Union Pacific Railroad named 79 companies as annual Pinnacle Award recipients for chemical transportation safety. The award annually recognizes Union Pacific customers that implemented successful prevention and corrective plans and achieved a rate of zero non-accident releases (NARs) for shipments of regulated hazardous materials.

"Chemical transportation safety is critical and this is Union Pacific's opportunity 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. "Rail is the safest way to haul the chemicals that Americans use every day, whether it is chlorine for drinking water or fertilizer for our farms that help feed the world.

"We work closely with our customers to help prevent a 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 Union Pacific chemical and petrochemical customers. Criteria include safe-loading techniques, securement of shipments and zero NARs. A non-accident release is an unintentional release of hazardous material during transportation not caused by an accident or train derailment. NARs consist of leaks, splashes and other releases from improperly secured or defective valves, fittings and tank shells, and also include improper venting from safety relief devices.

Non-accident releases of hazardous material declined more than 16 percent on Union Pacific's network from 2003 - 2010, due in part to increased inspections by the railroad's hazardous materials safety field personnel and customers adhering to the Pinnacle Award criteria.

Rail is the safest way to move these materials. In fact, 2010 was the safest year for train accidents in freight railroad history, according to preliminary data from the Federal Railroad Administration.

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 transportation network accesses chemical producers in the Rocky Mountains and on the West Coast.