67624 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 222 / Thursday, November 18, 2004 / Notices 

1See KBUS Holdings, LLC—Acquisition of Assets 

and Business Operations—All West Coachlines, 

Inc., et al., STB Docket No. MC–F–21000 (STB 

served July 23, 2003).

Historic Preservation Act of 1966, 

Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department of 

Transportation Act, and Executive 

Orders on Environmental Stewardship 

and Transportation Infrastructure 

Project Reviews, Environmental Justice, 

Floodplain Management, and Protection 

of Wetlands. 

Upon completion, the Draft EIS will 

be distributed for public and agency 

review and comment. A public hearing 

on the Draft EIS will be held within the 

study area. Based on the Draft EIS and 

the public and agency comments 

received, FTA and DLNR may further 

refine and analyze the alternatives in 

the Final EIS.

Issued on: November 10, 2004. 

Leslie T. Rogers, 

Regional Administrator.

[FR Doc. 04–25591 Filed 11–17–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–57–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board 

[STB Docket No. MC–F–21011] 

CUSA FL, LLC d/b/a Franciscan 

Lines—Acquisition of Assets and 

Business Operations—Pacific Coast 

Bus Service, Inc.

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board, 

DOT.

ACTION: Notice tentatively approving 

finance transaction. 

SUMMARY: CUSA FL, LLC d/b/a 

Franciscan Lines (CUSA FL or 

applicant), a motor passenger carrier 

controlled by CUSA, LLC (CUSA), has 

filed an application under 49 U.S.C. 

14303 to acquire control and operate 

certain assets of Pacific Coast Bus 

Service, Inc. (Pacific Coast or seller), a 

motor passenger carrier. The transaction 

was approved on an interim basis under 

49 U.S.C. 14303(i), and the Board is now 

tentatively granting permanent 

approval. Persons wishing to oppose 

this application must follow the rules at 

49 CFR 1182.5 and 1182.8. If no 

opposing comments are timely filed, 

this notice will be the final Board 

action.

DATES: Comments must be filed by 

January 3, 2005. Applicant may file a 

reply by January 18, 2005. If no 

comments are filed by January 3, 2005, 

this notice is effective on that date.

ADDRESSES: Send an original and 10 

copies of any comments referring to STB 

Docket No. MC–F–21011 to: Surface 

Transportation Board, 1925 K Street, 

NW., Washington, DC 20423–0001. In 

addition, send one copy of any 

comments to applicant’s representative: 

Stephen Flott, Flott & Co. PC, PO Box 

17655, Arlington, VA 22216–7655.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric 

S. Davis, (202) 565–1608. [Federal 

Information Relay Service (FIRS) for the 

hearing impaired: 1–800–877–8339.]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: CUSA, 

CUSA FL’s parent company, controls 

over 20 Federal Motor Carrier Safety 

Administration (FMCSA) registered 

motor passenger carriers, and, in turn, is 

wholly owned by KBUS Holdings, LLC 

(KBUS), a noncarrier. KBUS acquired 

control of over 30 motor passenger 

carriers formerly owned by Coach USA, 

Inc., and then consolidated those 

entities into the motor passenger 

carriers now controlled by CUSA.1

These carriers operate more than 1,000 

coaches and 600 other revenue vehicles 

in 35 states. Annual revenues for the 

companies controlled by CUSA for 2004 

are forecast to be $220 million.

Applicant has entered into an 

agreement with Pacific Coast to buy 

Pacific Coast’s assets, including 

vehicles, and its business operations. 

CUSA FL holds motor common carrier 

passenger authority for charter and 

special operations and for regular route 

operations and contract carrier authority 

under MC–463273. Once this 

transaction is consummated, the Federal 

operating authority currently held by 

seller will be surrendered. 

Under 49 U.S.C. 14303(b), the Board 

must approve and authorize a 

transaction found to be consistent with 

the public interest, taking into 

consideration at least: (1) The effect of 

the transaction on the adequacy of 

transportation to the public; (2) the total 

fixed charges that result; and (3) the 

interest of affected carrier employees. 

Applicant has submitted information, 

as required by 49 CFR 1182.2, including 

information to demonstrate that the 

proposed transaction is consistent with 

the public interest under 49 U.S.C. 

14303(b). Specifically, applicant states 

that service to the public will be 

enhanced in that applicant will employ 

the acquired assets and personnel of 

seller to expand its service, and that the 

proposed transaction will ensure that 

there is no cessation in seller’s 

operations. Also, CUSA FL states that 

the proposed transaction will have no 

effect on fixed charges or employees. 

Applicant states that all qualified 

Pacific Coast employees who desire 

employment will be offered 

employment with CUSA FL. CUSA FL 

asserts that the proposed transaction 

will allow CUSA to extend its 

advantages of volume purchasing power 

in areas such as equipment and fuel to 

this new acquisition. Additional 

information, including a copy of the 

application, may be obtained from 

applicant’s representative. 

On the basis of the application, the 

Board finds that the proposed 

transaction is consistent with the public 

interest and should be authorized. If any 

opposing comments are timely filed, 

this finding will be deemed vacated 

and, unless a final decision can be made 

on the record as developed, a 

procedural schedule will be adopted to 

reconsider the application. See 49 CFR 

1182.6(c). If no opposing comments are 

filed by the expiration of the comment 

period, this decision will take effect 

automatically and will be the final 

Board action.

Board decisions and notices are 

available on our Web site at http://

www.stb.dot.gov.

This decision will not significantly 

affect either the quality of the human 

environment or the conservation of 

energy resources. 

It is ordered:

1. The proposed finance transaction is 

approved and authorized, subject to the 

filing of opposing comments. 

2. If timely opposing comments are 

filed, the findings made in this decision 

will be deemed vacated. 

3. This decision will be effective on 

January 3, 2005, unless timely opposing 

comments are filed. 

4. A copy of this notice will be served 

on: (1) The U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier 

Safety Administration, 400 7th Street, 

SW., Room 8214, Washington, DC 

20590; (2) the U.S. Department of 

Justice, Antitrust Division, 10th Street & 

Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., 

Washington, DC 20530; and (3) the U.S. 

Department of Transportation, Office of 

the General Counsel, 400 7th Street, 

SW., Washington, DC 20590.

Decided: November 12, 2004.

By the Board, Chairman Nober, Vice 

Chairman Mulvey, and Commissioner 

Buttrey. 

Vernon A. Williams, 

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 04–25611 Filed 11–17–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4915–01–P