[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 61 (Tuesday, March 31, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 15484]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-8116]



[[Page 15484]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board
[STB Finance Docket No. 33566]


City of Tacoma and Beltline Division of Tacoma Public Utilities; 
Change in Operator Exemption; Tacoma Eastern Railway Company

    City of Tacoma (City),WA,1 has filed a verified notice 
of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.41 for Beltline Division of Tacoma 
Public Utilities to operate approximately 131.5 miles of City rail line 
in Pierce, Thurston, and Lewis Counties, WA: (1) between milepost 
2192.0, at Tacoma, and milepost 17.7, at Chehalis; and (2) between 
milepost 2192.0, at Tacoma, and milepost 64.2, at Morton. The lines 
have been operated previously by Tacoma Eastern Railway Company.
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    \\1\\ Applicant represents that the Charter of the City divides 
its operations into Public Utilities and General Government. The 
General Government portion of the City evidently owns the lines 
discussed in this notice and is negotiating with the Public 
Utilities portion of the City, which is evidently responsible for 
operations.
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    Because the projected revenues of the rail lines to be operated 
will exceed $5 million, City has certified to the Board that the 
required notice of its change in operators was posted at the workplace 
of the employees on the affected lines on March 11, 1998. See 49 CFR 
1150.42(e). The earliest the transaction can be consummated is May 18, 
1998, the effective date of the exemption (60 days after City's March 
19, 1998 certification to the Board).2
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    \\2\\ The City's representative has acknowledged by telephone 
that the earliest the transaction can go forward is May 18, 1998.
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    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 revoke will not automatically stay the 
transaction.
    An original and 10 copies of all pleadings, referring to STB 
Finance Docket No. 33566, 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 City of Tacoma, Office of City Attorney, 747 Market Street, 
Room 1120, Tacoma, WA 98402-3767.

    Decided: March 23, 1998.

    By the Board, David M. Konschnik, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-8116 Filed 3-30-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P