Rail shipment problems draw scrutiny in South Dakota

Two South Dakota cabinet secretaries are going to Washington this week to discuss rail shipment problems with members of the Surface Transportation Board.

The heads of the state departments of Agriculture and Transportation, Lucas Lentsch and Darin Bergquist, will meet with the STB Friday.

Gov. Dennis Daugaard's office says they'll convey his concerns about a shortage of rail shippers to take state commodities to the market.

Lentsch addressed the STB in April about the backlog of shipments, and the STB issued a decision directing railways to report their plans to ensure delivery of fertilizer shipments.

The governor's office says it has also shared its concerns with the Burlington, Northern & Santa Fe; Canadian Pacific; and Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern railroads.

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