[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 140 (Friday, July 19, 1996)] [Notices] [Pages 37792-37793] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-18362] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Surface Transportation Board \1\ [STB Finance Docket No. 32994] North Coast Railroad Authority--Trackage Rights Exemption-- California Northern Railroad Company California Northern Railroad Company (CNRC) will agree to grant interim local trackage rights \2\ to North Coast Railroad Authority (NCRA). CNRC will grant NCRA local trackage rights in Mendocino, Sonoma, Marin, and Napa Counties, CA: (1) from NWP milepost 142.5 near Outlet Station to NWP milepost 68.22 near Healdsburg, CA, a distance of approximately 74.3 miles; (2) from NWP milepost 68.2 near Healdsburg, CA, to NWP milepost 26.96 near Novato, CA, a distance of approximately 41.2 miles; (3) from NWP milepost 26.96 near Novato, CA, to NWP milepost 25.6 near Ignacio, CA, a distance of approximately 1.4 miles; and (4) from NWP milepost 25.6 near Ignacio, CA, to SP milepost 40.4 near Schellville, CA, a distance of approximately 14.8 miles, a total of approximately 131.7 miles of rail line. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ The ICC Termination Act of 1995, Pub. L. No. 104-88, 109 Stat. 803, which was enacted on December 29, 1995, and took effect on January 1, 1996, abolished the Interstate Commerce Commission and transferred certain functions to the Surface Transportation Board (Board). This notice relates to functions that are subject to Board jurisdiction pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 11323-24. \2\ The parties to the trackage rights arrangement apparently intend that the trackage rights would expire if the Board acts favorably on NCRA's pending request in STB Finance Docket No. 32943, North Coast Railroad Authority--Operation and Acquisition Exemption--California Northern Railroad Company, Northwestern Pacific Railroad Authority, and Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District, filed May 10, 1996. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The transaction was scheduled to be consummated on or after July 8, 1996. The purpose of the trackage rights is to facilitate the commencement of NCRA's freight operations while its petition in STB Finance Docket No. 32943 is being considered by the Board. Trackage rights approved under the class exemption normally remain [[Page 37793]] effective indefinitely. Accordingly, if the Board does not approve or exempt the transaction that is the subject of STB Finance Docket No. 32943 (or if NCRA does not consummate the transaction even if it has been approved or exempted), NCRA would be required to continue service begun under the trackage rights agreement until it obtains discontinuance authority from the Board. As a condition to this exemption, any employees affected by the trackage rights will be protected by the conditions imposed in Norfolk and Western Ry. Co.--Trackage Rights--BN, 354 I.C.C. 605 (1978), as modified in Mendocino Coast Ry., Inc.--Lease and Operate, 360 I.C.C. 653 (1980). This notice is filed under 49 CFR 1180.2(d)(7). If it 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 transaction. An original and 10 copies of all pleadings, referring to STB Finance Docket No. 32994, must be filed with the Surface Transportation Board, Office of the Secretary, Case Control Branch, 1201 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20423. In addition, a copy of each pleading must be served on Christopher J. Neary, Esq., 110 South Main Street, Suite C, Willits, CA 95490. Decided: July 15, 1996. By the Board, David M. Konschnik, Director, Office of Proceedings. Vernon A. Williams, Secretary. [FR Doc. 96-18362 Filed 7-18-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4915-00-P