Each year, trains carry nearly 11 billion pounds of chemicals through South Dakota’s cities and countryside, much of it on century-old tracks, a South Dakota News Watch analysis has revealed.
Finding out which specific compounds are in those potentially toxic payloads is extremely difficult or even impossible for the public due to national security concerns and secrecy within railroad companies.
kAmx? >2?J 42D6D[ DE2E6 2?5 =@42= @77:4:2=D 2C6 <6AE =2C86=J :? E96 52C< 23@FE H92E >2E6C:2=D 2C6 36:?8 42CC:65 E9C@F89 4@>>F?:E:6D 2?5 CFC2= 2C62D] ~7E6?E:>6D[ E96 ?2EFC6 @7 >2E6C:2=D EC2?DA@CE65 364@>6D <?@H? @?=J 27E6C 2? 244:56?E]k^Am
kAm$E2E6 2?5 =@42= 8@G6C?>6?ED 42? 2D< C2:=C@25 4@>A2?:6D 7@C =:DED @7 92K2C5@FD >2E6C:2=D EC2?DA@CE65 E9C@F89 E96:C ;FC:D5:4E:@?D @?=J :7 E96 :?7@C>2E:@? H@F=5 36 FD65 E@ 96=A E96> AC6A2C6 7@C 6>6C86?4:6D[ 3FE ?@E E@ :?7@C> E96 AF3=:4[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2? 6>2:= 7C@> E96 AF3=:4 2772:CD 56A2CE>6?E 2E E96 u656C2= #2:=C@25 p5>:?:DEC2E:@? Wu#pX]k^Am
kAm“}6:E96C u#p ?@C 2?J 8@G6C?>6?E 286?4J 42? AC@G:56 :?7@C>2E:@? E92E =:DED DA64:7:4 C2:= =:?6D E92E 92K2C5@FD >2E6C:2= D9:A>6?ED EC2G6CD6[ 2D C2:=C@25D 4@?D:56C DF49 :?7@C>2E:@? E@ 36 AC@AC:6E2CJ[ 2?5 5@:?8 D@ C2:D6D D276EJ 2?5 D64FC:EJ :DDF6D[” E96 @77:46 D2:5] “x? 255:E:@?[ 2D 2 7656C2= D276EJ C68F=2E@C[ u#p 5@6D ?@E >@?:E@C EC2:? >@G6>6?ED @C EJA6D @7 42C8@ EC2?DA@CE65 3J AC:G2E6 C2:= 4@>A2?:6D :? C62= E:>6]”k^Am
kAmr@?46C?D @G6C E96 DE23:=:EJ[ D64FC:EJ 2?5 D276EJ @7 E96 &]$] C2:=C@25 DJDE6> E@@< @? 8C62E6C D:8?:7:42?46 27E6C 2 42E2DEC@A9:4 56C2:=>6?E 2?5 7:C6 @? u63] b :? t2DE !2=6DE:?6[ ~9:@]k^Am
kAm%96 244:56?E H2D 42FD65 3J 2 H@C?\@FE H966= 362C:?8 @? 2 E2?<6C 42C[ E96 D2>6 4@?5:E:@? E92E AC@>AE65 `f 7C6:89E 42CD E@ 56C2:= 2E c_ >A9 ?62C (6DD:?8E@?[ $]s][ @? u63] a[ a_`h[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 7656C2= C64@C5D]k^Am
kAm%96 E@I:4 496>:42= 3FC?65 :? E96 ~9:@ 244:56?E[ G:?J= 49=@C:56[ H9:49 :D FD65 E@ >2<6 A=2DE:4D[ :D A2CE @7 E96 =2C86C 42E68@CJ @7 496>:42=D E92E 42? 36 42CC:65 3J EC2:?D :? $@FE9 s2<@E2 3FE H9:49 :D ?@E C6A@CE65 E@ E96 AF3=:4]k^Am
kAm$@>6 vC62E !=2:?D DE2E6D[ DF49 2D |:??6D@E2 2?5 (J@>:?8[ C6A@CE @? E96 E@E2= E@??286 @7 92K2C5@FD >2E6C:2=D 42CC:65 3J C2:= :? E96:C DE2E6D[ 3FE $@FE9 s2<@E2 5@6D ?@E]k^Am
