[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 247 (Wednesday, December 23, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 84095]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-28275]



[[Page 84095]]

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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

[Docket No. FD 36457]


Watco Holdings, Inc.--Continuance in Control Exemption--Dutchtown 
Southern Railroad, L.L.C.

    Watco Holdings, Inc. (Watco), a noncarrier, has filed a verified 
notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1180.2(d)(2) to continue in control of 
Dutchtown Southern Railroad, L.L.C. (DUSR), a noncarrier controlled by 
Watco, upon DUSR's becoming a Class III rail carrier.
    This transaction is related to a verified notice of exemption filed 
concurrently in Dutchtown Southern Railroad, L.L.C.--Lease & Operation 
Exemption--Illinois Central Railroad Company, Docket No. FD 36456, in 
which DUSR seeks to lease from Illinois Central Railroad Company and 
operate approximately 9,285 feet of track known as the Rubber Lead 
Track, in Geismar, Ascension Parish, La.
    The transaction may be consummated on or after January 8, 2021, the 
effective date of the exemption (30 days after the verified notice was 
filed).
    According to the verified notice of exemption, Watco currently 
controls indirectly 38 Class III railroads and one Class II railroad, 
collectively operating in 27 states. For a complete list of these rail 
carriers and the states in which they operate, see the Appendix to 
Watco's December 9, 2020 verified notice of exemption. The verified 
notice is available at www.stb.gov.
    Watco represents that: (1) The rail line to be leased and operated 
by DUSR does not connect with the rail lines of any of the rail 
carriers controlled by Watco; (2) this transaction is not part of a 
series of anticipated transactions that would connect DUSR with any 
railroad in the Watco corporate family; and (3) the transaction does 
not involve a Class I rail carrier. The proposed transaction is 
therefore exempt from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 
11323 pursuant to 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. Because the transaction involves the 
control of one Class II and one or more Class III rail carriers, the 
transaction is subject to the labor protection requirements of 49 
U.S.C. 11326(b) and Wisconsin Central Ltd.--Acquisition Exemption--
Lines of Union Pacific Railroad, 2 S.T.B. 218 (1997).
    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 December 31, 
2020 (at least seven days before the exemption becomes effective).
    All pleadings, referring to Docket No. FD 36457, should be filed 
with the Surface Transportation Board via e-filing on the Board's 
website. In addition, one copy of each pleading must be served on 
Watco's representative, Robert A. Wimbish, Fletcher & Sippel LLC, 29 
North Wacker Drive, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606-3208.
    According to Watco, 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: December 17, 2020.

    By the Board, Allison C. Davis, Director, Office of Proceedings.
Kenyatta Clay,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2020-28275 Filed 12-22-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P