[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 14 (Friday, January 21, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3376-3377]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-01152]


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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

[Docket No. FD 36571]


Verdigris Southern Railroad, L.L.C.--Lease and Operation 
Exemption--Track in Rogers County, Okla.

    Verdigris Southern Railroad, L.L.C. (VESO), a noncarrier, has filed 
a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.31 to lease from the 
City of Tulsa-Rogers County Port Authority (the Port), and to commence 
common carrier operations over, certain track owned by the Port (also a 
noncarrier) located in Rogers County, Okla. (the Line). The Line 
extends from the point of connection to the northwest-southeast-running 
Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP) Wagoner Subdivision mainline at UP 
milepost 594.76 at Inola, Okla., westward for a distance of 
approximately 13,883 feet to an end point to the west of the Line's at-
grade crossing of State Road S 4200. According to VESO, the Line 
currently serves as a private track and has no mileposts of its own.
    This transaction is related to a verified notice of exemption filed 
concurrently in Watco Holdings, Inc.--Continuance in Control 
Exemption--Verdigris Southern Railroad, Docket No. FD 36572, in which 
Watco Holdings, Inc., seeks to continue in control of VESO upon VESO's 
becoming a Class III rail carrier.
    The verified notice states that VESO and the Port have entered into 
a Track

[[Page 3377]]

Lease and Operating Agreement (Agreement) pursuant to which VESO will 
lease and operate the Line as a common carrier.\1\
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    \1\ Public and confidential versions of the Agreement were filed 
with the verified notice. The confidential version was submitted 
under seal concurrently with a motion for protective order, which is 
addressed in a separate decision.
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    VESO certifies that its projected annual revenues from this 
transaction will not result in its becoming a Class I or Class II rail 
carrier and will not exceed $5 million. VESO also certifies that the 
Agreement does not include an interchange commitment.
    The earliest this transaction may be consummated is February 6, 
2022, the effective date of the exemption (30 days after the verified 
notice 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 January 28, 
2022 (at least seven days before the exemption becomes effective).
    All pleadings, referring to Docket No. FD 36571, 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 VESO's 
representative, Bradon J. Smith, Fletcher & Sippel LLC, 29 North Wacker 
Drive, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606.
    According to VESO, 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: January 14, 2022.

    By the Board, Scott M. Zimmerman, Acting Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Jeffrey Herzig,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2022-01152 Filed 1-20-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P