kAm%96 $@FE9 s2<@E2 $E2E6 #2:= !=2?[ 2 `ga\A286 @G6CG:6H @7 E96 DE2E6 C2:=C@25 DJDE6>[ :?4=F56D :?7@C>2E:@? @? `d 42E68@C:6D @7 >2E6C:2=D 42CC:65 3J C2:= 3FE ?@E @? 92K2C5@FD >2E6C:2=D]k^Am
kAmx? $@FE9 s2<@E2[ “496>:42=D @C 2==:65 AC@5F4ED” 2C6 E96 7@FCE9 >@DE\42CC:65 AC@5F4E 3J C2:=C@25D 32D65 @? E@??286 27E6C 4@2=[ 72C> AC@5F4ED 2?5 7@@5 AC@5F4ED[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 a_aa $E2E6 #2:= !=2?[ H9:49 H2D FA52E65 :? s646>36C 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6 D:?46 a_`c]k^Am
kAmx? $@FE9 s2<@E2 :? a_`h[ E96 A2J=@25 42E68@CJ @7 “4CF56 A6EC@=6F>[ ?2EFC2= 82D @C 82D@=:?6” H2D ?6IE :? E@??286 27E6C 496>:42=D[ E@E2=:?8 f]b 3:==:@? A@F?5D 42CC:65 2??F2==J]k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ 7656C2= 5@4F>6?ED[ E96 86?6C2= A2J=@25 42E68@CJ @7 “496>:42=D 2?5 2==:65 AC@5F4ED” 42? 2=D@ :?4=F56 496>:42=D 2?5 AC@5F4ED DF49 2D 2?9J5C@FD 2>>@?:2[ 49=@C:?6[ 9F>2? 2?5 2?:>2= >65:4:?6D[ A6DE:4:56D[ :?<D 2?5 5J6D[ 2?5 6G6? C25:@24E:G6 4@>A@F?5D @C E9@D6 FD65 :? 496>:42= H2C72C6]k^Am
kAmx? 2? 6>2:= C6DA@?D6 E@ BF6DE:@?D[ y24< s@<<6?[ E96 2:C[ C2:= 2?5 EC2?D:E AC@8C2> >2?286C 7@C E96 $@FE9 s2<@E2 s6A2CE>6?E @7 %C2?DA@CE2E:@?[ D2:5 E96 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E :D C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C C68F=2E:?8 C2:= D9:A>6?ED :? $@FE9 s2<@E2[ 3FE E96 DE2E6 42? C6DA@?5 E@ 2 C6=62D6 @7 92K2C5@FD >2E6C:2=D]k^Am
kAm%C2?DA@CE2E:@? @77:4:2=D 7C@> }@CE9 s2<@E2 2?5 (J@>:?8 E@=5 }6HD (2E49 E96J 92G6 =:EE=6 <?@H=6586 23@FE H92E 496>:42=D 2?5 92K2C5@FD >2E6C:2=D AC:G2E6 C2:=C@25 4@>A2?:6D 2C6 42CCJ:?8 E9C@F89 E96:C DE2E6D]k^Am
kAm “pE 2 8F6DD[ A6EC@=6F>[ ?2EFC2= 82D[ 2?5 2?9J5C@FD 2>>@?:2 2C6 AC@323=J :? @FC E@A E9C66 7@C 92K>2E[ 3FE 27E6C E92E :E’D 2?J@?6’D 8F6DD – 2?5 x 92G6 ?@ :562 @? G@=F>6D @C C@FE6D 36:?8 FD65[” D2:5 $E6H2CE |:=2<@G:4[ }@CE9 s2<@E2 s~% EC2?DA@CE2E:@? A=2??6C]k^Am
kAmp4C@DD E96 &]$][ 92K2C5@FD >2E6C:2=D H6C6 E96 D64@?5\>@DE 4@>>@?=J EC2?DA@CE65 >2E6C:2= 3J C2:= 7C@> a_`h\a` 32D65 @? E@??286[ H:E9 a`g >:==:@? E@?D 42CC:65 :? a_a` 2=@?6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 7656C2= $FC7246 %C2?DA@CE2E:@? q@2C5]k^Am
