[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 169 (Friday, August 30, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45820-45821]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-18808]


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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

[Docket No. FD 36321]


Alabama Export Railroad, Inc.--Lease and Operation Exemption--
Illinois Central Railroad Company

    Alabama Export Railroad, Inc. (ALE), a noncarrier, has filed a 
verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.31 to lease and operate 
approximately 12.1 miles of railroad line in downtown Mobile, Ala., 
owned by the Illinois Central Railroad Company (IC). The rail line 
extends between Belt Junction at milepost 6.6 and the State Docks at 
milepost 0.0 on IC's Beaumont Subdivision, and between Belt Junction at 
milepost 6.6 and Frascati Junction at milepost 1.1 on IC's Frascati 
Lead (the Line).
    This transaction is related to a concurrently filed verified notice 
of exemption in Mississippi Export Railroad--Continuance in Control 
Exemption--Alabama Export Railroad, Docket No. FD 36320, in which 
Mississippi Export Railroad Company (MSE) seeks to continue in control 
of ALE upon ALE's becoming a Class III rail carrier.
    ALE states that it and IC are negotiating track lease and switching 
agreements under which IC, in addition to continuing to own the Line, 
would also be the Line's lessor, and ALE would be the lessee and 
operator.
    According to ALE, the proposed agreements between ALE and IC do not 
contain an interchange commitment.
    ALE certifies that its projected annual revenues as a result of 
this transaction will not result in the creation of a Class II or Class 
I rail carrier and will not exceed $5 million.

[[Page 45821]]

    The earliest this transaction may be consummated is September 15, 
2019.\1\
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    \1\ The verified notices in Docket Nos. FD 36320 and FD 36321 
were initially submitted on August 12, 2019. On August 16, 2019, MSE 
filed a supplement in Docket No. FD 36320 certifying that MSE and 
ALE are the only two railroads in the corporate family. In light of 
that supplement, August 16, 2019, is deemed the filing date of the 
verified notice for continuance in control in Docket No. FD 36320, 
and that exemption's effective date is September 15, 2019. Because 
this lease and operation exemption requires the concurrent authority 
for MSE to continue in control of ALE, the effective date of this 
exemption likewise will be September 15, 2019.
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    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 September 6, 
2019 (at least seven days before the exemption becomes effective).
    All pleadings, referring to Docket No. FD 36321, must be filed with 
the Surface Transportation Board either via e-filing or in writing 
addressed to 395 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20423-0001. In addition, a 
copy of each pleading must be served on ALE's representatives: Eric M. 
Hocky, Clark Hill, PLC, One Commerce Square, 2005 Market Street, Suite 
1000, Philadelphia, PA 19103, and Sloane S. Carlough, Clark Hill PLC, 
1001 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 1300 South, Washington, DC 20004.
    According to ALE, this action is excluded from environmental review 
under 49 CFR 1105.6(c) and from historic preservation reporting 
requirements under 49 CFR 1105.8(b).
    Board decisions and notices are available at www.stb.gov.

    Decided: August 27, 2019.

    By the Board, Allison C. Davis, Director, Office of Proceedings.
Jeffrey Herzig,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2019-18808 Filed 8-29-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4915-01-P