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Canadian Pacific Railway recently received the Railway Association of Canada’s (RAC) Environment Award for controlling vegetation around more than 1,000 grade crossings.

The award recognizes railroads that adopt environmentally friendly practices and operational techniques.

CPR seeks to limit vegetation to low-growing plants at crossings by controlling herbicide treatments and conducting selective brush cutting, RAC officials said in a prepared statement. The railroad uses herbicides that don’t affect grasses and other desirable plants; employs chemical injection technology to target specific areas and minimize herbicide use; tries to protect fisheries and residential areas when cutting and treating stumps; and times cutting operations to avoid interfering with nesting birds. The Class I plans to employ the same approach at 1,300 crossings this year.

“The railway’s primary goal … is to improve safety by applying ecological principles which will lead to a more sustainable control of vegetation at their crossings,” said Cliff Mackay president and chief executive officer of RAC, which represents the interests of 60 freight and passenger railroads.