Amtrak 2009 Annual Report Download - page 10

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2009 Environmental Health & Safety Report
8
Environmental
Tracking system: Annual quantities of recycled industrial materials have been reported in
the EHS Annual Report for more than five years. Enhancements to the system are being
developed that will make it possible to account for additional types and quantities of
materials—including non-industrial materials—at a greater number of locations. Within the
next year, the tracking system should be operating as a module within the Environmental
Information System (EIS), a Web-based database program.
Amtrak’ s goals for recycling in the coming year include increasing onboard recycling on
all applicable routes and recycling more types of industrial materials generated at Amtrak
facilities. As noted above, the company is also working to develop an improved tracking
system for non-industrial materials so that “percentage of trash recycled” can be used as an
indicator of progress.
Carbon Footprint
Chicago Climate Exchange
In 2003, Amtrak joined the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) and committed to reduce
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from diesel locomotives incrementally by 6 percent from
2003 through 2010. This reduction goal was based on the baseline years of 1998-2001.
Amtrak’ s annual reports to CCX are audited by the Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority (FINRA). Amtrak has met and exceeded all interim CCX reduction requirements
to date. See the Metrics section for details on locomotive diesel fuel use reductions from
2004 through 2008.
Carbonfund
Starting in 2007, Amtrak partnered with Carbonfund.org to offer
passengers the opportunity to purchase carbon offsets for their
travel on Amtrak. Carbonfund.org is a leading carbon reduction
and offset organization that educates the public about climate
issues and makes it easy and affordable for individuals,
businesses and organizations to reduce their climate impact. In
2009, Amtrak passengers purchased approximately 3.48 million
miles worth of offsets.
GHG Inventory
Amtrak joined The Climate Registry (TCR) in June of 2009. As a member, Amtrak is
committed to the organization’ s comprehensive reporting standards for recording and
managing GHG emissions throughout its system, including those from diesel and electric
locomotives, fleet vehicles, maintenance equipment, stations, offices and other facilities.
Amtrak’ s GHG inventory will be prepared in accordance with TCR’ s General Reporting
Protocol, which requires that the following gases be included in the inventory: CO2, CH4,
N2O, HFCs, PFCs, and SF6. All emissions are converted to their CO2 equivalent Global