SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

The Surface Transportation Board today issued a decision that directs Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP) to continue carrying out specific service commitments to Foster Poultry Farms (Foster Farms), filing daily status reports to the Board, and holding weekly conferences with Board staff, and to inform the Board and Foster Farms in writing of any need to deviate from its proposed schedules.

On June 15, 2022, Foster Farms filed a petition with the Board for an emergency service order due to a significant deterioration in rail service from UP.  On June 17, the Board agreed and issued an emergency service order for UP to perform on service commitments for certain unit trains dedicated to transporting corn to Foster Farms’ facilities in California.  The Board has been in contact with both parties and service has been restored to a level that enables Foster Farms to feed its livestock and maintain its obligations to customers in the short term.  On June 28, Foster Farms requested that Board monitoring continue for at least the initial 30-day emergency period.

In this decision, the Board finds that continued oversight of UP’s service to Foster Farms is appropriate, and that the initial 30-day emergency service period will continue through July 17, 2022, with UP directed to adhere to specific service commitments and report regularly to the Board during this period.

The Board’s decision in Foster Poultry Farms—Ex Parte Petition for Emergency Service Order, Docket No. FD 36609, may be viewed and downloaded here.

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