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limiting the number of cars of certain commodities which can be cut -off. <br />prohibiting any tank cars containing.flammable gas from being cut-off in motion. <br />and limiting loaded hazardous materials car coupling speeds to 4 mph or less. <br /> <br />Storage Distance defines the minimum distances fi:om railroad nminline tracks <br />and passenger operations for storage and handling of hazardous materials. In <br />addition, NS has a general policy against transloading hazardous materials on <br />company property, grhere transloading is approved, special precautions are <br />taken to provide spill containment and environmental protection. <br /> <br />Although compliance with each of these areas is totally voluntary, NS has adopted 0T-55 as part <br />of its operating policy and practice. <br /> <br /> NS is also a member of the Chemical Manufacturers Association (CMA) Respons~le <br />Care parmership program. This program focuses on prevention of accidenm by adopting a code <br />of management practices established by the CMA for safer handling and transport of chem/cats. <br />The program includes chemical transport risk management, compliance rev/ew and training, <br />safety performanc.e reviews and recommendations, handling and storage practices, and <br />emergency preparedness procedures. The incorporation of these elements into NS' existing <br />safety and environmental programs further strengthens NS' risk management of hazardous <br />materials transportation. <br /> <br /> Maintenance - Maintennnce of the railroad ~ and equipment is an extremely <br />important element in preventing accidents. Large annual expendinu~s are made to ke~ NS mils <br />in "tip-top" shape and ensure the safest travel for all traffic, including lmmrdous materials. Most <br />tank cars are privately owned and NS is not responsible for their maintenance other than ensuring <br />safe running gear. Nonetheless, accidents with hazardous materials cars can result from other <br />cars in the train. Therefore., NS has an effective maintenance and inspection program in place to <br />keep ail railroad owned equipment up to the required standards of safety. <br /> <br /> Contingency Planning - NS has two types of plans that address potential hazardous <br />materials incidents. Th~se are the NS Emergency Action Plans for Hazardous Materials <br />Incidents and Division Emergency ,,lction Plans for blazardous Materials Incidents. Both of <br />these contingency plans emphasize finding and fixing the source of the spill or release, <br />containing and controlling the spill or release, identifying the material and notifying the proper <br />authorities, and cleaning up the spill and restoring the environment. Both plans am updated as <br />required by regulation, and when warranted by changes in NS operations. In addition, NS uses <br />internal and external Hazardous Materials audits to evaluate their emergency response ptans and <br />hazardous mac-rials training programs. <br /> <br /> Additional emergency, response resources include private, on-call contractors, who <br />provide supplemental hazardous materials handling knowledge, personnel, and equipment. <br /> <br />May 29,1995 3 <br /> <br /> <br />