kAm%96 $@FE9 s2<@E2 C2:= A=2? :?4=F56D 6DE:>2E6D E92E E@??286 @7 >2E6C:2=D EC2?DA@CE65 3J C2:= 4@F=5 :?4C62D6 3J bcT 3J a_cd[ :?4=F5:?8 2? 6IA64E65 b`T C:D6 :? 496>:42=D EC2?DA@CE65]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 &]$] A6C\>:=6 D276EJ 52E2 D9@H E92E C2:= 86?6C2==J C6>2:?D C6=2E:G6=J D276[ CFC2= DE2E6D =:<6 $@FE9 s2<@E2 E6?5 E@ 92G6 2865 C2:= DJDE6>D[ H:E9 >2E6C:2=D D@>6E:>6D 3F:=E :? E96 =2E6 `g__D @C 62C=J `h__D[ D2:5 #FDD6== "F:>3J[ 2? ~>292[ }63]\32D65 C2:=C@25 6IA6CE 2?5 :?5FDECJ 4@?DF=E2?E]k^Am
kAm$@>6 C2:= =:?6D[ 6DA64:2==J D9@CE6C 3C2?49 =:?6D E92E 2C6 4@>>@? :? $@FE9 s2<@E2[ 2C6 ?@E H6==\6BF:AA65 E@ 92?5=6 >@56C? C2:= 42CD E92E H6:89 FA E@ age[___ A@F?5D 6249 2?5 2C6 A2CE @7 :?4C62D:?8=J =@?86C EC2:?D[ 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmp55:E:@?2==J[ D@>6 @=56C C2:= =:?6D 92G6 ?@E 925 256BF2E6 C6:?G6DE>6?E 3J C2:=C@25 4@>A2?:6D]k^Am
kAm “%96J’C6 32C6=J 23=6 E@ 5@ E9:?8D D276=J :? D@>6 42D6D[” "F:>3J D2:5] “tG6? :7 J@F :56?E:7:65 2== E96D6 56764ED :? E96 EC24<[ 5@6D E96 4@>A2?J 92G6 6?@F89 >@?6J E@ 7:I E9:?8D AC@A6C=Jn %96J >2J AFE 2 q2?5\p:5 @? :E H96? E96J C62==J D9@F=5 36 EC62E:?8 2 3C@<6? 3@?6]”k^Am
kAm|62?H9:=6[ E96 C2:=C@25 :?5FDECJ :D DE27765 :? D@>6 42D6D 3J 6>A=@J66D H9@ 2C6 G2DE=J @G6CH@C<65[ "F:>3J D2:5] “%96J’C6 4FEE:?8 2== <:?5D @7 4@C?6CD[ 2?5 27E6C 2 H9:=6[ J@F 86E 6>A=@J66D H9@ 2C6 3FC?65 @FE[ 2?5 E92E :?5:C64E=J 27764ED D276EJ[ >@C2=6 2?5 2== E92E]”k^Am
kAm$E2E6 52E2 D9@H E92E $@FE9 s2<@E2 925 `_d “:?4:56?ED 2?5 244:56?ED” C6A@CE65 E@ E96 u#p 7C@> a_`a E@ a_a`[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 DE2E6 C2:= A=2?[ 2?5 2?@E96C ?:?6 244:56?ED :? a_aa] p== E@=5[ E9@D6 244:56?ED C6DF=E65 :? EH@ 562E9D 2?5 gb :?;FC:6D 2>@?8 C2:=C@25 H@C<6CD[ E96 52E2 D9@H]k^Am
kAms6C2:=>6?ED 2?5 @E96C C2:=C@25 6>6C86?4:6D 92G6 E2<6? A=246 :? $@FE9 s2<@E2 2E E96 C2E6 @7 C@F89=J @?6 6G6CJ 7:G6 H66<D @G6C E96 A2DE D:I J62CD[ 244@C5:?8 E@ u#p 244:56?E C6A@CED]k^Am
kAm|6492?:42= AC@3=6>D 2?5 C2:=C@25 H62C A=2J65 2 C@=6 :? 2 ?F>36C @7 56C2:=>6?EDik^Am
kAm• ~? yF?6 ae[ a_`f[ D:I C2:= 42CD 56C2:=65 5F6 E@ 2 3C@<6? D68>6?E @7 EC24< ?62C v2JG:==6 :? *2?<E@? r@F?EJ]
k^Am
kAm• ~? yF?6 d[ a_a_[ EC2:? H@C<6CD 4@F=5 D66 E96 EC24< 29625 H2D >:D2=:8?65 ?62C w2CC@=5 :? wF896D r@F?EJ[ 42FD:?8 6:89E 42CD E@ 56C2:= 2E ac >A9 5F6 E@ D@7E 8C@F?5 36=:6G65 E@ 36 42FD65 3J 2 >FD<C2E 56?]
