[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 201 (Wednesday, October 19, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 60882]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-20807]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Finance Docket No. 34758]


RailAmerica, Inc., et al.--Control Exemption--Point Comfort and 
Northern Railway Company, Rockdale, Sandow & Southern Railroad Company, 
The Massena Terminal Railroad Company, and Bauxite & Northern Railway 
Company

    RailAmerica, Inc. (RailAmerica), Palm Beach Rail Holding, Inc. 
(Palm Beach), and RailAmerica Transportation Corp. (RTC), have filed a 
notice of exemption to permit RailAmerica, Palm Beach, and RTC to 
acquire control of Point Comfort and Northern Railway Company (PCNR), 
Rockdale, Sandow & Southern Railroad Company (RSSR), The Massena 
Terminal Railroad Company (MTRC), and Bauxite & Northern Railway 
Company (BXNR) by purchase of all of their stock from Alcoa, Inc. PCNR, 
RSSR, MTRC, and BXNR are Class III carriers. PCNR and RSSR operate in 
Texas, MTRC operates in New York and BXNR operates in Arkansas.
    The transaction was scheduled to be consummated on or after 
September 30, 2005.
    RailAmerica directly controls one Class II rail carrier and 26 
Class III rail carriers. In addition, RailAmerica directly controls 
Palm Beach, which in turn directly controls RTC.
    Applicants state that: (i) The rail lines involved in this 
transaction do not connect with any rail lines now controlled, directly 
or indirectly by RailAmerica; (ii) this transaction is not part of a 
series of anticipated transactions that would connect any of these rail 
lines with each other; and (iii) this transaction does not involve a 
Class I carrier. Therefore, this transaction is exempt from the prior 
approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 11323. See 49 CFR 1180.2(d)(2).
    The purpose of this transaction is to make the efficiencies and 
economies of the RailAmerica structure available to PCNR, RSSR, MTRC, 
and BXNR.
    Under 49 U.S.C. 10502(g), the Board may not use its exemption 
authority to relieve a rail carrier of its statutory obligation to 
protect the interests of its employees. Because the transaction 
involves at least one Class II and one or more Class III rail carriers, 
the exemption is subject to the labor protection requirements of 49 
U.S.C. 11326(b).
    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. 34758, 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 Louis E. Gitomer, Of Counsel, 
Ball Janik LLP, 1455 F Street, NW., Suite 225, Washington, DC 20005.
    Board decisions and notices are available on our Web site at http://www.stb.dot.gov.

    Decided: October 11, 2005.

    By the Board, David M. Konschnik, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 05-20807 Filed 10-18-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P