CSX Corporation - CSX Transportation
(CSXT) – Jacksonville, FL. CSX became a partner
of the Responsible Care Program in 1997 and subsequently
developed an EMS. Since implementing the EMS, CSX has
been recognized for its environmental efforts with
awards from the U.S. EPA and the Association of American
railroads.
Introduction
Planning
and Implementation
Benefits
Lessons
Learned
Conclusions
Introduction
Formed in 1980,
CSX Corporation is the parent company of a number of
subsidiaries that provide freight transportation
services across America and around the world. CSX
Transportation operates the largest rail network in the
eastern United States offering freight transportation
over more than 23,000 route miles in 23 states, the
District of Columbia, and two Canadian provinces. More
than 41,000 people are employed by CSX Corporation and
its subsidiaries. The automobile, metals, agricultural,
chemical, forest, and waste industries as well as the
government all use CSXT as part of operations. CSXT
serves a multitude of waste treatment and disposal
facilities throughout the eastern United States,
including landfills, incinerators, hazardous and
non-hazardous treatment facilities, wastewater treatment
plants, cement kilns, and deep well sites. Waste streams
generated by the rail industry include air emissions
(NOx, VOCs, particulate matter, CO, and CO2), steel,
batteries, used oil, crossties, paper and aluminum, and
accidental releases.
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Planning and
Implementation
As a global transportation
leader, CSX committed itself to protecting the
environment and ensuring the safety and health of its
employees and the public. In 1997, CSX became a partner
in the Responsible Care Program. To support this
commitment, the environmental professionals at CSX
developed a comprehensive EMS. The EMS provides guidance
for all CSX employees and facilitates environmental
compliance and continual improvement of environmental
performance. The EMS outlines the environmental and
hazardous material policies, practices and procedures.
Key components of the EMS also include planning and
management review, implementation and operation, and
checking and corrective action. Annual goals and
objectives are set and a clearly defined structure to
implement these goals is put in place for the continual
improvement of the system. The performance of this
system is also regularly evaluated to ensure that the
goals and objectives are met. Each year, an annual
compliance certification is conducted that includes
environmental and operational criteria.
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Benefits
As
a result of efforts to minimize waste and to recycle
through their EMS, CSXT reclaims about 611,000 pounds of
signal and other rechargeable batteries each year and
reconditions approximately 75 percent of replaced
locomotive engine batteries. The railroad recycles
approximately 2.1 million gallons of oil each year from
a variety of sources including locomotive and track
equipment crankcases. Approximately 2.12 million used
cross ties are converted into a fiber fuel source or
reused as landscaping timbers. Old locomotives, rail
cars, rails, and other equipment are also recycled. At
CSXT headquarters, more than 400 tons of office paper
and aluminum are recycled each year. Along with these
efforts, CSX continues to invest in their facilities and
newer, more fuel-efficient equipment. Examples of recent
initiatives include:
- Wastewater treatment facility upgrades
- Aboveground storage tank upgrades
- Replacing underground fuel-delivery pipelines with
aboveground lines
- Purchase of more efficient locomotives
- Adding Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) to locomotives
to dramatically reduce fuel usage and associated air
emissions during idling.
A high importance has been placed on environmental
training and awareness through the EMS. CSX has
developed an Environmental Certification Program, which
is administered to employees in the mechanical
operations and engineering departments. Instruction
provided to other railroad employees contains
environmental training specific to their job functions.
For the Hazardous Materials System Group, employees,
customers, and the public are trained in emergency
response and community and customer outreach programs
focusing on prevention and response to incidents have
been implemented. These programs are frequently reviewed
and updated to address regulations and procedures.
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Lessons
Learned
CSX has continued to have an
excellent record for the safe handling of hazardous
materials. In 2001, CSX transported approximately
445,000 carloads of hazardous materials, only 17, of
which, spilled any contents due to derailment. The
company recognizes and promotes environmental excellence
from its employees by administering an award program
called the Green Spike Award. Nominees are selected for
this award based on their personal environmental
achievements. CSX has had two employees receive the
Association of American Railroads (AAR) John H. Chafee
Environmental Award for outstanding environmental
achievement. An employee from CSX has been nominated for
this award every year since its inception in 1996. The
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Air and
Radiation chose CSX as the 2001 recipient of the Clean
Air Excellence Award for its design, patent, and
installation of the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) in
railroad locomotives. During idling, the APU reduces the
following emissions:
- Nitrogen oxides by 91 percent
- Hydrocarbons by 94 percent
- Carbon monoxide by 96 percent
- Particulate matter by 84 percent
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Conclusions
CSX
continues to set goals for ongoing improvement through
the EMS. Open and candid communication with employees,
customers, and the public, regarding the company's
environmental program and any hazard that might arise
from its operations is encouraged. The importance of
conserving landfill space and raw materials through
reducing, reusing, and recycling materials has been
recognized through the EMS and continues to be a
priority as evidenced by the awards given to the company
and its employees.
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NOTE: The preceding case study was
compiled from the following web source as of May 30,
2003:
CSX
Corporation 
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