Santa Maria Valley Railroad, LLC-Acquisition and Change of Operator Exemption-Railroad Lines of Coast Belle Rail, LLC, and Union Pacific Railroad Company, in Santa Barbara County, Cal., 14177-14178 [2025-05402]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 59 / Friday, March 28, 2025 / Notices Group PLLC, 2001 L Street NW, Suite 720, Washington, DC 20036. According to CNY, this action is categorically excluded from environmental review under 49 CFR 1105.6(c) and from historic preservation reporting requirements under 49 CFR 1105.8(b). Board decisions and notices are available at www.stb.gov. Decided: March 25, 2025. By the Board, Scott M. Zimmerman, Acting Director, Office of Proceedings. Eden Besera, Clearance Clerk. [FR Doc. 2025–05389 Filed 3–27–25; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4915–01–P SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD [Docket No. FD 36845] ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 OmniTRAX Holdings Combined, Inc., and HGS Railway Holdings, Inc.— Continuance in Control Exemption— Santa Maria Valley Railroad, LLC OmniTRAX Holdings Combined, Inc. (OmniTRAX), and HGS Railway Holdings, Inc. (HGS) (collectively, Omni-HGS), both noncarriers, have filed a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1180.2(d)(2) to continue in control of Santa Maria Valley Railroad, LLC (SMVR), a noncarrier currently controlled by OmniTRAX, once SMVR is authorized to commence common carrier operations. This transaction is related to a verified notice of exemption concurrently filed in Santa Maria Valley Railroad—Acquisition & Change of Operator Exemption—Railroad Lines of Coast Belle Rail, LLC, Docket No. FD 36846, in which SMVR seeks to acquire a line owned by Coast Belle Rail, LLC (CBRL), acquire a leasehold interest from Coast Belle Rail Corp. d/b/a Santa Maria Valley Railroad Company (Coast Belle) over a line of Union Pacific Railroad Company’s, and replace Coast Belle as the operator on both lines, which are located in Santa Barbara County, Cal. Omni-HGS states that SMRV is currently a noncarrier entity controlled by OmniTRAX and that Omni-HGS will continue to exercise control of SMRV upon SMRV’s becoming a Class III rail carrier. According to the verified notice, OmniTRAX and HGS are under joint managerial and operational control. See HGS Ry. Holdings, Inc.—Continuance in Control Exemption—HGS–FCR, LLC, FD 36180, slip op. at 2–3 n. 3 (STB served May 23, 2018). OmniTRAX is a noncarrier holding company that controls 23 Class III rail carriers and VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:31 Mar 27, 2025 Jkt 265001 HGS is also a noncarrier holding company that controls two Class III railroads.1 Omni-HGS represents that: (1) the lines that SMVR seeks to acquire and to operate as a common carrier do not connect with the lines of any of the existing rail carriers within the OmniHGS 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 April 12, 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 April 4, 2025 (at least seven days before the exemption becomes effective). All pleadings, referring to Docket No. FD 36845, 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 1 Specifically, Omni-HGS states that OmniTRAX currently controls: Alabama & Tennessee River Railway, LLC; Brownsville & Rio Grande International Railway, LLC; Central Texas & Colorado River Railway, LLC; Chicago Rail Link, L.L.C.; Cleveland & Cuyahoga Railway, LLC; Fulton County Railway, LLC; Georgia & Florida Railway, LLC; Georgia Woodlands Railroad, L.L.C.; Great Western Railway of Colorado, L.L.C.; Illinois Railway, LLC; Kettle Falls International Railway, LLC; Manufacturers’ Junction Railway, L.L.C.; Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado Railway, LLC; The Newburgh & South Shore Railroad, LLC; Northern Ohio & Western Railway, L.L.C.; Omni River Ridge, LLC d/b/a River Ridge Railroad; OmniTRAX SBVR, LLC d/b/a South Branch Valley Railroad; Panhandle Northern Railroad, L.L.C.; Peru Industrial Railroad, LLC; Sand Springs Railway Company; Savannah Industrial Transportation, LLC (limited/ provisional); Stockton Terminal and Eastern Railroad; and The Winchester and Western Railroad Company. According to the verified notice, HGS currently controls HGS–ATN, LLC, and HGS–FCR, LLC. PO 00000 Frm 00114 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 14177 addition, one copy of each pleading must be served on Omni-HGS’s representative, Robert A. Wimbish, Fletcher & Sippel LLC, 29 North Wacker Drive, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606– 