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10/28/2021
The Association of American Railroads (AAR) yesterday recognized Robert Scoble, engineer of environmental operations-safety and environmental at Norfolk Southern Railway, with the 2021 Professional Environmental Excellence Award.
The award is the rail industry's highest for environmental professionals. It was presented to Scoble during the virtual Railroad Environmental Conference held this week, AAR officials said in a press release.
Scoble has worked at NS for seven years, during which time he’s made strides in environmental conservation by maintaining compliance across the Class I’s facilities in Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. He surveys and inspects the facilities to ensure they comply with environmental laws and regulations as well as maintain best practices to improve in all areas.
One of Scoble’s breakthrough projects involved resolving reoccurring stormwater discharge violations at the Moorman Rail Yard in Ohio, which struggled with algae blooms developing in the yard’s stormwater ponds. Scoble created a sonification treatment system that would kill the algae with sound, returning the stormwater ponds to their proper pH levels. This prevented the facility from having to use algicides, which reduced by two-thirds the company's expenses related to the stormwater pond maintenance.
Other nominees for the award included Michael Clift from BNSF Railway Co. Michael Panhuise from Amtrak, Hillary Parker from Union Pacific Railroad and James Roberts from CSX.