k^Am
kAm• ~? $6AE] `g[ a_aa[ ?:?6 C2:= 42CD 56C2:=65 H9:=6 EC2G6=:?8 2E ab >A9 ?62C &E:42 :? *2?<E@? r@F?EJ 5F6 E@ >:DD:?8 ;@:?E 3@=ED @? E96 C2:= =:?6]
k^Am
kAm%9@D6 DE2E6 C2:= 244:56?E C6A@CED 5@?’E :?4=F56 244:56?ED E92E 92AA6?65 2E 9:89H2J C2:= 4C@DD:?8D] $@FE9 s2<@E2 925 ``_ C2:=C@25 4C@DD:?8 244:56?ED @G6C E96 A2DE 564256 E92E C6DF=E65 :? D:I 72E2=:E:6D[ bd :?;FC:6D 2?5 eh :?4:56?ED @7 AC@A6CEJ 52>286[ 244@C5:?8 E@ DE2E6 C64@C5D]k^Am
kAmx? E96 DE2E6’D >@DE 56DECF4E:G6 C2:= 244:56?E :? C646?E J62CD[ 2 56C2:=>6?E 2?5 6IA=@D:@? @7 D6G6C2= 6E92?@= 42CD @44FCC65 @? $6AE] `h[ a_`d[ :? 2 CFC2= 2C62 ?62C {6DE6CG:==6[ 23@FE a_ >:=6D ?@CE9H6DE @7 *2?<E@?]k^Am
kAmx?G6DE:82E@CD 7C@> E96 }2E:@?2= %C2?DA@CE2E:@? $276EJ q@2C5 =2E6C 7@F?5 E92E C2:= 9625D E92E DFAA@CE EC2:? H966=D H6C6 H@C? 36J@?5 D276 =6G6=D[ EC24<D H6C6 @FE @7 2=:8?>6?E 2?5 D276EJ AC@3=6>D ?@E65 3J C2:=C@25 @A6C2E@C q}$u H6C6 ?@E C6A2:C65 3FE :?DE625 2==@H65 E@ C6>2:? H96? E96 C2:=C@25 D:>A=J 5@H?8C2565 E96 E649?:42= 4=2DD:7:42E:@? @7 E96 C2:= =:?6]k^Am
kAm#64@C5D D9@H E96 D64E:@? @7 C2:=C@25 H2D 3F:=E :? `h_g 2?5 :?DE2==65 :? `hah] %96 H@@56? C2:=C@25 3C:586 H96C6 E96 244:56?E E@@< A=246 H2D 3F:=E :? `hdc]k^Am
kAmtG6? 2E ;FDE `_ >A9[ D6G6? E2?<6C 42CD 7=:AA65 @77 E96 C2:=D[ 2?5 EH@ 3C624965 2E :>A24E] }62C=J d_[___ 82==@?D @7 6E92?@= =62<65 @?E@ E96 8C@F?5 2?5 :?E@ E96 365 @7 !C2:C:6 rC66<[ H96C6 :E :8?:E65 :? 2 H2== @7 7=2>6] }@ @?6 H2D :?;FC65[ 3FE E96 244:56?E 42FD65 S`]` >:==:@? :? 52>286]k^Am
kAm$@FE9 s2<@E2 C2:= 42CC:6CD 2C6 AC6A2C:?8 7@C EC@F3=6 E9:D J62C 3642FD6 @7 E96 A@E6?E:2= 7@C 7=@@5:?8 2?5 D@7E 8C@F?5]k^Am
kAm “%96 D42CJ 724E@C @7 E92E :D H6 86E :?E@ pAC:= 2?5 E6>A6C2EFC6D DE2CE E@ C:D6 E@@ 72DE 2?5 H6 86E D@>6 @G6C=2?5 7=@@5:?8[ 2?5 D@ H6’C6 AC6AA:?8 2?5 AC6A2C:?8 7@C 2?J F?7@C6D66? :DDF6D] (6’== 36 562=:?8 H:E9 D@>6 D@7E DA@E :DDF6D 5@H? E96C6 2?5 H6’== 5@ 6G6CJE9:?8 H6 42? E@ >:?:>:K6 2?J :DDF6D @C AC@3=6>D[” |2C< %C@EE:6C[ 2 C6AC6D6?E2E:G6 @7 E96 s2<@E2 |:DD@FC: '2==6J (6DE6C? #2:=C@25[ E@=5 E96 $@FE9 s2<@E2 #2:=C@25 q@2C5 5FC:?8 2 |2C49 `d >66E:?8]k^Am
