[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 73 (Friday, April 16, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 18966]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-9438]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board
[STB Finance Docket No. 33727]


New Hampshire and Vermont Railroad Company--Operation Exemption--
Certain Lines of the State of New Hampshire

    New Hampshire and Vermont Railroad Company (NHVT), a Class III rail 
carrier has filed a notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.41 to operate 
approximately 36 miles of certain rail lines owned by the State of New 
Hampshire by and through the New Hampshire Department of Transportation 
(subject lines).1 The subject lines consist of a parcel or 
strip of railroad land of varying width, lying in Grafton and Coos 
Counties, NH, comprising a portion of railroad right-of-way known as 
the ``Berlin Branch'' and a portion of railroad right-of-way known as 
the ``Groveton Branch'': (a) from milepost 113.0 in Littleton, NH 
(shown as railroad Valuation Station 995+66 on plans for Federal 
Valuation Section 22, Map 19), to milepost 125.0 in Whitefield, NH 
(shown as railroad Valuation Station 1629+30 on plans for Federal 
Valuation Section 22, Map 31); (b) from milepost 125.0 in Whitefield, 
NH (shown as railroad Valuation Station 1629+30 on plans for Federal 
Valuation Section 22, Map 31), to milepost 130.9 in Jefferson (Waumbec 
Junction), NH (shown as railroad Valuation Station 325+03.2 on plans 
for Federal Valuation Section 24.2, Map 6 at the point of switch for 
the Maine Central Railroad connecting track); and (c) from milepost 
130.9 in Jefferson (Waumbec Junction), NH (Valuation Station 325+03.2), 
to a point in Groveton (Northumberland), NH (shown as the Valuation 
Section 2715+83 on plans for Federal Valuation Section 22, Map 52 at 
the Whistle Post located South of the West Street crossing, such point 
being the point of intersection with the tracks of the St. Lawrence & 
Atlantic Railroad Company).2
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The parties state that NHVT and the State of New Hampshire, 
by its Department of Transportation, entered into an operating 
agreement on March 15, 1999, providing for NHVT's operation of the 
subject line.
    \2\ NHVT certifies that its annual revenue will not exceed those 
that would qualify it as a Class III rail carrier and that its 
annual revenues are not projected to exceed $5 million.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The earliest the transaction could be consummated was March 25, 
1999, the effective date of the exemption (7 days after the notice of 
exemption was filed). However, this transaction is related to STB 
Finance Docket No. 33728, the State of New Hampshire Department of 
Transportation--Acquisition Exemption--New Hampshire and Vermont 
Railroad Company, in which the State of New Hampshire has filed a 
notice of exemption with respect to its purchase of these lines from 
NHVT. Because the exemption in STB Finance Docket No. 33728 was not 
scheduled to take effect until on or after March 30, 1999, the 
exemption in STB Finance Docket No. 33727 could not have been 
consummated prior to March 30, 1999.
    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. 33727, 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, one copy of each pleading must 
be served on David H. Anderson, Attorney at Law, 288 Littleton Road, 
Suite 21, Westford, MA 01886.
    Board decisions and notices are available on our website at 
``WWW.STB.DOT.GOV.''

    Decided: April 8, 1999.

    By the Board, David M. Konschnik, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-9438 Filed 4-15-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P