[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 205 (Thursday, October 23, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 60775]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-26741]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Finance Docket No. 34403]


Morristown & Erie Railway, Inc.--Lease and Operation Exemption--
State of Maine

    Morristown & Erie Railway, Inc. (M&E), a Class III rail carrier, d/
b/a Maine Eastern Railroad, has filed a verified notice of exemption 
under 49 CFR 1150.41 et seq. to lease and operate the following 85.19 
miles of rail line owned by the State of Maine: (1) The Brunswick to 
Augusta Branch Line between milepost 27.97 in Brunswick and milepost 
55.91 in Gardiner, in Cumberland and Kennebec Counties, ME (27.94 
miles); (2) the Brunswick to Rockland Branch Line between milepost 
29.40 in Brunswick and milepost 85.55 in Rockland, in Cumberland and 
Knox Counties, ME (56.15 miles); and (3) the Atlantic Branch Line 
between milepost 85.55 and milepost 86.65 in Rockland, Knox County, ME 
(1.1 miles). M&E certifies that its projected annual revenues as a 
result of this transaction will not exceed $5 million, and thus the 
transaction will not result in the creation of a Class II or Class I 
rail carrier. The lease is subject to existing freight operating rights 
held by Maine Central Railroad Company and Springfield Terminal Railway 
Company over portions of these lines.
    Consummation of this transaction was expected to occur on or after 
October 1, 2003. The lines to be operated by M&E have been operated by 
Safe Handling Rail Inc. (SHR) under a modified certificate of public 
convenience and necessity. Pursuant to an agreement between the State 
of Maine and SHR, SHR's service was due to terminate on September 30, 
2003.
    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. 34403, must be filed with the Surface Transportation 
Board, 1925 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20423-0001. In addition, a 
copy of each pleading must be served on John K. Fiorilla, Watson, 
Stevens, Fiorilla & Rutter, LLP, 390 George Street, P.O. Box 1185, New 
Brunswick, NJ 08903.
    Board decisions and notices are available on our Web site at http://www.stb.dot.gov.

    Decided: October 17, 2003.

    By the Board, David M. Konschnik, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-26741 Filed 10-22-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P