[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 180 (Friday, September 17, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50551-50552]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-24178]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board
[STB Finance Docket No. 33777]


RailAmerica, Inc.--Control Exemption--Florida Rail Lines, Inc., 
Toledo, Peoria and Western Railroad Corporation, Marksman Corporation, 
and Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway Corporation

    RailAmerica, Inc. (RailAmerica), a noncarrier holding company, has 
filed a verified notice of exemption to continue in control of Florida 
Rail Lines, Inc. (Florida Rail), a noncarrier, and to acquire control 
of Toledo, Peoria and Western Railroad Corporation (TPW), Marksman 
Corporation (Marksman), and Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway 
Corporation (Railway). Florida Rail will acquire 100% of the 
outstanding stock of TPW. TPW owns 100% of the stock of 
Marksman,1 and Marksman owns 100% of the stock of 
Railway.2
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    \1\ See The Toledo, Peoria and Western Railroad Corporation--
Continuance in Control Exemption--Marksman Corporation, STB Finance 
Docket No. 33483 (STB served Oct. 16, 1997).
    \2\ See Marksman Corporation--Lease and Operation Exemption--
J.K. Line, Inc., STB Finance Docket No. 33481 (STB served Oct. 16, 
1997).
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    The transaction was scheduled to be consummated on or shortly after 
August 31, 1999.
    On July 30, 1999, RailAmerica also filed a motion for protective 
order under 49 CFR 1104.14 and a protective order was 
granted.3
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    \3\ See RailAmerica, Inc.--Control Exemption--Florida Rail 
Lines, Inc., Toledo, Peoria and Western Railroad Corporation, 
Marksman Corporation, and Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway 
Corporation, STB Finance Docket No. 33777 (STB served Aug. 5, 1999).
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    RailAmerica states that, at the time of its filing of the notice of 
exemption, it controlled 11 common carrier Class III rail carriers 
operating in 8 states.4
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    \4\ See RailAmerica, Inc.--Continuance in Control Exemption--
Ventura County Railroad Company, STB Finance Docket No. 33650 (STB 
served Sept. 24, 1998).
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    RailAmerica states that: (i) These railroads do not connect with 
each other; (ii) the acquisition of control is not part of a series of 
anticipated transactions that would connect the railroads with each 
other or any railroad in their corporate family; and (iii) the 
transaction does not involve a Class I carrier. Therefore, the 
transaction is exempt from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 
11323. See 49 CFR 1180.2(d)(2).
    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 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. 33777, must be filed with the Surface Transportation 
Board, Office of the Secretary, Case Control Unit, 1925 K Street, NW, 
Washington, DC 20423-0001. In addition, one copy of each pleading must 
be served on (1) Gary A. Laasko, Esq., RailAmerica, Inc., 5300 Broken 
Sound Boulevard N.W., Second Floor, Boca Raton, FL 33487, and (2) Louis 
E. Gitomer, Esq., Ball Janik LLP, 1455 F Street, NW, Suite 225, 
Washington, DC 20005.
    Board decisions and notices are available on our website at 
``WWW.STB.DOT.GOV.''

    By the Board, David M. Konschnik, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.


[[Page 50552]]


    Decided: September 10, 1999.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-24178 Filed 9-16-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P