FORT WORTH, Texas — BNSF Railway Co. announced that it has been honored by TRANSCAER (National Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response) for its commitment to helping communities prepare for and respond to possible hazardous materials transportation incidents.

BNSF was one of eight companies to receive TRANSCAER’s 2009 National Achievement Award for supporting the TRANSCAER initiative and extending beyond the geographic boundaries of any one region. This is the 10th time the National TRANSCAER Task Group has selected BNSF for this award for continuing dedication to emergency preparedness and community outreach.

In addition, Brock Lowman, BNSF, manager, HazMat Response, was recognized with the TRANSCAER Chairman’s award. This award is given at the discretion of the Chairman for extraordinary achievement.

“BNSF’s hazmat team provided training to nearly 3,600 first responders in 18 states and sponsored 160 TRANSCAER events in 2009, including tours in Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota and Arizona,” said Mark Schulze, BNSF vice president, Safety, Training and Operations Support. “I’m proud of the BNSF employees who have helped us achieve this recognition for the 10th straight year. It’s a testament to their safety commitment to the communities in which we live and work.”

TRANSCAER companies train local emergency responders through a combination of hands-on activities, emergency planning assistance and community drills and exercises. They include the use of actual rail and truck equipment; table-top exercises, which are verbal “walk throughs” that discuss responses to a possible emergency situation; and whistle-stop tours that bring emergency preparedness training to response organizations and educate communities near major rail routes about rail equipment and chemical transportation.