[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 194 (Friday, October 5, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 61049]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-24636]



[[Page 61049]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[Docket No. FD 35609]


North Louisiana & Arkansas Railroad, Inc.--Acquisition and 
Operation Exemption--Line of Lake Providence Port Commission

    North Louisiana & Arkansas Railroad, Inc. (NLA), a Class III rail 
carrier, has filed a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.41 
to lease from Lake Providence Port Commission (LPPC), a political 
subdivision of the State of Louisiana,\1\ and to operate approximately 
16.2 miles of rail line between milepost 454.8, at or near the 
Louisiana-Arkansas border, and milepost 471.0, at or near East Carroll 
Parish, La.
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    \1\ LPPC states that it does not operate the line but has a 
residual common carrier obligation for the segment of the line 
between mileposts 463.0 and 471.0, which it acquired through the 
Board's offer of financial assistance process. See Delta S. R.R.--
Aban. Exemption--In E. Carroll Parish, La., AB 384 (Sub-No. 2X) (STB 
served June 7, 2011). LPPC acquired the remainder of the line after 
it had been abandoned.
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    As part of the transaction, NLA is also seeking to acquire by 
assignment from LPPC approximately 1.25 miles of incidental overhead 
trackage rights between milepost 471.00, at or near a certain highway 
barn near Lake Providence, La., and milepost 472.25 in East Carroll 
Parish. The trackage rights will allow NLA to operate over a line of 
the Delta Southern Railroad, Inc. (Delta Southern), in order to access 
LPPC's private tracks serving the LPPC port.\2\
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    \2\ NLA concurrently filed a separate verified notice of 
exemption to acquire the trackage rights in North Louisiana & 
Arkansas Railroad, Inc.--Acquisition of Trackage Rights Exemption, 
Docket No. FD 35610. Because the trackage rights sought there are 
incidental to the lease of the line in Docket No. FD 35609, the 
Board is issuing a single notice of exemption in Docket No. FD 35609 
covering the entire transaction.
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    NLA states that, at the present time, the line is impassable but 
that operations will commence once the lease is authorized by the Board 
and rehabilitation of the line is completed. NLA also states that it 
will interchange traffic with Union Pacific Railroad Company, Arkansas 
Midland Railroad Company, and Delta Southern.
    According to NLA, the lease agreement will have an initial term of 
10 years, beginning on the effective date of the Board's decision 
approving the proposed transaction. NLA states that the lease does not 
involve any provision or agreement that would limit future interchange 
with a third-party connecting carrier. NLA has included a copy of the 
lease agreement as part of its filing.
    The earliest the transaction can be consummated is October 20, 
2012, the effective date of the exemption (30 days after the exemption 
was filed).
    NLA certifies that its projected annual revenues as a result of 
this transaction will not exceed those that would qualify it as a Class 
III rail carrier. NLA further certifies that its projected annual 
revenues as a result of this transaction will not exceed $5 million.
    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 October 12, 2012 
(at least 7 days before the exemption becomes effective).
    An original and 10 copies of all pleadings, referring to Docket No. 
FD 35609, must be filed with the Surface Transportation Board, 395 E 
Street SW., Washington, DC 20423-0001. In addition, one copy of each 
pleading must be served on Richard H. Streeter, 5255 Partridge Lane 
NW., Washington, DC 20016.
    Board decisions and notices are available on our Web site at 
``www.stb.dot.gov.''

    Decided: October 2, 2012.

    By the Board, Rachel D. Campbell, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Jeffrey Herzig,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2012-24636 Filed 10-4-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P