[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 238 (Monday, December 11, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 77425]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-31343]



[[Page 77425]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Finance Docket No. 33944]


Texas Pacifico Transportation, Ltd.--Lease \1\ and Operation 
Exemption--State of Texas
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    \1\ The filed notice is captioned as an ``acquisition'' and 
operation exemption, but the described transaction involves a lease. 
Accordingly, this notice has been re-captioned to reflect the lease.
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    Texas Pacifico Transportation, Ltd. (Pacifico), a noncarrier Texas 
limited partnership, has filed a notice of exemption under 49 CFR 
1150.31 to lease from the State of Texas, acting by and through the 
Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), and to operate as a common 
carrier approximately 370.5 miles of rail line in Brewster, Coleman, 
Crane, Crockett, Irion, Pecos, Presidio, Reagan, Runnels, Tom Green, 
and Upton Counties, TX.\2\ Pacifico would acquire the right to operate 
between milepost 1029.1 on the International Bridge near Presidio, TX, 
and milepost 956.7 at Paisano Junction, and between milepost 945.3, at 
Alpine Junction, and milepost 0 + 330 feet, near San Angelo Junction on 
the east, and Lampasas Subdivision milepost 373 + 4362 feet, near San 
Angelo Junction on the west. According to Pacifico, SORC has assigned 
to Pacifico, with the consent of the Union Pacific Railroad Company 
(UP), SORC's trackage rights over an additional 11.4 miles of UP line 
located between milepost 956.7 at Paisano Junction and milepost 945.3 
at Alpine Junction. The operations by Pacifico would thus extend over 
approximately 381.9 miles. Pacifico states that its projected revenues 
will not exceed those of a Class III rail carrier as a result of this 
transaction.\3\
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    \2\ TxDOT acquired the rail line between milepost 1029.1 and 
milepost 956.7 from South Orient Railroad Company, Ltd. (SORC), 
pursuant to the transaction that was the subject of a notice of 
exemption in State of Texas Acting by and Through the Texas 
Department of Transportation--Acquisition and Operation Exemption--
South Orient Railroad Company, Ltd., STB Finance Docket No. 33946 
(STB served Nov. 2, 2000).
    \3\ Earlier this year, Pacifico had evidently planned to acquire 
SORC's rights to operate over these lines directly from SORC. See 
Texas Pacifico Transportation, Ltd.--Acquisition and Operation 
Exemption--South Orient Railroad Company, Ltd., STB Finance Docket 
No. 33851 (STB served Mar. 3, 2000). According to Pacifico, the 
previously authorized transaction was never consummated and did not 
result in the initiation of railroad operations.
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    The transaction was expected to be consummated on or after November 
29, 2000.
    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. 33944, 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, a copy of each pleading must be 
served on Fritz R. Kahn, Esq., 1920 N Street, NW (8th floor), 
Washington, DC 20036-1601.
    Board decisions and notices are available on our website at 
``www.stb.dot.gov.''

    Decided: December 4, 2000.
    By the Board, David M. Konschnik, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-31343 Filed 12-8-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P