Union Pacific Names Pinnacle Award Winners for Chemical Transportation Safety

OMAHA, Neb., April 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Union Pacific Railroad recognized 65 companies with its distinguished Pinnacle Award for their commitment to safely transport chemical products. The annual award honors Union Pacific customers for implementing release prevention, corrective plans and having zero non-accident releases (NARs) of regulated hazardous materials shipments.

• Read more about the safe transportation of chemicals at http://www.up.com/aboutup/community/safety/

"The Pinnacle Award spotlights companies that share our goal of safely and securely transporting chemicals," said Beth Whited, Union Pacific's vice president and general manager – Chemicals. "We work directly with our customers to eliminate accidental chemical releases from rail cars, whether it is chlorine to purify water or crude oil used to manufacture tires."

Non-accident releases of hazardous materials in tank cars declined 31 percent on Union Pacific's network from 2008 to 2015 due, in part, to increased inspections and training offered by the company'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.

About Union PacificUnion 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 2006-2015, Union Pacific invested approximately $33 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.

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SOURCE Union Pacific Railroad