[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 10 (Wednesday, January 15, 1997)] [Notices] [Pages 2215-2216] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-952] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION [STB Finance Docket No. 33330] Union County Industrial Railroad Company; Corporate Family Transaction Exemption; West Shore Railroad Corporation Union County Industrial Railroad Company (UCIR) and West Shore Railroad Corporation (WSRC),\1\ Class III [[Page 2216]] railroads, have jointly filed a verified notice of exemption. The exempt transaction is a merger of WSRC into UCIR. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ UCIR and WSRC are owned and controlled by Richard D. Robey. UCIR owns and operates approximately 3.9 miles of rail line in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which will be acquired by WSRC in West Shore Railroad Corporation--Acquisition Exemption--Union County Industrial Railroad Company, STB Finance Docket No. 33329 (STB served Jan. 15, 1997). WCRC operates approximately 8.965 miles of rail line in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The earliest the transaction could be consummated was December 30, 1996, the effective date of the exemption (7 days after the exemption was filed). UCIR will provide continuing rail common carrier service on the lines to be acquired by WSRC in STB Finance Docket No. 33329 and those previously operated by WSRC. The merger will improve the overall efficiency of rail operations and reduce costs associated with two corporate entities. This is a transaction within a corporate family of the type specifically exempted from prior review and approval under 49 CFR 1180.2(d)(3). The parties state that the transaction will not result in adverse changes in service levels, significant operational changes, or a change in the competitive balance with carriers outside the corporate family. Under 49 U.S.C. 10502(g), the Board may not use its exemption authority to relieve a rail carrier of its statutory obligation to protect the interests of its employees. Section 11326(c), however, does not provide for labor protection for transactions under sections 11324 and 11325 that involve only Class III rail carriers. Because this transaction involves Class III rail carriers only, the Board, under the statute, may not impose labor protective conditions for this transaction. If the verified notice contains false or misleading information, the exemption is void ab initio. Petitions to reopen the proceeding to revoke the exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d) may be filed at any time. The filing of a petition to reopen will not automatically stay the transaction. An original and 10 copies of all pleadings, referring to STB Finance Docket No. 33330, must be filed with the Surface Transportation Board, Office of the Secretary, Case Control Branch, 1201 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20423. In addition, a copy of each pleading must be served on Richard R. Wilson, Esq., Vuono & Gray, 2310 Grant Building, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Decided: January 6, 1997. By the Board, David M. Konschnik, Director, Office of Proceedings. Vernon A. Williams, Secretary. [FR Doc. 97-952 Filed 1-14-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4915-00-P