[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 56 (Tuesday, March 24, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 14173]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-7618]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board
[STB Finance Docket No. 33553]


Ventura County Transportation Commission--Acquisition Exemption--
Southern Pacific Transportation Company

    Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC), a Class III 
carrier, has filed a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.41 
to acquire approximately 31.73 miles of rail line from Southern Pacific 
Transportation Company (SP) between milepost 435.07 and milepost 403.34 
at Montalvo Station near Ventura, CA, where the line connects with the 
SP Coast Line (the Santa Paula Branch Line).1
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ This notice of exemption amends and supersedes the earlier 
notice of exemption that VCTC had filed, pursuant to 49 CFR 1150.31, 
on February 10, 1998.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    VCTC entered into an agreement with SP to purchase the line, and 
consummated the transaction on October 27, 1995, apparently without 
appropriate authority from the Board. Under the agreement, SP retained 
the right to continue to provide freight common carrier service over a 
portion of the line, but, according to VCTC, VCTC became a carrier at 
the time of the purchase in 1995. VCTC did not file its verified notice 
of exemption, as amended, with the Board until February 27, 1998. VCTC 
has acknowledged that the effective date of the exemption was March 6, 
1998 (7 days after the amended notice of exemption was filed).
    If the notice contains false or misleading information, the 
exemption is void ab initio. Petitions to revoke the exemption under 49 
U.S.C. 10502(d) may be filed at any time. The filing of a petition to 
revoke will not automatically stay the transaction.
    An original and 10 copies of all pleadings, referring to STB 
Finance Docket No. 33553, must be filed with the Surface Transportation 
Board, Office of the Secretary, Case Control Unit, 1925 K Street, N.W., 
Washington, DC 20423-0001. In addition, a copy of each pleading must be 
served on: Charles A. Spitulnik, Hopkins & Sutter, 888 Sixteenth 
Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20006.

    Decided: March 17, 1998.

    By the Board, David M. Konschnik, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-7618 Filed 3-23-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P