3208. According to Omni-HGS, 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 25, 2025. By the Board, Scott M. Zimmerman, Acting Director, Office of Proceedings. Tammy Lowery, Clearance Clerk. [FR Doc. 2025–05395 Filed 3–27–25; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4915–01–P SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD [Docket No. FD 36846] Santa Maria Valley Railroad, LLC— Acquisition and Change of Operator Exemption—Railroad Lines of Coast Belle Rail, LLC, and Union Pacific Railroad Company, in Santa Barbara County, Cal. Santa Maria Valley Railroad, LLC (SMVR), a noncarrier, has filed a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.31 to (1) acquire from Coast Belle Rail, LLC (CBRL), a rail line extending between milepost 3.3 near Guadalupe (Betteravia Junction), Cal., and milepost 9.3 at Santa Maria, Cal., along with the connecting Airbase Branch extending between the wye at milepost 8.5/0.0 at Santa Maria and milepost 3.0 at Santa Maria (the CBRL Line); (2) acquire by assignment from Coast Belle Rail Corp. d/b/a Santa Maria Valley Railroad Company (Coast Belle) its leasehold interest in a rail line owned by Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP), extending between milepost 0.0 at Guadalupe, Cal., and milepost 3.3, along with the Betteravia Branch, extending between milepost 3.3 and milepost 4.8 at Betteravia, Cal. (the UP Line); and (3) replace Coast Belle as the common carrier service provider on the CBRL Line and UP Line (collectively, the Lines),1 thereby 1 According to the verified notice, Coast Belle currently operates over the CBRL Line pursuant to an operating agreement with CBRL and over the UP Line pursuant to a lease agreement with UP. See Coast Belle Rail Corp.—Lease & Operation Exemption—Line of Coast Belle Rail, LLC, FD 34927 (STB served Oct. 17, 2006). SMVR states that the mileposts and total route mileages in the current verified notice differ in certain respects from those in the 2006 proceeding, and that the mileposts and E:\FR\FM\28MRN1.SGM Continued 28MRN1 ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 14178 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 59 / Friday, March 28, 2025 / Notices terminating Coast Belle’s current common carrier status with respect to the Lines. The verified notice states that SMVR, CBRL, and Coast Belle are completing agreement terms for the transaction. This transaction is related to a concurrently filed verified notice of exemption in OmniTRAX Holdings Combined, Inc.—Continuance in Control Exemption—Santa Maria Valley Railroad, Docket No. FD 36845, in which OmniTRAX Holdings Combined, Inc., and HGS Railway Holdings, Inc., seek to continue in control of SMVR upon SMVR’s becoming a Class III rail carrier. SMVR certifies that it will not be contractually limited in its ability to interchange traffic with any third-party connecting carrier. SMVR further certifies that its projected annual revenues will not exceed $5 million and will not result in SMVR’s becoming a Class I or Class II rail carrier. Under 49 CFR 1150.32(b), a change in operator requires that notice be given to shippers. SMVR states that it has provided notice to all customers on the Lines. The earliest this transaction may be consummated is April 12, 2025. SMVR states that it expects to consummate its acquisition of, and commence common carrier operations over, the Lines on or after that date. 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 April 4, 2025 (at least seven days before the exemption becomes effective). All pleadings, referring to Docket No. FD 36846, 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 SMVR’s representative, Robert A. Wimbish, Fletcher & Sippel LLC, 29 North Wacker Drive, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606–3208. According to SMVR, this action is categorically excluded from environmental review under 49 CFR 1105.6(c) and from historic preservation reporting requirements under 49 CFR 1105.8(b). Board decisions and notices are available at www.stb.gov. route mileage in the current verified notice more accurately describe the scope of rail operations than was offered in 2006. VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:31 Mar 27, 2025 Jkt 265001 Decided: March 25, 2025. By the Board, Scott M. Zimmerman, Acting Director, Office of Proceedings. Tammy Lowery, Clearance Clerk. [FR Doc. 2025–05402 Filed 3–27–25; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4915–01–P SUSQUEHANNA RIVER BASIN COMMISSION Public Hearing Susquehanna River Basin Commission. