[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 144 (Wednesday, July 26, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 46040]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-18800]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Finance Docket No. 33892]


Northeast Texas Rural Rail Transportation District--Acquisition 
Exemption--Lines of the Union Pacific Railroad Company

    The Northeast Texas Rural Rail Transportation District (NETEX), a 
political subdivision of the State of Texas, Class III rail carrier, 
has filed a notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.41 to acquire 
pursuant to an agreement entered into with the Union Pacific Railroad 
Company (UP), as indicated in its notice, approximately 34.6 miles of 
UP's rail line from milepost 524.0 west of Sulphur Springs, TX, 
proceeding easterly to milepost 489.41 at the eastern county line of 
Franklin County, TX, and NETEX further indicates that, pursuant to a 
trackage rights agreement with UP, it will also acquire incidental 
trackage rights over approximately 10.41 miles of UP's line between 
milepost 489.41 and milepost 479.0 for the purpose of interchanging 
traffic with UP. NETEX certifies that its projected revenues will not 
result in the creation of a Class II or Class I rail carrier.\1\
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    \1\ NETEX states that the Blacklands Railroad Company (BLRR) is 
also a party to the trackage rights agreement.
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    NETEX currently owns a connecting rail line of approximately 31 
miles from milepost 555.0 near Greenville, TX, to milepost 524.0, just 
west of Sulphur Springs, and possesses trackage rights over UP's line 
between milepost 524.0 and milepost 517.0. Until now, the trackage 
rights over this 7-mile segment appear to have been limited to 
interchanging and switching traffic at Sulphur Springs.\2\ NETEX 
currently contracts with BLRR for operations over these lines.\3\
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    \2\ See East Texas Central Railroad, Inc.--Operation Exemption--
Northeast Texas Rural Rail Transportation District, STB Finance 
Docket No. 32841 (Sub-No. 1) (STB served Sept. 27, 1996).
    \3\ See The Blacklands Railroad Company--Operation Exemption--
Lines of Northeast Texas Rural Rail Transportation District, STB 
Finance Docket No. 33708 (STB served Feb. 16, 1999).
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    The transaction was scheduled to be consummated on or after July 
17, 2000.
    This transaction is related to STB Finance Docket No. 33893, The 
Blacklands Railroad Company--Operation Exemption--Lines of Northeast 
Texas Rural Rail Transportation Company, wherein BLRR seeks to conduct 
common carrier freight operations over the line being acquired by 
NETEX.
    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. 33892, 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 Harold Curtis, Jr., 2708 Washington Street, Greenville, TX 
75401.
    Board decisions and notices are available on our website at 
``WWW.STB.DOT.GOV.''

    Decided: July 19, 2000.

    By the Board, David M. Konschnik, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-18800 Filed 7-25-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P