Union Pacific's Schmid Wins AAR Environmental Excellence Award

Yesterday, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) announced it awarded the 2012 Professional Environmental Excellence Award to Union Pacific Railroad Director of Environmental Affairs Lanny Schmid. The award is the highest honor for environmental professionals in the rail industry, AAR officials said in a prepared statement.

Based in Omaha, Neb., Schmid "works tirelessly to identify environmental trends and initiatives to bring about optimal solutions for both his company and the communities through which it operates," AAR officials said.

During his 27-year UP career, Schmid has worked to bring together federal and state agencies, communities and key personnel from various railroad departments to find workable solutions to environmental issues. For example, he worked closely with the California Air Resources Board since the mid-1990s to bring the most advanced and environmentally friendly technology to the state's South Coast Air Basin before it was commercially available, leading to a 65 percent reduction in nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, AAR officials said.
 

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