Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 5 / Friday, January 8, 2021 / Notices 1561 

Bangladesh—Export Promotion Bureau. 

Belarus—Ministry of Finance—Precious 

Metals and Gemstones Department. 

Botswana—Ministry of Minerals, Green 

Technology and Energy Security— 

Diamond Hub. 

Brazil—Ministry of Mines and Energy— 

Secretariat of Geology, Mining and Mineral 

Processing—National Mining Agency. 

Cambodia—Ministry of Commerce. 

Cameroon—Ministry of Mines—National 

Permanent Secretariat for the Kimberley 

Process. 

Canada—Ministry of Natural Resources 

Canada. 

Central African Republic—Ministry of Mines, 

Energy and Hydraulics. 

China—General Administration of China 

Customs; in the Hong Kong Special 

Administrative Region: Trade and Industry 

Department (Exporting Authority), 

Customs and Exercise Department 

(Importing Authority). 

Congo, Democratic Republic of the—Ministry 

of Mines—The Center of Expertise, 

Evaluation and Certification of Precious 

and Semiprecious Mineral Substances. 

Congo, Republic of the—Ministry of Mines 

and Geology—Bureau of Expertise, 

Evaluation and Certification of Precious 

Mineral Substances. 

Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)—General 

Directorate of Customs. 

Eswatini—Office of the Commissioner of 

Mines. 

European Union—European Commission— 

Foreign Policy Instruments; in Belgium: 

Federal Public Service of Economy; in the 

Czech Republic: General Directorate of 

Customs; in Germany: Main Customs 

Office (Exporting Authority), General 

Directorate for Management VI (Importing 

Authority); In Ireland: the Kimberley 

Process and Responsible Minerals 

Authority—Exploration and Mining 

Division—Department of Communications, 

Climate Action and Environment; in 

Portugal: Tributary and Customs 

Authority—Licensing Services Directorate; 

in Romania: National Authority for 

Consumer Protection—General Department 

for Precious Metals, Precious Stones and 

the Kimberley Process. 

Gabon—Permanent Center for the Kimberley 

Process 

Ghana—Ministry of Lands and Natural 

Resources—Precious Minerals Marketing 

Company Limited. 

Guinea—Ministry of Mines and Geology. 

Guyana—Guyana Geology and Mines 

Commission. 

India—The Gem and Jewellery Export 

Promotion Council. 

Indonesia—Ministry of Trade—Director 

General for Foreign Trade. 

Israel—Ministry of Economy and Industry— 

Office of the Diamond Controller. 

Japan—Ministry of Economy, Trade and 

Industry—Agency for Natural Resources 

and Energy Trade and Economic 

Cooperation Bureau. 

Kazakhstan—Ministry for Investments and 

Development—Committee for Technical 

Regulation and Metrology. 

Korea, Republic of (South Korea)—Ministry 

of Trade, Industry and Energy. 

Laos—Ministry of Industry and Commerce— 

Department of Import and Export. 

Lebanon—Ministry of Economy and Trade. 

Lesotho—Ministry of Mining—Department of 

Mines—Diamond Control Office. 

Liberia—Ministry of Lands, Mines and 

Energy. 

Malaysia—Royal Malaysian Customs 

Department. 

Mali—Ministry of Mines—Office of 

Expertise, Evaluation and Certification of 

Rough Diamonds. 

Mauritius—Ministry of Industry, Commerce 

and Consumer Protection—Trade Division. 

Mexico—Ministry of Economy—DirectorateGeneral for International Trade in Goods. 

Namibia—Ministry of Mines and Energy— 

Directorate of Diamond Affairs. 

New Zealand—New Zealand Customs 

Service. 

Norway—Norwegian Customs Service. 

Panama—National Customs Authority. 

Russia—Ministry of Finance. 

Sierra Leone—National Minerals Agency, 

National Revenue Authority. 

Singapore—Ministry of Trade and Industry, 

Singapore Customs. 

South Africa—South African Diamond and 

Precious Metals Regulator. 

Sri Lanka—National Gem and Jewellery 

Authority. 

Switzerland—State Secretariat for Economic 

Affairs. 

Taipei—Ministry of Economic Affairs— 

Bureau of Foreign Trade—Import/Export 

Administration Division. 

Tanzania—Ministry of Energy and 

Minerals—Commissioner for Minerals. 

Thailand—Ministry of Commerce— 

Department of Foreign Trade. 

Togo—Ministry of Mines and Energy—Head 

Office of Mines and Geology. 

Turkey—Borsa Istanbul Precious Metals and 

Diamond Market. 

