CP uses over a billion litres of fuel each year in our locomotives. Locomotive fueling operations present risks to nearby soil, surface water and groundwater if proper prevention and protection systems are not in place. In the railway industry, locomotives are either filled at fixed fueling facilities in rail yards or by truck, direct to locomotive (DTL) fueling.

What is CP doing?

To ensure locomotive fueling is conducted in a manner which minimizes the impact to the environment we have implemented both preventative and reactive actions:

Prevent releases to the environment

• Locomotive fueling is only conducted by qualified CP employees and contractors.
• Constant attention is required during all fueling events.
• Fueling facilities and equipment are inspected before each fueling shift. DTL contractors are responsible for conducting inspections before fueling.
• Proper equipment specifications help ensure proper fueling. For example, fuel delivery systems must comply with formal certification standards as set by the Association of American Railroads. The system must have an automatic shut-off system to prevent overfilling and provide proper tank venting.
• CP has locomotive fueling policies and procedures for our employees and stringent guidelines that are included in all DTL contracts.
• We audit fueling practices as part of our safety and environmental audit program.

Manage the impact of releases when they do occur

• Our environmental team is involved in the approval process for fueling locations by ensuring they are sited to reduce risks to sensitive environmental receptors.
• All fixed fueling facilities must be equipped with overfill protection and spill containment.
• Spill containment is connected to wastewater treatment infrastructure such as a wastewater treatment plant or fuel-water separator systems.
• All releases are to be reported as per corporate policy.
• Spills are appropriately cleaned up.
• Fixed fueling locations are equipped with manual shut-off devices in the event the automatic devices fail.
• Devices that fail are tested and taken out of service if not operating properly.

CP's Integrated Vegetation Management program is one of many preventative maintenance safety initiatives that are designed to proactively support safe train operations through all communities where we operate. In a railway setting, excessive vegetation presents the following hazards:

• restricts visibility at railway crossings
• deteriorates the condition of the track ballast
• hinders track safety inspections
• interferes with switching operations
• presents a tripping hazard for employees, and
• creates potential fire hazards.

In addition, CP is required to comply with government regulations that restrict noxious weeds – plant species that are considered harmful to local ecosystems or agriculture. Some vegetation, such as blackberries/brambles and poison ivy, can also result in some unique safety issues for employees working along our right-of-way.

What is CP doing?

CP recognizes the importance of protecting the environment and we are committed to using the most appropriate vegetation management techniques for each situation. Those techniques include encouraging natural competition among plant species, mowing and brush cutting, selective herbicide application and newly emerging bio-controls.

Though there is heavy emphasis on preventing weed growth and managing vegetation without chemicals, the reality is that herbicide use is often the most effective method of control to maintain safe working conditions on mainlines and in yards. Even so, technologies, such as the Weedseeker®, help to minimize the amount of herbicides used. A camera system mounted on herbicide application trucks detects the presence of weeds and selectively spot treats problem areas (i.e. not a blanket spray pattern). This equipment works especially well in areas with inconsistent or patchy weed growth and dramatically reduces the amount of herbicide required.

In 2006, a review of CP's vegetation management program revealed an opportunity to make a good thing even better. A decision was made to initiate a national, multi-year, Crossing Sightline Improvement Program (CSIP). This program brings significant cost-savings and provides safety and environmental benefits.

How does CSIP work?

While the CSIP program is national in scope, three tailored treatment approaches were developed to adapt to local environmental conditions. 

• Rural – Used at crossings where brush levels are moderate. Herbicide applications target brush and tall weed species, while chemical injection technology allows variable application rates to optimally match treatment cycles to targeted plant species.
• Hybrid - Suited to crossings with a large mix of undesirable plants, from brambles to mature trees, where no single cutting or treatment method will work to fully improve sightlines. Traditional cutting methods and spot herbicide applications from a hi-rail truck are used. 
• Urban - Works well in crossings areas of high environmental sensitivity. This approach is also ideal for crossings located in densely populated areas. Selective hand cutting and cut surface treatments minimize disruption to local species and neighboring residents.

Since 2006, more than 3,300 crossings have been treated according to CSIP specifications across our network.

On September 13, 2007, Canadian Pacific was awarded a Railway Association of Canada Environmental Excellence Award for our efforts to improve vegetation control around thousands of crossings while benefiting the environment and improving safety.

Why is CSIP so beneficial?

Environment	The use of selective herbicides, cut surface treatment methods and chemical injection application technology minimizes the amount of herbicides needed for proper maintenance Moving to a stable, low-growing plant community reduces maintenance over the long-term and minimizes habitat disturbance from repeated brushing
Safety	The immediate improvements in sightline conditions diminishes the potential for crossing accidents
The bottom line	CSIP is part of a continuous improvement strategy and has been implemented as part of a maintenance planning process to improve safety at crossings, while reducing costs and environmental impacts associated with routine maintenance