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Susquehanna River Basin Commission will hold a public hearing on April 24, 2025. The Commission will hold this hearing in person and telephonically. At this public hearing, the Commission will hear testimony on the projects listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice. Such projects and actions are intended to be scheduled for Commission action at its next business meeting, tentatively scheduled for June 4, 2025, which will be noticed separately. The public should note that this public hearing will be the only opportunity to offer oral comments to the Commission for the listed projects and actions. The deadline for the submission of written comments is May 5, 2025. DATES: The public hearing will convene on April 24, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. The public hearing will end at 9:00 p.m. or at the conclusion of public testimony, whichever is earlier. The deadline for submitting written comments is Monday, May 5, 2025. ADDRESSES: This public hearing will be conducted in person and telephonically. You may attend in person at Susquehanna River Basin Commission, 4423 N Front St., Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, or join by telephone at Toll-Free Number 1–877–304–9269 and then enter the guest passcode 2619070 followed by #. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jason Oyler, General Counsel and Secretary to the Commission, telephone: (717) 238–0423 or joyler@srbc.gov. Information concerning the project applications is available at the Commission’s Water Application and Approval Viewer at https:// www.srbc.gov/waav. Additional supporting documents are available to inspect and copy in accordance with the Commission’s Access to Records Policy at www.srbc.gov/regulatory/policiesguidance/docs/access-to-records-policy2009-02.pdf. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00115 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 The public hearing will cover the following projects: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Projects Scheduled for Action 1. Project Sponsor: BlueTriton Brands, Inc. Project Facility: Big Spring, Spring Township, Centre County, Pa. Applications for consumptive use of up to 0.247 mgd (peak day) and an out-ofbasin diversion of up to 0.247 mgd (peak day). 2. Project Sponsor: Chester County Solid Waste Authority. Project Facility: Lanchester Landfill, Caernarvon and Salisbury Townships, Lancaster County, and Honey Brook Township, Chester County, Pa. Applications for renewal with modification of consumptive use of up to 0.099 mgd (30-day average) and an out-of-basin diversion of up to 0.099 mgd (30-day average) (Docket No. 20100602). Located in an Environmental Justice area. 3. Project Sponsor: Columbia Water Company. Project Facility: East Donegal Division, East Donegal Township, Lancaster County, Pa. Application for renewal of groundwater withdrawal of up to 0.324 mgd (30-day average) from Well 2 (Docket No. 19990702). 4. Project Sponsor and Facility: Expand Operating LLC (Susquehanna River), Great Bend Township, Susquehanna County, Pa. Application for renewal with modification of surface water withdrawal of up to 3.500 mgd (peak day) (Docket No. 20241214). 5. Project Sponsor and Facility: Expand Operating LLC (Susquehanna River), Mehoopany Township, Wyoming County, Pa. Application for renewal with modification of surface water withdrawal of up to 3.700 mgd (peak day) (Docket No. 20220602). 6. Project Sponsor and Facility: Fredericksburg Sewer and Water Authority, Bethel Township, Lebanon County, Pa. Applications for groundwater withdrawals (30-day averages) of up to 0.158 mgd from Well 7 and 0.144 mgd from Well 8. 7. Project Sponsor and Facility: Knoebels Three Ponds, Inc., Ralpho Township, Northumberland County, Pa. Application for consumptive use of up to 0.249 mgd (30-day average). 8. Project Sponsor: Mott’s LLP. Project Facility: Aspers Plant, Menallen Township, Adams County, Pa. Applications for renewal of groundwater withdrawals (30-day averages) of up to 0.181 mgd from Well 7, 0.165 mgd from Well 9, and 0.236 mgd from Well 10; renewal with modification to increase to 0.396 mgd from Well 11; and consumptive use of up to 0.990 mgd (peak day) (Docket Nos. 19940303 and 20010204). E:\FR\FM\28MRN1.SGM 28MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 59 (Friday, March 28, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14177-14178]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-05402]


