[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 180 (Friday, September 19, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Page 45304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-18114]


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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

[Docket No. FD 36880]


Macquarie Infrastructure Partners V GP, LLC, et al.--Continuance 
in Control Exemption--Georgiana & Andalusia Railroad, LLC

    Macquarie Infrastructure Partners V GP, LLC (MIP GP), has filed a 
verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1180.2(d)(2) on behalf of 
itself and the Macquarie Infrastructure Partners V fund vehicle (MIP 
V); MIP V Rail, LLC (MIP Rail); Pinsly Holdco, LLC (Pinsly Holdco); and 
Pinsly Railroad Company, LLC (Pinsly), all non-carriers, to continue in 
control of Georgiana & Andalusia Railroad, LLC (GAR), upon GAR's 
becoming a Class III carrier.
    This transaction is related to a verified notice of exemption 
concurrently filed in Georgiana & Andalusia Railroad--Change in 
Operator Exemption--Rail Line in Butler, Conecuh, & Covington Counties, 
Ala., Docket No. FD 36879, in which GAR seeks to replace Three Notch 
Railway, L.L.C., as the common carrier on two connecting rail lines 
between Georgiana, Ala., and Andalusia, Ala.
    MIP GP states that Pinsly is wholly owned by Pinsly Holdco, which 
is wholly owned by MIP Rail, which is wholly owned (indirectly) by MIP 
V, which is controlled by MIP GP. According to the verified notice, 
Pinsly controls eight rail common carriers.\1\
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    \1\ Those carriers are: Grenada Railroad, LLC; Florida, Gulf & 
Atlantic Railroad, LLC; Camp Chase Rail, LLC; Chesapeake and Indiana 
Railroad, LLC; Vermillion Valley Railroad Company, LLC; Pioneer 
Valley Railroad Company, LLC; Hondo Railway, LLC; and North Florida 
Industrial Railroad, LLC.
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    Applicants represent that: (1) the lines to be operated by GAR as a 
common carrier do not connect with the lines of any of the existing 
rail carriers within the corporate family; (2) the proposed transaction 
is not part of a series of anticipated transactions that would result 
in such a connection; and (3) the proposed 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).
    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 effective date of this exemption is October 4, 2025 (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 September 26, 2025 (at least seven days before the 
exemption becomes effective).
    All pleadings, referring to Docket No. FD 36880, 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, one copy of each pleading must be served on 
MIP GP's representative, Theodore L. Hunt, Dentons US LLP, 1900 K 
Street NW, Washington, DC 20006.
    According to MIP GP, 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: September 12, 2025.
    By the Board, Anika S. Cooper, Chief Counsel, Office of Chief 
Counsel.

Zantori Dickerson,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2025-18114 Filed 9-18-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P