Ukraine—Ministry of Finance—State 

Gemmological Centre of Ukraine. 

United Arab Emirates—Dubai Multi 

Commodities Center Authority—U.A.E. 

Kimberley Process Office in the Dubai 

Airport Free Zone. 

United Kingdom—Foreign, Commonwealth & 

Development Office—Government 

Diamond Office. 

United States of America—United States 

Census Bureau (Exporting Authority), 

United States Customs and Border 

Protection (Importing Authority). 

Venezuela—Central Bank of Venezuela 

(Exporting Authority), National Customs 

and Tax Administration Integrated Service 

(Importing Authority). 

Vietnam—Ministry of Industry and Trade— 

Import Export Management Divisions in 

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. 

Zimbabwe—Minerals Marketing Corporation 

of Zimbabwe (Exporting Authority), 

Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Importing 

Authority). 

Peter D. Haas, 

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau 

of Economic and Business Affairs, 

Department of State. 

[FR Doc. 2021–00062 Filed 1–7–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4710–AE–P 

DEPARTMENT OF STATE 

[Public Notice 11296] 

Updating the State Department’s List 

of Entities and Subentities Associated 

With Cuba (Cuba Restricted List) 

Updated Publication of List of Entities 

and Subentities; Notice 

SUMMARY: The Department of State is 

publishing an update to its List of 

Restricted Entities and Subentities 

Associated With Cuba (Cuba Restricted 

List) with which direct financial 

transactions are generally prohibited 

under the Cuban Assets Control 

Regulations (CACR). The Department of 

Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and 

Security (BIS) generally will deny 

applications to export or reexport items 

for use by entities or subentities on the 

Cuba Restricted List. 

DATES: Effective on January 8, 2021. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Emily Belson, Office of Economic 

Sanctions Policy and Implementation, 

202–647–6526; Robert Haas, Office of 

the Coordinator for Cuban Affairs, tel.: 

202–453–8456, Department of State, 

Washington, DC 20520. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

On June 16, 2017, the President 

signed National Security Presidential 

Memorandum-5 on Strengthening the 

Policy of the United States Toward Cuba 

(NSPM–5). As directed by NSPM–5, on 

November 9, 2017, the Department of 

the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets 

Control (OFAC) published a final rule in 

the Federal Register amending the 

CACR, 31 CFR part 515, and the 

Department of Commerce’s Bureau of 

Industry and Security (BIS) published a 

final rule in the Federal Register 

amending, among other sections, the 

section of the Export Administration 

Regulations (EAR) regarding Cuba, 15 

CFR 746.2. The regulatory amendment 

to the CACR added § 515.209, which 

generally prohibits direct financial 

transactions with certain entities and 

subentities identified on the State 

Department’s Cuba Restricted List. The 

regulatory amendment to 15 CFR 746.2 

notes BIS will generally deny 

applications to export or re-export items 

for use by entities or subentities 

identified on the Cuba Restricted List. 

The State Department is now updating 

the Cuba Restricted list, as published 

below and available on the State 

Department’s website (https://

www.state.gov/cuba-sanctions/cubarestricted-list/) 

This update includes one additional 

subentity. This is the eighth update to 


tkelley on DSKBCP9HB2PROD with NOTICES
1562 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 5 / Friday, January 8, 2021 / Notices 

the Cuba Restricted List since it was 

published November 9, 2017 (82 FR 

52089). Previous updates were 

published November 15, 2018 (see 83 

FR 57523), March 9, 2019 (see 84 FR 

8939), April 24, 2019 (see 84 FR 17228), 

July 26, 2019 (see 84 FR 36154), 

November 19, 2019 (see 84 FR 63953), 

June 12, 2020 (see 85 FR 35972), a 

correction June 19, 2020 (85 FR 37146), 

and September 29, 2020 (85 FR 61079). 

The State Department will continue to 

update the Cuba Restricted List 

periodically. 

The publication of the updated Cuba 

Restricted List further implements the 

directive in paragraph 3(a)(i) of NSPM– 

5 to the Secretary of State to identify the 

entities or subentities, as appropriate, 

that are under the control of, or act for 

or on behalf of, the Cuban military, 

intelligence, or security services or 

personnel, and publish a list of those 

identified entities and subentities with 

which direct financial transactions 

would disproportionately benefit such 

services or personnel at the expense of 

the Cuban people or private enterprise 

in Cuba. 

Electronic Availability 

This document and additional 

information concerning the Cuba 

Restricted List are available from the 

Department of State’s website (https://

www.state.gov/cuba-sanctions/cubarestricted-list/). 

