[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 63 (Friday, March 31, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 17341]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-7917]



[[Page 17341]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Finance Docket No. 33855]


Mohall Railroad, Inc.--Acquisition and Operation Exemption--Line 
of The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company

    Mohall Railroad, Inc. (MRI), a noncarrier, has filed a verified 
notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.31 to acquire (by purchase) and 
operate approximately 42.55 miles of rail line, known as the Mohall 
Line,\1\ owned by The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company 
(BNSF) \2\ between milepost 5.25 north of Granville, ND, and milepost 
47.8 near Mohall, ND, together with associated spur tracks and 
sidings.\3\
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    \1\ The line is currently embargoed due to track conditions.
    \2\ MRI states that, on November 22, 1999, an agreement was 
signed between it and BNSF for the sale of certain assets, rights 
and obligations for the line and that it will assume full common 
carrier responsibility and maintenance of the line as soon as the 
exemption becomes effective and the transaction is closed.
    \3\ MRI certifies that its projected revenues as a result of 
this transaction will not exceed those that would qualify it as a 
Class III rail carrier.
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    The purpose of this transaction is to permit MRI to assume 
responsibility for providing rail service to the two presently active 
shippers located at Mohall and Lansford, ND, and any other parties 
desiring rail service by entering into an operating agreement with 
Northern Plains Railroad (NPR), which currently operates a line of 
railroad through Lansford. MRI indicates that its acquisition of the 
Mohall line will not result in significant changes in carrier 
operations, except to the extent that rail operations will be resumed 
over lines currently embargoed. MRI states that it will construct a new 
connection between NPR and the Mohall Line at Lansford, and will 
undertake to perform the necessary maintenance and rehabilitation work 
to place the trackage in condition for resumption of safe railroad 
operations.
    MRI reports that it intends to consummate the transaction upon the 
effective date of the exemption. The earliest the transaction could be 
consummated was March 13, 2000 (7 days after the 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. 33855, 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 Byron D. Olsen, Felhaber, Larson, Fenlon & Vogt, P.A., 601 
Second Avenue South, Suite 4200, Minneapolis, MN 55402.
    Board decisions and notices are available on our website at 
``WWW.STB.DOT.GOV.''

    Decided: March 24, 2000.
    By the Board, David M. Konschnik, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-7917 Filed 3-30-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P