[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 173 (Thursday, September 5, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46901-46902]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-22638]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Surface Transportation Board 1
[STB Finance Docket No. 32955]


Fort Worth & Western Railroad Company, Inc.--Lease Exemption--St. 
Louis Southwestern Railway Company

AGENCY: Surface  Transportation Board.

    \1\ The ICC Termination Act of 1995, Pub. L. No. 104-88, 109 
Stat. 803 (ICCTA), which was enacted on December 29, 1995, and took 
effect on January 1, 1996, abolished the Interstate Commerce 
Commission (ICC) and transferred certain functions to the Surface 
Transportation Board (Board). This notice relates to functions that 
are subject to Board jurisdiction pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 10902.
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ACTION: Notice of exemption.

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SUMMARY: The Board, under 49 U.S.C. 10502, exempts from the prior 
approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 10902 the lease 2 by Fort Worth 
& Western

[[Page 46902]]

Railroad Company, Inc. (FWWR), of St. Louis Southwestern Railway 
Company's (SSW) Hodge Yard, located between North Fort Worth and 
Carrollton, TX, at milepost 630.20.3

    \2\ FWWR seeks an exemption both to lease and to operate, and 
its petition is styled accordingly. While an exemption from the 
requirements of 49 U.S.C. 10902 for FWWR's lease is consistent with 
the standards of 49 U.S.C. 10502, we note that FWWR requires neither 
separate authority nor an exemption to operate the line under the 
lease. When a rail carrier petitioned for an exemption to purchase 
or lease a rail line from another rail carrier under former 49 
U.S.C. 11343 of the Interstate Commerce Act, the ICC normally also 
exempted the operation of the line, if requested, but the exemption 
to operate was not necessary. The status of the purchaser or lessor, 
as a carrier, coupled with the purchase agreement or lease, 
constituted sufficient authority to conduct operations. Similarly, 
authority or an exemption for a carrier to purchase or lease a line 
under 49 U.S.C. 10902 of the ICCTA provides the necessary authority 
to conduct operations.
    \3\ FWWR plans to operate on track owned by Dallas Area Rapid 
Transit Property Acquisition Company (DARTPAC). In Fort Worth and 
Western Railroad Company, Inc.--Trackage Rights Exemption--St. Louis 
Southwestern Railway Company, STB Finance Docket No. 32956 (STB 
served June 6, 1996), SSW assigned its local and overhead trackage 
rights over DARTPAC's 28.77-mile rail line, between milepost 632.27 
at North Fort Worth and milepost 603.5 at Carrollton, to FWWR.

DATES: This exemption is effective on October 5, 1996. Petitions to 
stay must be filed by September 20, 1996. Petitions to reopen must be 
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filed by September 30, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Send pleadings, referring to STB Finance Docket No. 32955, 
to: (1) Surface Transportation Board, Office of the Secretary, Case 
Control Branch, 1201 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20423; 
and (2) Kevin M. Sheys, 1020 Nineteenth Street, N.W., Suite 400, 
Washington, DC 20036-6105.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beryl Gordon, (202) 927-5660. [TDD for 
the hearing impaired: (202) 927-5721.]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Additional information is contained in the 
Board's decision. To purchase a copy of the full decision, write to, 
call, or pick up in person from: DC Data & News, Inc., Room 2229, 1201 
Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20423. Telephone: (202) 289-
4357/4359. [Assistance for the hearing impaired is available through 
TDD services (202) 927-5721.]

    Decided: August 27, 1996.

    By the Board, Chairman Morgan, Vice Chairman Simmons, and 
Commissioner Owen.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-22638 Filed 9-4-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P