List of Restricted Entities and 

Subentities Associated With Cuba as of 

January 8, 2021 

Below is the U.S. Department of 

State’s list of entities and subentities 

under the control of, or acting for or on 

behalf of, the Cuban military, 

intelligence, or security services or 

personnel with which direct financial 

transactions would disproportionately 

benefit such services or personnel at the 

expense of the Cuban people or private 

enterprise in Cuba. For information 

regarding the prohibition on direct 

financial transactions with these 

entities, please see 31 CFR 515.209. All 

entities and subentities were listed 

effective November 9, 2017, unless 

otherwise indicated. 

* * * Entities or subentities owned or 

controlled by another entity or subentity 

on this list are not treated as restricted 

unless also specified by name on the 

list. * * * 

Ministries 

MINFAR — Ministerio de las Fuerzas 

Armadas Revolucionarias 

MININT — Ministerio del Interior 

Holding Companies 

CIMEX — Corporacio ́n CIMEX S.A. 

Compan ̃ı ́a Turı ́stica Habaguanex S.A. 

GAESA — Grupo de Administracio ́n 

Empresarial S.A. 

Gaviota — Grupo de Turismo Gaviota 

UIM — Unio ́n de Industria Militar 

Hotels in Havana and Old Havana 

Aparthotel Montehabana 

Gran Hotel Bristol Kempinski Effective 

November 15, 2019 

Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski 

H10 Habana Panorama 

Hostal Valencia 

Hotel Ambos Mundos 

Hotel Armadores de Santander 

Hotel Beltra ́n de Santa Cruz 

Hotel Conde de Villanueva 

Hotel del Tejadillo 

Hotel el Bosque 

Hotel el Comendador 

Hotel el Meso ́n de la Flota 

Hotel Florida 

Hotel Habana 612 

Hotel Kohly 

Hotel Los Frailes 

Hotel Marque ́s de Prado Ameno 

Hotel Marque ́s de Cardenas de 

Montehermoso Effective June 12, 2020 

Hotel Palacio Cueto Effective July 26, 

2019 

Hotel Palacio del Marque ́s de San Felipe 

y Santiago de Bejucal 

Hotel Palacio O’Farrill 

Hotel Park View 

Hotel Raquel 

Hotel Regis Effective June 12, 2020 

Hotel San Miguel 

Hotel Santa Isabel Effective April 24, 

2019 

Hotel Tele ́grafo 

Hotel Terral 

Iberostar Grand Packard Hotel Effective 

November 15, 2018 

Memories Miramar Havana 

Memories Miramar Montehabana 

SO/Havana Paseo del Prado Effective 

November 15, 2018 

Hotels in Santiago de Cuba 

Villa Gaviota Santiago 

Hotels in Varadero 

Blau Marina Varadero Resort 

also Fiesta Americana Punta Varadero 

Effective November 15, 2018 

also Fiesta Club Adults Only Effective 

March 12, 2019 

Grand Aston Varadero Resort Effective 

November 15, 2019 

Grand Memories Varadero 

Hotel El Caney Varadero Effective April 

24, 2019 

Hotel Las Nubes Effective November 15, 

2018 

Hotel Oasis Effective November 15, 2018 

Iberostar Bella Vista Effective November 

15, 2018 

Iberostar Laguna Azul 

Iberostar Playa Alameda 

Melia ́ Marina Varadero 

Melia ́ Marina Varadero Apartamentos 