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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

[Docket No. FD 36846]


Santa Maria Valley Railroad, LLC--Acquisition and Change of 
Operator Exemption--Railroad Lines of Coast Belle Rail, LLC, and Union 
Pacific Railroad Company, in Santa Barbara County, Cal.

    Santa Maria Valley Railroad, LLC (SMVR), a noncarrier, has filed a 
verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.31 to (1) acquire from 
Coast Belle Rail, LLC (CBRL), a rail line extending between milepost 
3.3 near Guadalupe (Betteravia Junction), Cal., and milepost 9.3 at 
Santa Maria, Cal., along with the connecting Airbase Branch extending 
between the wye at milepost 8.5/0.0 at Santa Maria and milepost 3.0 at 
Santa Maria (the CBRL Line); (2) acquire by assignment from Coast Belle 
Rail Corp. d/b/a Santa Maria Valley Railroad Company (Coast Belle) its 
leasehold interest in a rail line owned by Union Pacific Railroad 
Company (UP), extending between milepost 0.0 at Guadalupe, Cal., and 
milepost 3.3, along with the Betteravia Branch, extending between 
milepost 3.3 and milepost 4.8 at Betteravia, Cal. (the UP Line); and 
(3) replace Coast Belle as the common carrier service provider on the 
CBRL Line and UP Line (collectively, the Lines),\1\ thereby

[[Page 14178]]

terminating Coast Belle's current common carrier status with respect to 
the Lines. The verified notice states that SMVR, CBRL, and Coast Belle 
are completing agreement terms for the transaction.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ According to the verified notice, Coast Belle currently 
operates over the CBRL Line pursuant to an operating agreement with 
CBRL and over the UP Line pursuant to a lease agreement with UP. See 
Coast Belle Rail Corp.--Lease & Operation Exemption--Line of Coast 
Belle Rail, LLC, FD 34927 (STB served Oct. 17, 2006). SMVR states 
that the mileposts and total route mileages in the current verified 
notice differ in certain respects from those in the 2006 proceeding, 
and that the mileposts and route mileage in the current verified 
notice more accurately describe the scope of rail operations than 
was offered in 2006.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This transaction is related to a concurrently filed verified notice 
of exemption in OmniTRAX Holdings Combined, Inc.--Continuance in 
Control Exemption--Santa Maria Valley Railroad, Docket No. FD 36845, in 
which OmniTRAX Holdings Combined, Inc., and HGS Railway Holdings, Inc., 
seek to continue in control of SMVR upon SMVR's becoming a Class III 
rail carrier.
    SMVR certifies that it will not be contractually limited in its 
ability to interchange traffic with any third-party connecting carrier. 
SMVR further certifies that its projected annual revenues will not 
exceed $5 million and will not result in SMVR's becoming a Class I or 
Class II rail carrier. Under 49 CFR 1150.32(b), a change in operator 
requires that notice be given to shippers. SMVR states that it has 
provided notice to all customers on the Lines.
    The earliest this transaction may be consummated is April 12, 2025. 
SMVR states that it expects to consummate its acquisition of, and 
commence common carrier operations over, the Lines on or after that 
date.
    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 April 4, 2025 
(at least seven days before the exemption becomes effective).
    All pleadings, referring to Docket No. FD 36846, 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 
SMVR's representative, Robert A. Wimbish, Fletcher & Sippel LLC, 29 
North Wacker Drive, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606-3208.
    According to SMVR, this action is categorically excluded from 
environmental review under 49 CFR 1105.6(c) and from historic 
preservation reporting requirements under 49 CFR 1105.8(b).
    Board decisions and notices are available at www.stb.gov.

    Decided: March 25, 2025.

    By the Board, Scott M. Zimmerman, Acting Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Tammy Lowery,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2025-05402 Filed 3-27-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P
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