Jerry Covey, Dallis Dye, Mark Esterline, Rich Hoaglund, Edward Joel, Marc Kaschke, Kim Keeling, Shirley Kissinger, George Kleeb, Dan Mauk, Lyle Minshull, Bob Morrison, Jeff Nichols, Jim Nitz, Tony Orr, Jean Pavlik, Steve Schad, Gene Tacey, Dennis Thompson, Steve VanBoening.

Guests: Steve Spodyak.

Absent: Andrew Eshelman, Nancy Striebel, Chad Wilbourn, Bob Wilkinson

Facilitator: Lorre McKeone.

Announcements

Visitors were welcomed: Brian Davis (Director Mechanical Maintenance) and Mark Esterline (youth pastor at the Berean Church).

The facilitator reminded the panel that the upcoming November meeting is the last meeting of the year and we will be recognizing four members who are completing their three year term on the panel.

Community Roundtable

Public Comment Period: No observers.

Announcements: The facilitator welcomed new members Mark Esterline (representing Religious interests), Jessie Allen (representing NPCC faculty), Dennis Thompson (representing the Fire Department) and guest Steve Spodyak (UP Special Agent from Denver). Panel members introduced themselves and shared why they wanted to be on the LincUP panel.

UP Report: Update on 2009 and Outlook for 2010

Tony Orr reported that the 2009 recession reduced car loading. In the first month of 2010 car loadings were up over the same time a year ago, as some auto and intermodal traffic comes back. Good news for 2009 was found in systemwide record-setting performance in employee, customer and public safety at all levels. Records  also were set in efficiency measures like velocity and in customer satisfaction ratings.

The North Platte Service Unit showed improvement on many fronts including reductions in incidents, reportable injuries and crossing accidents. Using the Harriman Award measures, Union Pacific is reducing injuries and incidents at a faster rate than other railroads. One method for improvement involves root cause analysis in four areas: crossing tracks (look both ways, cross at a 90º angle so you can see movement in your peripheral vision), pinch points (opening and closing doors), mounting and dismounting equipment, going around equipment (allow sufficient space, point yourself toward the equipment). The North Platte Service Unit also showed improvement on 11 of 12 key measures (including measures for on-time percentage, train plan compliance, right car – right train, and velocity).

One panel member questioned whether improved performance is simply a result of lower car loadings. Can UP maintain this performance as business picks up? Tony replied that the workforce is volume variable so they are not currently operating with excess staff. Furloughed workers are gradually being brought back as a result of attrition through retirements. Process improvement is an ongoing emphasis, with daily meetings to discuss each train miss to identify additional areas where change is needed.

Another questioned whether UP is still keeping up with technology advances since revenue is currently down. Steve Schad noted that new fuel-saving technologies were implemented before the economic downturn enabling the railroad to save on fuel costs over what was spent a year ago. With fuel and labor being the highest costs for Union Pacific, technology plays a big part in offsetting some of the ill effects of the recession.

When asked about retention of furloughed employees, it was noted that UP uses a tiered system. Great efforts have been made to retain workers since so much has been invested in training.

Meeting Topic

Discussion of topics and activities for 2010

Panel members discussed topic areas they would like to see addressed by this CAP in the coming year:

• Equipment and Track gang responsibilities – Director of Track Maintenance
• Clearing Derailments
  Process and equipment used – tour or photos from Hulcher’s?
• KNPLC Waste minimization programs and cooperation with UP recycling efforts
• Health Coordinator system – UP Nurses
• Employee services and Employee Assistance Programs – Lori Scharff
• Emergency Response – Jim Nitz
  Tabletop or discussion of a specific incident using Cameo/Marplot and UP involvement
• Shelter in Place
• Tour of Bailey Ride 
  Train ride, get on a locomotive, water treatment plant, fueling station, ultrasonic wheel detector system
• Recruiting plan as the economy recovers
• Train display at Cody Park – Lyle Minshull 
   History of UP

Committees

Panel members selected the committee they would like to serve on this year and met to begin planning for 2010:

Membership: Open positions were reviewed. Agriculture Representative: Marc will check with Orville Kaschke. Another possibility is Kent Weems at COOP. UP Employee: Steve Schad will check with Mike Cook. MPCC – Center for Enterprise: Cinch Munson, Director of CFE will fill this position. Wage Earner: Crystal Welch will be asked to fill this slot.

Planning: Based on the brainstorming of ideas from the entire panel (above) this committee decided on the following preliminary meeting plan:

• February – Track equipment and gang responsibilities,
• March – Health Coordinator System and employees services/assistance,
• April – History of UP and Cody Park Train Display,
• May – Process of clearing derailments,
• July – Tour or Bailey Yard.

Outreach: The committee will continue work to get a local Shelter in Place DVD produced and put together a plan to insure wider awareness of this process in Lincoln County.

Summary and Strategy

Next meeting: 5:15 p.m. Monday, February 22, 2010
Location:  Student Lounge, north campus of North Platte Community College
Meeting Topic: Track Equipment and Gang Responsibilities

Next Meeting - Feb. 22, 2010

Student Lounge
North Campus, North Platte Community College
1101 Halligan Drive, North Platte

Agenda