[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 115 (Thursday, June 17, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32303-32304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-12834]


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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

[Docket No. FD 36465]


Transportation Holdings, LLC--Control Exemption--Adrian & 
Blissfield Rail Road Company, Charlotte Southern Railroad Company, 
Detroit Connecting Railroad Company, Lapeer Industrial Railroad 
Company, and Jackson & Lansing Railroad Company

    Transportation Holdings, LLC (Holdings), a noncarrier, filed a 
verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1180.2(d)(2) for 
authorization to obtain a controlling interest in Adrian & Blissfield 
Rail Road Company (A&B), a Class III railroad, and its four 
subsidiaries, also Class III railroads: Charlotte Southern Railroad 
Company (CSRC); Detroit Connecting Railroad Company (DCRC); Lapeer 
Industrial Railroad Company (LIRC); and Jackson & Lansing Railroad 
Company (JLRC).\1\
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    \1\ A&B operates a 20-mile rail line between Adrian and Riga, 
Mich. CSRC operates a 3.5-mile rail line near Charlotte, Mich. DCRC 
operates a 2.5-mile rail line in Detroit, Mich. LIRC operates a 1.5-
mile rail line in LaPeer, Mich. JLRC operates a 47-mile rail line 
between Jackson and Lansing, Mich. See Dobronski--Acquis. of 
Control--Adrian & Blissfield R.R., FD 35787, slip op. at 2 n.1 (STB 
served Dec. 12, 2013); (see also Verified Notice of Exemption at Ex. 
1).
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    The verified notice states that Holdings and the shareholders of 
A&B will enter into an Equity Purchase Agreement by which Holdings will 
acquire a controlling interest in A&B and, as a result, indirect 
control of CSRC, DCRC, LIRC, and JLRC. These five rail carriers own and 
operate rail lines located entirely within the state of Michigan. 
Holdings does not control any other rail carriers.
    Holdings states that: (1) The lines over which A&B, CSRC, DCRC, 
LIRC, and JLRC operate do not connect with one another, (2) the 
proposed transaction is not part of a series of anticipated 
transactions that would connect the lines with each other; and (3) the 
transaction does not involve a Class I rail carrier. Therefore, the 
proposed transaction is exempt from the prior approval requirements of 
49 U.S.C. 11323. See 49 CFR 1180.2(d)(2).
    The earliest this transaction may be consummated is July 1, 2021, 
the

[[Page 32304]]

effective date of the exemption (30 days after the verified notice was 
filed).
    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. However, 49 U.S.C. 11326(c) 
does not provide for labor protection for transactions under 49 U.S.C. 
11324 and 11325 that involve only Class III rail carriers. Because this 
transaction involves Class III rail carriers only, the Board, under the 
statute, may not impose labor protective conditions for this 
transaction.
    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 to stay must be filed no later than June 24, 2021 
(at least seven days before the exemption becomes effective).
    All pleadings, referring to Docket No FD 36465, should be filed 
with the Surface Transportation Board via e-filing on the Board's 
website. In addition, a copy of each pleading must be served on 
Holdings' representative, Bradon J. Smith, Fletcher & Sippel LLC, 29 
North Wacker Drive, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606-3208.
    According to Holdings, this action is categorically 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: June 14, 2021.

    By the Board, Scott M. Zimmerman, Acting Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Kenyatta Clay,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2021-12834 Filed 6-16-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P