OMAHA, Neb., April 21, 2011 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- At work and home, Union Pacific Railroad employees continue to make environmental stewardship a priority.  As the world celebrates Earth Day tomorrow, Union Pacific celebrates its employees' ongoing efforts to make a positive impact on the environment.

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"A growing number of employees are encouraging environmental stewardship among others," said Bob Grimaila, Union Pacific vice president - Safety, Security and Environment. "Whether working on our locomotives that can move a ton of freight nearly 500 miles on a single gallon of diesel fuel, being part of the track renewal team that helps our company reuse 93 percent of our railroad ties, or recycling newspapers at home, every action makes a difference."

For example, Estella Johnson, manager-crew utilization for Union Pacific in West Colton, Calif., established a recycling program at the company's West Colton administration building. Through increased awareness led by Johnson's efforts, employees found ways to recycle printer paper, cardboard, delivery pallets, water bottles and cans. Money saved by recycling in 2010 was donated to disadvantaged children and to provide support for a deceased co-worker's family.

Keith Maguire, Jon Morgan, Jim Rosebaugh, and Scot Tormondson, locomotive engineers with Union Pacific's North Platte, Neb., service unit, consistently encourage their peers to participate in the company's Fuel Masters Unlimited program. Fuel Masters Unlimited is an employee-driven conservation initiative that rewards locomotive engineers for their fuel-saving efforts with rechargeable gasoline cards they can use to fill up their personal vehicles. It also helped Union Pacific reduce fuel consumption by 3 percent in 2010 compared to 2009, saving approximately 27 million gallons.

M.C. Nelson, a system flag foreman based in Leadville, Colo., changed his family's recycling activities and reduced his home's non-recycled waste by about 75 percent last year. Bringing this same mindfulness to work, he concentrates on decreasing litter along the land adjacent to Union Pacific's tracks and encourages others to reduce litter and increase recycling.

Susan Smisek, a Union Pacific occupational health nurse from Council Bluffs, Iowa, helped the Omaha Marathon and its committee members introduce environmentally conscious initiatives to race day practices, including the use of recycled materials for finisher medallions and lanyards; promotional banners, signs and magnets; t-shirts, and committee members' safety vests. In addition to providing recycling bins at finish lines, participants were encouraged to carpool or walk to the start line.

These are just four examples among the many of Union Pacific employees who are helping create a sustainable environmental future for current and future generations. Across Union Pacific's 32,000 miles in 23 states, the railroad also supports dozens of events including tree plantings, park beautifications and school-related projects.

About Union Pacific

Union Pacific Corporation owns one of America's leading transportation companies. Its principal operating company, Union Pacific Railroad, links 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country. Union Pacific serves many of the fastest-growing U.S. population centers and provides Americans with a fuel-efficient, environmentally friendly and safe mode of freight transportation. Union Pacific's diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Energy, Industrial Products and Intermodal. The railroad emphasizes excellent customer service and offers competitive routes from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways. Union Pacific connects with Canada's rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major gateways to Mexico.

SOURCE Union Pacific