RD67 - 2004 Annual Report to the Joint Subcommittee Studying Measures to Reduce Emissions from Coal-Carrying Railroad Cars per Senate Joint Resolution No. 257


Executive Summary:
Summary of Key Accomplishments in 2004

• Norfolk Southern's Performance Monitoring Plan remains fully implemented

• The Trackside Monitors near Windsor, VA and Altavista, VA continue to monitor trains headed for the Tidewater area providing timely and valuable feedback to the mines participating in Norfolk Southern's coal dust reduction program.

• The 1-800 dusting report line continues to be available to record any complaints from persons and businesses located in the rail corridors through which Norfolk Southern transports coal. In 2004 there were no complaints logged from Virginia.

• Monitoring of Total Suspended Particulate (TSP) and very fine particulate (PM-10) near Lamberts Point in Norfolk, VA continues to demonstrate compliance with DEQ ambient air quality standards.

• Norfolk Southern provides timely feedback to the coal mines served including the relative success or failure of their preventive measures to reduce fugitive emissions.

• Norfolk Southern continues to work with those mines that continue to be identified as not meeting the Performance Monitoring Plan's dust control standards by conducting periodic audits of the mines to ensure optimal performance.

• Norfolk Southern is using the "Six-Sigma" Continuous Improvement Process for evaluating our current mitigation program. Process mapping of our mitigation techniques and gauge evaluation studies were continued in 2004 to ensure the best use of the available dust prevention resources.

• Norfolk Southern, in its continuing effort to evaluate and improve when possible, conducted a set of experiments to optimize mitigation techniques for a problematic coal. These experiments were conducted on a train traveling from Grundy, VA to Norfolk, VA.

In accordance with the 1996 Virginia Senate Joint Resolution No. 257, Norfolk Southern (NS) summarizes the efforts to identify and mitigate fugitive coal dust emissions from its rail corridors and facilities in the Commonwealth during the calendar year 2004. This report illustrates Norfolk Southern's compliance with the resolution and our commitment to protect the environment.