KCSM earns environmental quality certificate in Mexico

Kansas City Southern de México S.A. de C.V. (KCSM) in December received a certificate of environmental quality-level 1 from PROFEPA, Mexico's environmental protection agency.

The certificate followed an extensive PROFEPA audit of KCSM's rail equipment, signals, bridges, inventory, general services, maintenance of way, safety and hygiene, and procurement and environmental procedures in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon.

The audit examined drinking water usage; devices and procedures for preventing ground contamination; non-hazardous solid waste management, and hazardous waste management and special handling; noise emission controls; exploitation of natural resources; security and management of personal protection equipment; and environmental risk management.

The certificate, which is valid for two years, "serves as a foundation for the development of additional environmental protection procedures to benefit the company and greater community," Kansas City Southern officials said in an item posted on the "KCS News" web page.