kAm#2:=C@25 4@>A2?:6D 2C6 AC:G2E6 6?E:E:6D 2?5 2C6 ?@E C6BF:C65 3J =2H E@ AC@G:56 E96 AF3=:4 H:E9 56E2:=D @? H92E :D 42CC:65[ H96? 2?5 H96C6[ D2:5 %@> r:F32[ 2 DA@<6D>2? 7@C E96 #2A:5 r:EJ[ !:6CC6 U2>Aj t2DE6C? C2:=C@25]k^Am
kAm “u@C D64FC:EJ C62D@?D 2?5 E@ FA9@=5 D9:AA6C 4@?7:56?E:2=:EJ[ #r!t 5@6D ?@E C6=62D6 DA64:7:4D @? @FC EC277:4[” r:F32 D2:5 :? 2? 6>2:= E@ }6HD (2E49]k^Am
kAm#r!t A6C7@C>D D276EJ 4964<D @? :ED C2:= =:?6D 2?5 6BF:A>6?E 2D C6BF:C65 3J 7656C2= =2H 2?5 :ED @H? :?E6C?2= DE2?52C5D] xE 4@?D:56CD “56C2:=>6?E AC6G6?E:@? 4C:E:42= E@ E92E D276EJ 7@4FD[” r:F32 D2:5]k^Am
kAm"F:>3J[ E96 C2:=C@25 6IA6CE[ D2:5 E92E 56DA:E6 C646?E 244:56?ED 2?5 2 76H 9:DE@C:4 42E2DEC@A96D[ C2:= C6>2:?D E96 D276DE 2?5 >@DE 64@?@>:42= H2J E@ D9:A 8@@5D[ 6DA64:2==J H96? 4@>A2C65 E@ 9:89\C:D< C@25H2J ECF4<:?8 2?5 4@DE\:?E6?D:G6 A:A6=:?6 4@?DECF4E:@?]k^Am
kAm “%96J >@G6 C6=2E:G6=J D276=J[ 2?5 4@>A2C65 E@ 2?J @E96C >@56 @7 EC2?DA@CE2E:@?[ J@F’C6 AC@323=J ?@E 8@:?8 E@ 86E 2 D276C H2J E@ 5@ :E[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmU>52D9j %9:D 2CE:4=6 H2D AC@5F465 3J $@FE9 s2<@E2 }6HD (2E49[ 2 ?@?\AC@7:E ;@FC?2=:D> @C82?:K2E:@? =@42E65 @?=:?6 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^D5?6HDH2E49]@C8QmD5?6HDH2E49]@C8k^2m]k^Am
kAm%@ C625 2== @7 E@52JVD DE@C:6D[k^Am
k2 E:E=6lQq=24< w:==D !:@?66C s2:=JQ 9C67lQ9EEAi^^39A:@?66C52:=J]4@>^2>6>36C^AC@E64E^?6H\C6HC:E6n7l`U2>AjFC=l^DF3D4C:AE:@?D0A286D^U2>Aj9@DEl39A:@?66C52:=J]4@>U2>AjDD=l@77Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q 52E2\>46\9C67lQ9EEAi^^39A:@?66C52:=J]4@>^2>6>36C^AC@E64E^?6H\C6HC:E6n7l`U2>AjFC=l^DF3D4C:AE:@?D0A286D^U2>Aj9@DEl39A:@?66C52:=J]4@>U2>AjDD=l@77Qmr=:4< 96C6k^2m
kAm@C 42== eca\afe` E@ DF3D4C:36 E@ @FC 6\65:E:@? @C 9@>6 56=:G6CJ]k^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.