Companies Work Together To Improve Rail Safety and Security

Mar 19, 2007 4:43 PM

Union Pacific Railroad and The Dow Chemical Company have announced a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) reinforcing the companies' long history of working together to improve safety and security in chemical transportation.

The goals outlined in the MOC are consistent with the principles and practices of Responsible Care, which drives continuous improvement in the safe and secure manufacture, distribution and use of chemical products.

In addition to helping to ensure the long-term viability of both the railroad and chemical industries, the agreement calls for personnel to work together in a cooperative effort to achieve eight goals the companies have pledged to achieve within the next ten years.

"Both companies serve as strategic links in the chemical supply chain that are critical to Homeland security, public health, safety and welfare and to our nation's economy," says Jim Young, chairman and CEO, Union Pacific. "Our mutual commitments give us a stronger framework for working together by building on new and existing elements of safety and security."

"Safety and security are the foremost priorities and are part of Dow's commitment to setting the standard for sustainability," says David Kepler, senior vice president, Shared Services, Environment Health and Safety and chief information officer, The Dow Chemical Company. "We want to ensure the safe and secure transportation of essential products through each and every community we touch -- and are committed to achieving this through our shared efforts."

The Union Pacific and Dow goals outlined in the Memorandum of Cooperation aim to improve security by improving shipment visibility, improving community awareness of highly hazardous chemical transportation routes and emergency preparedness and through the design of a new rail tank car that transports hazardous chemicals. Additional goals of the program include reducing the shipment of hazardous chemicals by 50 percent, eliminating non-accidental releases, deploying communication-based train control and anti-collision systems and reducing movement in high-threat urban areas by 2015.

For more information, please visit www.uprr.com/she/ or www.dow.com/security

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