[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 54 (Friday, March 19, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 13122]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-5995]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Finance Docket No. 34474]


Great Northwest Railroad, Inc.--Acquisition and Operation 
Exemption--Camas Prairie RailNet, Inc.

    Great Northwest Railroad, Inc. (GNR), a noncarrier, has filed a 
verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.31 to acquire from Camas 
Prairie RailNet, Inc. (CPR) and operate approximately 179 miles of rail 
line. The lines are located in the States of Idaho and Washington as 
follows: (1) The 1st Subdivision, extending from milepost 137.5 at 
Lewiston, ID, to milepost 61.0 at or near Kooskia, ID; (2) the portion 
of the 2nd Subdivision, extending from milepost 0.0 at Spalding, ID, to 
milepost 1.0 near Spalding; \1\ (3) the 3rd Subdivision, extending from 
milepost 0.0 at Riparia, WA, to milepost 71.5 \2\ at Lewiston; and (4) 
the 4th Subdivision, extending from milepost 0.0 at Orofino, ID, to 
approximately milepost 31.0 (end of track), near Jaype, ID.\3\
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    \1\ In Camas Prairie RailNet, Inc.--Abandonment--In Lewis, Nez 
Perce, and Idaho Counties, ID (Between Spalding and Grangeville, 
ID), STB Docket No. AB-564 (STB served Sept. 13, 2000), CPR was 
authorized to abandon a line of railroad known as the Grangeville 
Line, or Second Subdivision, extending from milepost 0.00 near 
Spalding to milepost 66.8 (end of track) near Grangeville. By letter 
dated September 5, 2003, the Board was notified that, on December 
18, 2002, applicant transferred ownership of the subject track and 
right-of-way to BG & CM Railroad, Inc. (BG & CM). By letter filed in 
this docket on March 5, 2004, CPR informed the Board that BG & CM 
did not acquire the entire right-of-way, only the trackage and 
right-of-way beyond milepost 1.0, and that CPR retained ownership of 
the segment between mileposts 0.0 and 1.0, which it subsequently 
sold along with its other rail assets to GNR.
    \2\ GNR states that milepost 71.5 of the 3rd Subdivision is at 
the same physical location as milepost 137.5 of the 1st Subdivision. 
These mileposts are incongruent because the Subdivisions were 
originally owned by different railroads.
    \3\ GNR states that no traffic has moved over the 4th 
Subdivision for over 2 years and that a majority of the line is out 
of service. It adds that it is currently working with potential 
customers on the line to see if an adequate volume of rail traffic 
can be developed to justify the cost of operating the line.
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    GNR will also acquire by assignment from CPR incidental overhead 
trackage rights over a 15.1-mile rail line owned by the Union Pacific 
Railroad Company (UP) located between milepost 10.46 at Riparia and 
approximately milepost 267.1 at Ayer, WA, for the purpose of 
interchanging traffic with UP and The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe 
Railway Company.
    This transaction is related to STB Finance Docket No. 34475, Watco 
Companies, Inc.--Continuance in Control Exemption--Great Northwest 
Railroad, Inc., wherein Watco Companies, Inc., seeks to continue in 
control of GNR upon GNR's becoming a Class III rail carrier.
    GNR certifies that its projected revenues as a result of this 
transaction will not result in the creation of a Class II or a Class I 
rail carrier. The transaction was scheduled to be consummated on or 
shortly after February 27, 2004, the effective date of the exemption.
    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. 34474, 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 Karl Morell, Suite 225, 1455 F 
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20005.
    Board decisions and notices are available on our Web site at http://www.stb.dot.gov.

    Decided: March 10, 2004.

    By the Board, David M. Konschnik, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 04-5995 Filed 3-18-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P