[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 207 (Wednesday, October 27, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57925-57926]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-27779]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board
[STB Finance Docket No. 33812]


Arizona & California Railroad Company Limited Partnership d/b/a 
Puget Sound & Pacific Railroad--Modified Rail Certificate

    On October 12, 1999, Arizona & California Railroad Company Limited 
Partnership (ARZC) d/b/a Puget Sound & Pacific Railroad (PS&P) 
(collectively, ARZC d/b/a PS&P) \1\ filed a notice for a modified 
certificate of public convenience and necessity under 49 CFR 1150, 
subpart C, Modified Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, to 
operate 10 miles of a rail line extending from milepost 0.0 in Chehalis 
to milepost 10.0 in Curtis, in Lewis County, WA.
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    \1\ ARZC is an existing Class III rail carrier, and PS&P is an 
operating division of ARZC.
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    An exemption to abandon the line was granted to Curtis Milburn & 
Eastern Railroad Company (CMER) in Curtis Milburn & Eastern Railroad 
Company-- Abandonment Exemption--In Lewis County, WA, Docket No. AB-
378X (ICC

[[Page 57926]]

served Jan. 19, 1993).\2\ The Port of Chehalis (the Port), a municipal 
corporation of the State of Washington, subsequently acquired the line. 
On October 1, 1999, ARZC d/b/a PS&P and the Port executed the 
Agreement, which governs the rail operations to be conducted by ARZC d/
b/a PS&P in Lewis County. Rail freight operations over the line were to 
commence on or after October 18, 1999.
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    \2\ Based on CMER's petition for exemption, the decision 
describes the line as an 11-mile line of railroad between milepost 
0.0 at CM&E Junction, WA, and milepost 10.0 near Curtis, WA. 
According to the instant notice, milepost 0.0 at CM&E Junction and 
milepost 0.0 in Chehalis refer to the same location. The Railroad 
Right of Way Use and Track Agreement (the Agreement), attached to 
the notice as Exhibit A, describes the line as approximately 10 
miles of rail line. The mileage discrepancy is not explained, but 
the line description as a whole is unambiguous.
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    The line's only interline connection is with Tacoma & Eastern 
Railway Co. (Tacoma), at milepost 0.0 (Tacoma milepost 67.0). ARZC d/b/
a PS&P anticipates acquiring reciprocal overhead trackage rights over 1 
mile of Tacoma's line so that it can connect with The Burlington 
Northern and Santa Fe Railroad Company (BNSF) \3\ in Chehalis.\4\
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    \3\ Although the Agreement indicates that ARZC d/b/a PS&P will 
use these trackage rights to connect with the Union Pacific Railway 
Company in addition to BNSF, ARZC d/b/a PS&P anticipates that the 
trackage rights agreement it negotiates with Tacoma will provide 
ARZC d/b/a PS&P only with access to BNSF.
    \4\ Prior to operating over Tacoma's line via the overhead 
trackage rights, ARZC d/b/a PS&P states that it will obtain any 
necessary regulatory authority from the Board.
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    The rail segment qualifies for a modified certificate of public 
convenience and necessity. See Common Carrier Status of States, State 
Agencies and Instrumentalities and Political Subdivisions, Finance 
Docket No. 28990F (ICC served July 16, 1981).
    ARZC d/b/a PS&P indicates that no subsidy is involved and that 
there are no preconditions for shippers to meet in order to receive 
rail service.
    This notice will be served on the Association of American Railroads 
(Car Service Division) as agent for all railroads subscribing to the 
car-service and car-hire agreement: Association of American Railroads, 
50 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001; and on the American Short Line 
and Regional Railroad Association: American Short Line and Regional 
Railroad Association, 1120 G Street, NW, Suite 520, Washington, DC 
20005.

    Decided: October 19, 1999.

    By the Board, David M. Konschnik, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-27779 Filed 10-26-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P