[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 105 (Wednesday, June 1, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31679-31680]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-13484]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[Docket No. FD 35500 Sub-No. 1]


Saratoga and North Creek Railway, LLC--Operation Exemption--
Warren County, NY

    Saratoga and North Creek Railway, LLC (Saratoga),\1\ a noncarrier, 
has filed a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.31 to 
operate approximately 39.07 miles of rail line owned by Warren County, 
NY (the County), a noncarrier, extending between milepost 55.89 at or 
near Corinth, NY, and milepost 94.96 at North Creek, NY Saratoga states 
that the County will retain ownership of the track and right-of-way as 
a noncarrier.\2\
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    \1\ Saratoga is a limited liability company, wholly owned by San 
Luis & Rio Grande Railroad (SLRG). SLRG is a Class III rail carrier 
and a subsidiary of Permian Basin Railways, Inc., which in turn is 
owned by Iowa Pacific Holdings, LLC.
    \2\ According to Saratoga, the County acquired the track and 
right-of-way after the line was abandoned and did not incur a common 
carrier obligation for the line. See Common Carrier Status of 
States, State Agencies and Instrumentalities, and Political 
Subdivisions, 363 I.C.C. 132 (1980), aff'd. sub nom. Simmons v. ICC, 
697 F.2d 326 (D.C. Cir. 1982), codified at 49 CFR 1150.22.
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    Saratoga states that it was formed by SLRG for the purpose of 
acquiring and operating the subject rail line and the connecting line 
to Saratoga Springs, NY, owned by the Town of Corinth, NY.\3\
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    \3\ Saratoga states that the subject trackage connects south of 
Corinth with a line of railroad that extends to milepost 39.44 at 
Saratoga Springs, NY, where it connects with a main line of the 
Delaware & Hudson Railway Company, Inc. d/b/a Canadian Pacific (CP). 
Saratoga also states that the subject trackage continues north of 
North Creek to Tahawus and was operated historically as exempt 
industry trackage.
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    Saratoga states that it is negotiating the terms of an agreement 
with the County to restore common carrier rail freight service over the 
subject line.\4\ Saratoga also intends to restore a rail passenger 
excursion service over the line.
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    \4\ While the parties have not completed the agreement, Saratoga 
must acquire sufficient rights to fully meet its common carrier 
obligation to operate the line.
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    This transaction is related to two simultaneously filed notices of 
exemption: (1) Docket No. FD 35500, Saratoga and North Creek Railway, 
LLC--Acquisition and Operation Exemption--Delaware and Hudson Railway 
Company, Inc, d/b/a Canadian Pacific, in which Saratoga seeks an 
exemption under 49 CFR 1150.31 to acquire from CP a permanent and 
exclusive freight rail easement over, and to operate, approximately 
16.45-miles of rail line known as the Adirondack Branch extending 
between Adirondack Branch milepost 39.44 at or near Saratoga Springs, 
NY, and Adirondack Branch milepost 55.89 at or near Corinth, NY, and 
approximately 3.2 miles of operating rights for the purpose of 
interchange with CP between Adirondack Branch milepost 39.44 and CP's 
yard at Saratoga Springs located at Canadian Subdivision milepost 35; 
and (2) Docket No. FD 35499, San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad--
Continuance in Control Exemption--Saratoga and North Creek Railway, 
LLC, in which SLRG seeks an exemption to continue in control of 
Saratoga upon Saratoga's becoming a Class III rail carrier. As a result 
of these transactions, Saratoga will have authority to operate from 
Saratoga Springs to North Creek.

[[Page 31680]]

    Saratoga indicates that its agreement with the County will not 
permit the collecting, sorting, loading, unloading, transferring, or 
transporting of municipal solid waste or construction and demolition 
material.\5\
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    \5\ Saratoga is reminded that it cannot by contract avoid its 
common carrier obligation to transport a commodity over the line.
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    Saratoga certifies that its projected annual revenues as a result 
of this transaction will not result in Saratoga's becoming a Class II 
or Class I rail carrier and will not exceed $5 million.
    Saratoga intends to consummate the transaction in either late June 
or early July 2011. The earliest the transaction may be consummated is 
after the June 15, 2011 effective date of the exemption (30 days after 
the exemption was filed).
    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 effectiveness of the 
exemption. Stay petitions must be filed no later than June 8, 2011 (at 
least 7 days before the exemption becomes effective).
    An original and 10 copies of all pleadings, referring to Docket No. 
FD 35500 (Sub-No. 1), must be filed with the Surface Transportation 
Board, 395 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20423-0001. In addition, a 
copy of each pleading must be served on John D. Heffner, John D. 
Heffner, PLLC, 1750 K Street, NW., Suite 200, Washington, DC 20006.
    Board decisions and notices are available on our Web site at 
``http://www.stb.dot.gov.''

    Decided: May 26, 2011.

    By the Board, Rachel D. Campbell, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Andrea Pope-Matheson,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2011-13484 Filed 5-31-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P