[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 63 (Friday, April 1, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 18932]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-07366]


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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

[Docket No. FD 36013]


Southern Switching Company--Operation Exemption--Lone Star 
Railroad, Inc.

    Southern Switching Company (SSC), a Class III rail carrier, has 
filed a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.41 to operate 
approximately 3.18 miles of rail line at an industrial park near Big 
Springs, in Howard County, Tex. (the Line), pursuant to an operating 
agreement with its sister rail carrier, Lone Star Railroad, Inc. (LSR), 
the owner of the Line.\1\ There are no mileposts on the Line.\2\
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    \1\ LSR is a wholly owned subsidiary of CGX, Inc. (CGX). SSC is 
a wholly owned subsidiary of Ironhorse Resources, Inc. (Ironhorse), 
which is a wholly owned subsidiary of CGX. Ironhorse and CGX are 
holding companies.
    \2\ LSR and SSC initially filed a joint petition for exemption 
under 49 U.S.C. 10502 from the prior approval requirements of 49 
U.S.C. 10901 for LSR to construct, and of Sec.  10902 for SSC to 
operate, the new 3.18-mile line of railroad. The Board granted the 
petition as it pertained to construction of the new line but denied 
it with respect to SSC's operation of the Line because the record 
did not support the authority requested. That denial was without 
prejudice to SSC's submitting either a properly supported petition 
for exemption from Sec.  10902 or a verified notice of exemption 
pursuant to 49 CFR 1150.41. See Lone Star R.R.--Track Constr. & 
Operation Exemption--in Howard Cty., Tex., FD 35874 (STB served 
March 3, 2016). SSC's verified notice here seeks the operating 
authority that was denied in that case.
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    According to SSC, the Line connects with a rail line owned and 
operated by Union Pacific Railroad Company between Dallas and El Paso, 
Tex.
    SSC states that the agreement regarding the subject line does not 
involve an interchange commitment. SSC also states that its projected 
annual revenues as a result of this transaction do not exceed those 
that would qualify it as a Class III rail carrier and will not exceed 
$5 million.
    The transaction may be consummated on or after April 16, 2016, the 
effective date of the exemption (30 days after the verified notice of 
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. Petitions for stay must be filed no later than April 8, 2016 
(at least seven days before the exemption becomes effective).
    An original and 10 copies of all pleadings, referring to Docket No. 
FD 36013, 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 applicant's representative, Thomas F. 
McFarland, Thomas F. McFarland, P.C., 208 South LaSalle Street, Suite 
1890, Chicago, IL 60604.
    According to SSC, this action is categorically excluded from 
environmental review under 49 CFR 1105.6(c).
    Board decisions and notices are available on our Web site at 
WWW.STB.DOT.GOV.

    Decided: March 25, 2016.

    By the Board, Scott M. Zimmerman, Acting Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Kenyatta Clay,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2016-07366 Filed 3-31-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P