Effective April 24, 2019 

Melia ́ Peninsula Varadero 

Memories Varadero 

Naviti Varadero 

Ocean Varadero El Patriarca 

Ocean Vista Azul 

Paradisus Princesa del Mar 

Paradisus Varadero 

Sol Sirenas Coral 

Hotels in Pinar del Rio 

Hotel Villa Cabo de San Antonio 

Hotel Villa Maria La Gorda y Centro 

Internacional de Buceo 

Hotels in Baracoa 

Hostal 1511 

Hostal La Habanera 

Hostal La Rusa 

Hostal Rio Miel 

Hotel El Castillo 

Hotel Porto Santo 

Villa Maguana 

Hotels in Cayos de Villa Clara 

Angsana Cayo Santa Marı ́a Effective 

November 15, 2018 

Dhawa Cayo Santa Marı ́a 

Grand Aston Cayo Las Brujas Beach 

Resort and Spa Effective November 

19, 2019 

Golden Tulip Aguas Claras Effective 

November 15, 2018 

Hotel Cayo Santa Marı ́a 

Hotel Playa Cayo Santa Marı ́a 

Iberostar Ensenachos 

Las Salinas Plana & Spa Effective 

November 15, 2018 

La Salina Noreste Effective November 

15, 2018 

La Salina Suroeste Effective November 

15, 2018 

Melia ́ Buenavista 

Melia ́ Cayo Santa Marı ́a 

Melia ́ Las Dunas 

Memories Azul 

Memories Flamenco 

Memories Paraı ́so 

Ocean Casa del Mar 

Paradisus Los Cayos Effective November 

15, 2018 

Royalton Cayo Santa Marı ́a 

Sercotel Experience Cayo Santa Marı ́a 

Effective November 15, 2018 

Sol Cayo Santa Marı ́a 

Starfish Cayo Santa Marı ́a Effective 

November 15, 2018 

Valentı ́n Perla Blanca Effective 

November 15, 2018 

Villa Las Brujas 

Warwick Cayo Santa Marı ́a 

also Labranda Cayo Santa Marı ́a Hotel 

Effective November 15, 2018 

Hotels in Holguı ́n 

Blau Costa Verde Beach & Resort 


tkelley on DSKBCP9HB2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 5 / Friday, January 8, 2021 / Notices 1563 

also Fiesta Americana Holguı ́n Costa 

Verde Effective November 15, 2018 

Hotel Playa Costa Verde 

Hotel Playa Pesquero 

Memories Holguı ́n 

Paradisus Rı ́o de Oro Resort & Spa 

Playa Costa Verde 

Playa Pesquero Premium Service 

Sol Rio de Luna y Mares 

Villa Cayo Naranjo 

Villa Cayo Saetia 

Villa Pinares de Mayari 

Hotels in Jardines del Rey 

Cayo Guillermo Resort Kempinski 

Effective July 26, 2019 

Grand Muthu Cayo Guillermo Effective 

November 15, 2018 

Gran Muthu Imperial Hotel Effective 

November 15, 2019 

Gran Muthu Rainbow Hotel Effective 

November 15, 2019 

Hotel Playa Coco Plus 

Iberostar Playa Pilar 

Melia ́ Jardines del Rey 

Memories Caribe 

Pestana Cayo Coco 

also Hotel Playa Paraiso Effective June 

12, 2020 

Hotels in Topes de Collantes 

Hostal Los Helechos 

Kurhotel Escambray Effective November 

15, 2018 

Los Helechos 

Villa Caburni 

Tourist Agencies 

Crucero del Sol 

Gaviota Tours 

Marinas 

Marina Gaviota Cabo de San Antonio 

(Pinar del Rio) 

Marina Gaviota Cayo Coco (Jardines del 

Rey) 

Marina Gaviota Las Brujas (Cayos de 

Villa Clara) 

Marina Gaviota Puerto Vita (Holguı ́n) 

Marina Gaviota Varadero (Varadero) 

