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Yesterday, Union Pacific Railroad announced 31 chemical and petrochemical shippers will receive 2008 Pinnacle Awards. Now in their 12th year, the awards recognize shippers' safe loading, securement and accident-prevention efforts.

Since 2000, non-accidental releases of hazardous materials on UP's network have declined 40 percent, due in part to increased safety inspections by railroad field personnel and the award's criteria, the Class I said. Award winners typically experience no non-accidental haz-mat releases in a given year.

The awards enable UP to acknowledge customers for their continuing efforts to eliminate chemical releases from rail cars, said Diane Duren, UP vice president and general manager-chemicals, in a prepared statement.