Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 44 (Friday, March 6, 2026)

[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 44 (Friday, March 6, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 11119]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-04414]


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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

[Docket No. FD 36903]


Wichita, Tillman & Jackson Railway Company--Renewal of Lease 
Agreement Containing Interchange Commitment--Union Pacific Railroad 
Company

    Wichita, Tillman & Jackson Railway Company (WTJR) has filed a 
verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1180.2(d)(4) for the renewal 
of its lease from Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP) of approximately 
16.55 miles of rail line located between milepost 0.99 in Wichita 
Falls, Tex., and milepost 17.54 at the Texas-Oklahoma State line near 
Burkburnett, Tex. (the Line).\1\
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    \1\ After WTJR filed a verified notice of exemption to renew the 
lease on January 9, 2026, the Board directed WTJR to submit a 
revised notice or supplement, as appropriate, addressing whether an 
interchange commitment in the original lease would be renewed. WTJR 
filed its revised verified notice on February 18, 2026.
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    According to the verified notice, WTJR has been leasing the Line 
from UP since 1991. See Wichita, Tillman & Jackson Ry.--Lease & 
Operation Exemption--Mo. Pac. R.R., FD 31787 (ICC served Jan. 8, 1991). 
The Board authorized the renewal of this lease in 2010. See Wichita, 
Tillman & Jackson Ry.--Lease Renewal Exemption--Union Pac. R.R., FD 
35452 (STB served Dec. 23, 2010). In 2015, WTJR entered into a new 
lease agreement with UP for the Line with a term expiring on December 
11, 2025, and the Board authorized the new lease in 2016. See Wichita, 
Tillman & Jackson Ry.--Lease Exemption Containing Interchange 
Commitment--Union Pac. R.R., FD 35998 (STB served Mar. 4, 2016).
    WTJR states that it and UP have agreed to amend the lease to renew 
it for an additional ten years. WTJR represents that the transaction 
involves a renewal of a lease that the Board previously authorized, and 
only an extension in time is involved. Therefore, the transaction is 
exempt from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 11323. See 49 
CFR 1180.2(d)(4). WTJR has disclosed in its verified notice that the 
lease agreement contains an interchange commitment that affects the 
interchange point at Wichita Falls. WTJR has provided additional 
information regarding the interchange commitment as required by 49 CFR 
1180.4(g)(3)(i).\2\
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    \2\ The exhibits to the 2015 lease agreement were submitted with 
the 2016 verified notice.
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    As a condition to the use of this exemption, any employees affected 
by this transaction will be protected by the conditions imposed in 
Mendocino Coast Ry.--Lease& Operate--Cal. W. R.R., 354 I.C.C. 732 
(1978), modified, 360 I.C.C. 653 (1980).
    This transaction may be consummated on or after March 20, 2026, 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 March 13, 
2026 (at least seven days before the exemption becomes effective).
    All pleadings referring to Docket No. FD 36903 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 
WTJR's representative, Karl Morell, 440 1st Street NW, Suite 440, 
Washington, DC 20001.
    According to WTJR, 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: March 3, 2026.

    By the Board, Anika S. Cooper, Chief Counsel, Office of Chief 
Counsel.
Tammy Lowery,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2026-04414 Filed 3-5-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P