OREANDA-NEWS. Union Pacific Railroad named 63 companies recipients of the annual Pinnacle Award for chemical transportation safety. The award recognizes Union Pacific customers that implemented successful prevention and corrective plans and achieved a rate of zero non-accident releases (NARs) for regulated hazardous materials shipments.

"It's our honor to recognize companies that share Union Pacific's commitment to safety and the elimination of chemical releases," said Beth Whited, Union Pacific's vice president and general manager-Chemicals. "Union Pacific is dedicated to helping customers develop and sustain procedures that support the safe transport of the nation's chemicals from products used to purify drinking water to the ingredients required for life-saving pharmaceuticals."

The Pinnacle Award program, which began in 1996, is open to all Union Pacific hazardous material shippers, including chemical and petrochemical customers. Criteria include safe-loading techniques, shipment securement and zero NARs. A non-accident release is an unintentional release of hazardous material during transportation not caused by an accident or train derailment.

Non-accident releases of hazardous materials in tank cars have declined 10 percent on Union Pacific's network from 2008 to 2014, due in part to increased inspections and training offered by the railroad's hazardous materials safety field personnel and customers adhering to the Pinnacle Award criteria.

Union Pacific serves the large chemical complexes along the Gulf Coast. Roughly two-thirds of the company's chemical business originates, terminates or travels through this area. The railroad's chemical transportation network also serves chemical producers on the West Coast and in the Rocky Mountain Region, including the world's largest soda ash reserve, located in Green River, Wyoming.

Afton Chemical LANXESS
AkzoNobel Surface Chemistry Louis Dreyfus Commodities
Albemarle Catalysts Lubrizol
American Plant Food Corporation LyondellBasell
Atlas Oil Company Marathon Petroleum Corporation
Big West Oil LLC Mexichem
Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P. Monsanto
Canexus Corporation Nachurs Alpine Solutions
Celanese Corporation NorFalco
CF Industries NOVA Chemicals
CFR Chemicals Inc. Odyssey Logistics & Technology
Chemtrade Solutions LLC Old World Industries
Chevron Oronite Oxea
CITGO Petroleum PCS Sales (USA), Inc.
Clariant Pioneer Oil
Coffeyville Resources Nitrogen Fertilizers Reagent Chemical & Research, Inc.
Conestoga Energy Partners Sasol North America
Cornerstone Chemical Company SI Group
Crestwood LP J.R. Simplot Company
Cross Oil Refining Marketing Styrolution America LLC
Delek US Sun Products
DuPont Taminco
Eastman Chemical Company Targa Resources
Georgia-Pacific Tauber Oil
GT Logistics, LLC Texmark Chemicals
Hexion Inc. Thatcher Company
Indorama (Auriga Polymers Inc.) The Mosaic Company
Innophos The Plaza Group
INVISTA Total Petrochemicals & Refining USA Inc.
Johann Haltermann Ltd. Trammo
Keyera Energy Westlake Chemical
Koppers Inc.  

* Based on 2014 shipments.

Union Pacific Railroad is the principal operating company of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP). One of America's most recognized companies, Union Pacific Railroad connects 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country by rail, providing a critical link in the global supply chain. From 2005-2014, Union Pacific invested more than \$31 billion in its network and operations to support America's transportation infrastructure. The railroad's diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Coal, Industrial Products and Intermodal. Union Pacific serves many of the fastest-growing U.S. population centers, operates from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways, connects with Canada's rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major Mexico gateways. Union Pacific provides value to its roughly 10,000 customers by delivering products in a safe, reliable, fuel-efficient and environmentally responsible manner.