[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 199 (Friday, October 11, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53486-53487]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-26187]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[STB Finance Docket No. 33122]


Northwestern Stage Lines, Inc., and Greyhound Lines, Inc.--
Purchase (Portion) Exemption

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.

    \1\ The ICC Termination Act of 1995, Pub. L. No. 104-88, 109 
Stat. 803 (1995), abolished the Interstate Commerce Commission and 
transferred certain functions to the Surface Transportation Board 
(Board) effective January 1, 1996. This notice relates to a 
transaction that is subject to Board jurisdiction under 49 U.S.C. 
14303.
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ACTION: Notice of filing of petition for exemption.

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SUMMARY: Petitioners, Northwestern Stage Lines, Inc. (NWL), and 
Greyhound Lines, Inc. (GLI), jointly seek an exemption under 49 U.S.C. 
13541, from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 
14303(a)(2),2 for each to acquire certain operating rights of the 
other, within the State of Washington, in interstate, intrastate, and 
foreign commerce.

    \2\ The language of 49 U.S.C. 14303(a)(2) is identical to that 
in former 49 U.S.C. 11343(a)(2), under which applications of this 
nature were routinely considered. An exemption of this transaction 
will exempt petitioners from the antitrust laws and other pertinent 
state and municipal laws. See 49 U.S.C. 14303(f).
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DATES: Comments must be filed by October 31, 1996. Petitioners may file 
a reply by November 12, 1996.3

    \3\ Petitioners request that the decision exempting the 
transaction become effective no later than November 1, 1996. Because 
petitioners do not explain why such an expedited schedule is 
necessary and their proposed schedule would deprive the public of an 
adequate opportunity to comment, we will deny their request.
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ADDRESSES: Send an original and 10 copies of comments referring to STB 
Finance Docket No. 33122 to: Surface Transportation Board, Office of 
the Secretary, Case Control Branch, 1201 Constitution Avenue, N.W., 
Washington, DC 20423. In addition, send one copy of comments to 
petitioners' representative: Fritz R. Kahn, Suite 750 West, 1100 New 
York Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20005-3934.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NWL (MC-108099), a motor passenger carrier, 
operates regular-route services in Washington and Idaho.4 GLI (MC-
1515),

[[Page 53487]]

a motor passenger carrier, operates nationwide, regular-route 
services.5 NWL seeks to transfer to GLI its route over Interstate 
Highway 90, between Moses Lake and Seattle, WA. In return, GLI seeks to 
transfer to NWL its local routes: (1) Between Moses Lake and Everett, 
WA, over Washington Highways 171, 17, 282, and 28 and U.S. Highway 2; 
and (2) between Wenatchee and Ellensburg, WA, over U.S. Highway 97. 
These routes apparently would connect with NWL's authority to operate 
between Everett and Seattle, over Interstate Highway 5.
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    \4\ NWL is affiliated with Boise-Winnemucca Trailways, a motor 
passenger carrier.
    \5\ GLI is affiliated with Continental Panhandle Lines, Inc., 
Texas, New Mexico & Oklahoma Coaches, Inc., and Vermont Transit Co., 
Inc., all motor passenger carriers.
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    As to the operating rights that GLI is receiving in the 
transaction, it appears that GLI already operates between Moses Lake 
and Seattle, under its own operating rights over Interstate Highway 90 
between Butte, MT, and Seattle. As for NWL, it will acquire GLI's local 
routes and will no longer operate over its direct route between Seattle 
and Spokane, WA, over Interstate Highway 90.
    According to the transfer agreement, NWL will use GLI's bus 
terminal in Wenatchee and will become a tenant in GLI's bus terminals 
in Ellensburg, Everett, and Seattle. In addition, GLI will terminate 
its agency agreement in Ephrata, WA, and NWL will consummate an 
agreement with the same agent. Neither petitioner will assume any 
obligations to the other's employees.
    Petitioners submit that: (1) GLI's annual gross operating revenues 
exceed $2 million; (2) they hold satisfactory safety fitness ratings; 
(3) they have adequate insurance coverage; (4) neither is domiciled in 
Mexico or controlled by persons of that country; and (5) the proposed 
transaction will have no effect on the quality of the human environment 
or the conservation of energy resources.
    Additional information may be obtained from petitioners' 
representative.
    A copy of this notice will be served on the Department of Justice, 
Antitrust Division, 10th St. & Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 
20530.

    Decided: October 7, 1996.

    By the Board, Chairman Morgan, Vice Chairman Simmons, and 
Commissioner Owen.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-26187 Filed 10-10-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P