(The Associated Press circulated the following article on September 8.)
WASHINGTON — BNSF Railway has turned down a request by Sen. Conrad Burns for the company to suspend fuel surcharges for agricultural shippers.
In a Sept. 2 letter to BNSF President and CEO Matthew K. Rose, Burns, R-Mont., asked the company to suspend surcharges “for the immediate future,” saying such a move would help small agricultural and other shippers ride through the current spike in diesel prices.
“High oil prices are hurting everyone, and I don’t doubt that BNSF feels that pinch as well,” Burns said in the letter. “But in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the rail industry can contribute tremendously to recovery efforts by suspending these fuel charges and allowing freight to move quickly and efficiently across the country.”
Burns asked the company to show “immense corporate compassion” in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
“The destruction of Gulf ports means that industries trying to move products to market may have to look to other ports, often covering much longer distances than budgeted for,” Burns said in the letter.
Burns also said eliminating the surcharge could keep down electricity costs by moving coal more quickly to coal generating plants.
BNSF has announced an 11.5 percent surcharge for agriculture shipments in September and a 13 percent surcharge in October. Spokesman Gus Melonas said Wednesday that the company will not suspend the charges, but would not elaborate on the reasoning.