JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — CSX Transportation has received a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) SmartWay Excellence Award, which recognizes freight carriers that have made significant contributions to protecting the environment.
CSXT is the only railroad among the SmartWay Transport Partnership’s 600-plus members to receive this distinction.
In recent years, CSXT has conserved 30 million gallons of fuel, improved fuel efficiency and invested more than $1 billion to upgrade its fleet with new locomotives that reduce fuel consumption and air pollutant emissions. In addition, CSXT has voluntarily pursued an aggressive policy to reduce emissions from unnecessary idling of locomotive engines, which also conserves fuel.
“CSXT is proud to be honored today with the EPA SmartWay Excellence Award,” said Tony Ingram, chief operating officer of CSX Transportation. “This award is a testament to our many employees who serve as environmental stewards in their daily work and their communities– demanding change, spreading the word and driving reform.”
SmartWay was introduced in 2004 by EPA and a select group of 15 shipping and business leaders, including CSXT. The program is an innovative, market-based partnership to reduce fuel use, greenhouse gas emissions, and air pollutants from the freight transportation sector. Together, based on their three-year commitments, these companies have conserved more than 600 million gallons of diesel fuel per year, saving the transport industry nearly $2 billion in annual fuel costs and eliminating nearly seven million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
“EPA is pleased to recognize CSXT with this SmartWay Excellence Award,” said Margo Oge, Director of EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality. “CSXT is leading the way toward a cleaner, more efficient transportation future with strategies that reduce emissions and increase profits.”
Thirty-four total SmartWay Excellence Awards were presented in Philadelphia at the 2007 Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals Conference, held from October 21 through October 24. For more information about SmartWay, visit www.epa.gov/smartway.
CSX Transportation Inc. is a principal operating company of CSX Corporation. CSX Corporation, based in Jacksonville, Fla., is one of the leading transportation companies, providing rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services. The company’s transportation network spans 21,000 miles with service to 23 eastern states and the District of Columbia, and connects to more than 70 ocean, river and lake ports. More information about CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at the company’s web site, www.csx.com.
— Special to Railfanning.org News Wire