The Alaska Railroad (ARRC) earned a Green Star Award in 1993, making it one of Alaska's earliest award recipients. Green Star recognizes organizations that demonstrate an ongoing commitment to reducing waste, preventing pollution, and conserving energy. The railroad has repeatedly recertified the Green Star Award and earned an additional Green Star Air Quality Award in 2007. In 2011, Green Star Inc. presented the Alaska Railroad with its premier new "Super Nova Award" recognizing a higher level of leadership and commitment to doing business in an environmentally responsible manner. ARRC continues to pursue programs and initiatives that promote environmental stewardship. For example, through our 2013 recertification effort, we documented progress such as:
- The Real Estate and Facilities Department used thermal imaging to identify and repair sources of heat loss in more than 70 railroad facilities. In 2008, energy demand on the Anchorage rail yard boiler plant dropped by nearly a third from 2007. Since then, remarkable energy savings continue to be realized year after year. For example, recent facility improvements have yielded remarkable conservation results in the areas of natural gas (annual use reduction of 500,000 cubic feet), water and hazmat reductions (boiler uses about one-sixth the water and one-third the chemicals).
- Upgrades to locomotives and innovative idle-reduction procedures continue to lower emissions and conserve fuel. Likewise, vehicle conservation/emission reduction efforts have improved fuel efficiency through purchase decisions and GPS-based idle tracking.
- Green renovation was completed in 2011 on ARRC’s freight shed facility in Ship Creek. The historic building meets the stringent standards required by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program.
- Recycling has expanded in the areas of cardboard collected at depots statewide. Purchasing decisions have also increased the percentage (to 50%) of office supplies that are made from recycled-material based items.
The Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 10 (EPA) have signed an Administrative Order on Consent effective June 29, 2004, and amended May 25, 2006, to implement an environmental remedial investigation and feasibility study (RI/FS) at the Anchorage Terminal Reserve in Anchorage, Alaska (Site). The 600-acre Site is located just north of downtown Anchorage. Ship Creek flows through the Site and empties into the Knik Arm of Cook Inlet.
ARRC completed the Risk Investigation (RI) phase of the work in May 2008. The Feasibility Study (FS) was submitted to EPA in Spring 2011 and was approved by EPA on June 15, 2011. The process now moves to EPA’s consideration of any required remedial actions. To promote meaningful public participation, ARRC has awarded a Technical Assistance Grant to the Anchorage Waterways Council. The funding (up to $50,000) will be used by the Council to hire a technical advisor to help review and comment on Site documents. Funds will also help the group communicate about the Site investigation and any cleanup options.
For information about the Alaska Railroad vegetation management, check here.
