[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 43 (Thursday, March 6, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11455-11456]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-03630]


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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

[Docket No. FD 36838]


Farmrail System, Inc.--Continuance in Control Exemption--Land 
Rush Rail Corporation

    Farmrail System, Inc. (System), a non-carrier, has filed a verified 
notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1180.2(d)(2) to continue in control of 
Land Rush Rail Corporation (LRRC), upon LRRC's becoming a Class III 
carrier. System currently controls two Class III carriers, Farmrail 
Corporation and Grainbelt Corporation.
    This transaction is related to a concurrently filed verified notice 
of exemption in Land Rush Rail Corp.--Lease & Operation Exemption--
Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Docket No. FD 36837, in which 
LRRC seeks Board approval to

[[Page 11456]]

lease and operate approximately 37.26 miles of rail line (the Line) 
owned by Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Blackwell 
Industrial Authority (BIA) extending from milepost 0.09 at Wellington, 
Kan., to milepost 35.35 at Blackwell, Okla., and from milepost 127.0 at 
Blackwell to milepost 125.0 also at Blackwell.
    System represents that: (1) the Line to be operated by LRRC does 
not connect with either of the railroads in System's corporate family; 
(2) System's control of LRRC is not part of a series of anticipated 
transactions that would connect the Line to be operated by LRRC with 
the rail lines of either carrier in System's corporate family; and (3) 
the transaction does not involve a Class I carrier. Therefore, the 
transaction is exempt from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 
11323. See 49 CFR 1180.2(d)(2).
    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. Accordingly, 
because this transaction involves Class III rail carriers only, the 
Board may not impose labor protective conditions here.
    The earliest this transaction may be consummated is March 20, 2025, 
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 by March 13, 2025 
(at least seven days before the exemption becomes effective).
    All pleadings, referring to Docket No. FD 36838, must 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, a copy of each pleading must be served on 
System's representative, Justin J. Marks, Clark Hill PLC, 1001 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 1300 South, Washington, DC 20004.
    Board decisions and notices are available at www.stb.gov.

    Decided: March 3, 2025.

    By the Board, Scott M. Zimmerman, Acting Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Jeffrey Herzig,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2025-03630 Filed 3-5-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P