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Yesterday, the Association of American Railroads (AAR) awarded the 2011 Professional Environmental Excellence Award to Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (GWI) Vice President for Motive Power David Powell — the first time the association presented the award to a regional or short-line employee. The award recognizes an individual who demonstrated outstanding performance in environmental awareness and responsibility during a given year.

Powell has 19 years of environmental experience in the rail industry and has driven environmental improvements at GWI, AAR officials said in a prepared statement. He created an environmental team and brought in industry experts to heighten awareness and increase training. Powell also crafted field environmental assessments at operational locations where environmental deficiencies were found and helped GWI acquire its first GenSet locomotive.

Over the past several years, he also has established several programs, such as a hazardous material spill reporting program for all spills exceeding five gallons, and an annual field employee training program on environmental awareness, haz-mat and spill response, and emergency response plans.

“Environmental excellence is a trademark of the railroad industry thanks in large part to the hard work and dedication of exceptional employees like the ones we are honoring,” said AAR President and Chief Executive Officer Ed Hamberger.

Six other rail industry professionals were nominated for the award:
• Stan Bell, a director of operating standards and rules for Canadian Pacific;
• Tony Curtis Bellamy, a director of environmental engineering and field services for CSX Transportation;
• Donald Girard, a manager of environmental leases for BNSF Railway Co.;
• Dino Orbiso, a manager of environmental field operations for Union Pacific Railroad;
• Joshua Raglin, a general manager of facilities for Norfolk Southern Railway; and
• Wade Smith, a senior environmental coordinator for Amtrak.

Meanwhile, the Railway Tie Association (RTA) recently presented an award of merit to Carmen Trevizo, assistant director of engineering services for the Transportation Technology Center Inc. (TTCI). The award is only the second one bestowed by the RTA to honor a lifetime of research excellence.

The association recognized Trevizo for her dedication to wood crosstie research and her service to the RTA.