[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 92 (Friday, May 12, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 30829]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-10202]


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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

[Docket No. FD 36700]


Grenada Railroad, LLC--Acquisition and Operation Exemption--North 
Central Mississippi Regional Railroad Authority and Grenada Railway, 
LLC

    Grenada Railroad, LLC (GRR), a Class III rail carrier, has filed a 
verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.41 to acquire and 
operate approximately 228 miles of rail line from the North Central 
Mississippi Regional Railroad Authority (NCMRRA) and Grenada Railway, 
LLC (GRY). The line consists of three segments: (1) approximately 175.4 
miles of main line between milepost 403.0 at Southaven, Miss. (GRY MP 
491.09), and milepost 703.8 near Canton, Miss. (GRY MP 616.49), along 
with certain side and yard tracks (the Grenada Line); (2) approximately 
11.42 miles of branch line between a point of connection with the 
Grenada Line at milepost 603.0 and milepost 614.42 at Bruce Junction, 
Miss. (the Water Valley Branch); and (3) approximately 21.70 miles of 
branch line between a point of connection with the Grenada Line at 
milepost H-0.20 at Aberdeen Junction, Miss., and milepost H-21.90 near 
Kosciusko, Miss. (the Aberdeen Branch) (collectively, the Lines). 
According to the verified notice, GRR has operated the Grenada Line and 
Water Valley Branch pursuant to a lease and operating agreement since 
2015 \1\ and now seeks authority to acquire these lines and the 
Aberdeen Branch, which is owned by NCMRRA.\2\ GRR states that the 
Aberdeen Branch has been out of service since prior to NCMRRA's 
acquisition of that segment.
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    \1\ See Ill. Co. Rail Road--Lease & Operation Exemption--N. 
Cent. Miss. Reg'l R.R. Auth., FD 35940 (STB served July 9, 2015).
    \2\ See N. Cent. Miss. Reg'l R.R. Auth.--Acquis. & Operation 
Exemption--Miss. Dep't of Transp., FD 36182 (STB served Nov. 20, 
2018).
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    The verified notice states that the parties entered into an Asset 
Purchase Agreement on April 27, 2023.
    GRR certifies that the proposed acquisition of the Lines does not 
involve any interchange commitments. GRR further certifies that its 
projected revenues as a result of this transaction will not result in 
the creation of a Class II or Class I rail carrier. Pursuant to 49 CFR 
1150.42(e), if a carrier's projected annual revenues will exceed $5 
million, it must, at least 60 days before the exemption becomes 
effective, post a notice of its intent to undertake the proposed 
transaction at the workplace of the employees on the affected lines, 
serve a copy of the notice on the national offices of the labor unions 
with employees on the affected lines, and certify to the Board that it 
has done so. However, GRR has filed a request for partial waiver of the 
60-day advance labor notice requirements to allow the transaction to 
proceed after 30 days' notice to employees on the Lines. GRR's waiver 
request will be addressed in a separate decision. The Board will 
establish the effective date of the exemption in its separate decision 
on the waiver request.
    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 May 19, 2023.
    All pleadings referring to Docket No. FD 36700, should be filed 
with the Surface Transportation Board either via e-filing on the 
Board's website or in writing addressed to 395 E Street SW, Washington, 
DC 20423-0001. In addition, one copy of each pleading must be served on 
GRR's representative, Terence M. Hynes, Sidley Austin LLP, 1501 K 
Street NW, Washington, DC 20005.
    According to GRR, this action is categorically excluded from 
environmental review under 49 CFR 1105.6(c) and from historic reporting 
requirements under 49 CFR 1105.8(b).
    Board decisions and notices are available at www.stb.gov.

    Decided: May 9, 2023.

    By the Board, Mai T. Dinh, Director, Office of Proceedings.
Raina White,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2023-10202 Filed 5-11-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P