Stores in Old Havana 

Casa del Abanico 

Coleccio ́n Habana 

Florerı ́a Jardı ́n Wagner 

Joyerı ́a Coral Negro—Additional 

locations throughout Cuba 

La Casa del Regalo 

San Ignacio 415 

Soldadito de Plomo 

Tienda El Navegante 

Tienda Mun ̃ ecos de Leyenda 

Tienda Museo El Reloj Cuervo y 

Sobrinos 

Entities Directly Serving the Defense 

and Security Sectors 

ACERPROT—Agencia de Certificacio ́n y 

Consultorı ́a de Seguridad y Proteccio ́n 

Alias Empresa de Certificacio ́n de 

Sistemas de Seguridad y Proteccio ́n 

Effective November 15, 2018 

AGROMIN—Grupo Empresarial 

Agropecuario del Ministerio del 

Interior 

APCI—Agencia de Proteccio ́n Contra 

Incendios 

CAHOMA—Empresa Militar Industrial 

Comandante Ernesto Che Guevara 

Casa Editorial Verde Olivo Effective July 

26, 2019 

CASEG—Empresa Militar Industrial 

Transporte Occidente 

CID NAV—Centro de Investigacio ́n y 

Desarrollo Naval 

CIDAI—Centro de Investigacio ́n y 

Desarrollo de Armamento de 

Infanterı ́a 

CIDAO—Centro de Investigacio ́n y 

Desarrollo del Armamento de 

Artillerı ́a e Instrumentos O ́ pticos y 

O ́ pticos Electro ́nicos 

CORCEL—Empresa Militar Industrial 

Emilio Barcenas Pier 

CUBAGRO—Empresa Comercializadora 

y Exportadora de Productos 

Agropecuarios y Agroindustriales 

DATYS—Empresa Para El Desarrollo De 

Aplicaciones, Tecnologı ́as Y Sistemas 

DCM TRANS—Centro de Investigacio ́n 

y Desarrollo del Transporte 

DEGOR—Empresa Militar Industrial 

Desembarco Del Granma 

DSE—Departamento de Seguridad del 

Estado 

Editorial Capita ́n San Luis Effective July 

26, 2019 

EMIAT—Empresa Importadora 

Exportadora de Abastecimientos 

Te ́cnicos 

Empresa Militar Industrial Astilleros 

Astimar 

Empresa Militar Industrial Astilleros 

Centro 

Empresa Militar Industrial Yuri Gagarin 

ETASE—Empresa de Transporte y 

Aseguramiento 

Ferreterı ́a TRASVAL 

GELCOM—Centro de Investigacio ́n y 

Desarrollo Grito de Baire 

Impresos de Seguridad 

MECATRONICS—Centro de 

Investigacio ́n y Desarrollo de 

Electro ́nica y Meca ́nica 

NAZCA—Empresa Militar Industrial 

Granma 

OIBS—Organizacio ́n Integracio ́n para el 

Bienestar Social 

PLAMEC—Empresa Militar Industrial 

Ignacio Agramonte 

PNR—Policı ́a Nacional Revolucionaria 

PROVARI—Empresa de Producciones 

Varias 

SEPSA—Servicios Especializados de 

Proteccio ́n 

SERTOD—Servicios de 

Telecomunicaciones a los O ́ rganos de 

la Defensa Effective November 15, 

2018 

SIMPRO—Centro de Investigacio ́n y 

Desarrollo de Simuladores 

TECAL—Empresa de Tecnologı ́as 

Alternativas 

TECNOPRO—Empresa Militar 

Industrial ‘‘G.B. Francisco Cruz 

Bourzac’’ 

TECNOTEX—Empresa Cubana 

Exportadora e Importadora de 

Servicios, Artı ́culos y Productos 

Te ́cnicos Especializados 

TGF—Tropas de Guardafronteras 

UAM—Unio ́n Agropecuaria Militar 

ULAEX—Unio ́n Latinoamericana de 

Explosivos 

XETID—Empresa de Tecnologı ́as de la 

Informacio ́n Para La Defensa 

YABO—Empresa Militar Industrial 

Coronel Francisco Aguiar Rodrı ́guez 

Additional Subentities of CIMEX 

ADESA/ASAT—Agencia Servicios 

Aduanales (Customs Services) 

American International Services 

(Remittances) Effective September 29, 

2020 

alias AIS Remesas Effective September 

29, 2020 

Cachito (Beverage Manufacturer) 

Contex (Fashion) 

Datacimex 

ECUSE—Empresa Cubana de Servicios 

FINCIMEX Effective June 19, 2020 

Inmobiliaria CIMEX (Real Estate) 

Inversiones CIMEX 

Jupin ̃ a (Beverage Manufacturer) 

La Maiso ́n (Fashion) 

Najita (Beverage Manufacturer) 

Publicitaria Imagen (Advertising) 

Residencial Tarara S.A. (Real Estate/ 

Property Rental) Effective November 

15, 2018 

Ron Caney (Rum Production) 

Ron Varadero (Rum Production) 

Telecable (Satellite Television) 

Tropicola 

(Beverage Manufacturer) 

Zona Especializada de Logı ́stica y 

Comercio (ZELCOM) 

Additional Subentities of GAESA 

Aerogaviota Effective April 24, 2019 

Almacenes Universales (AUSA) 

ANTEX—Corporacio ́n Antillana 

Exportadora 

Banco Financiero Internacional S.A. 

(BFI). Effective [date published in 

Federal Register] 

Compan ̃ı ́a Inmobiliaria Aurea S.A. 

Effective November 15, 2018 

Direccio ́n Integrada Proyecto Mariel 

(DIP) 

Empresa Inmobiliaria Almest (Real 

Estate) 

GRAFOS (Advertising) 

RAFIN S.A. (Financial Services) 

Sociedad Mercantin Inmobiliaria Caribe 

(Real Estate) 

TECNOIMPORT 


tkelley on DSKBCP9HB2PROD with NOTICES
1564 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 5 / Friday, January 8, 2021 / Notices 

1Based on a request from Argyle, the Board 

extended the due date for comments on the petition 

for an additional 20 days to July 7, 2020. 

2On July 13, 2020, the Center submitted a 

supplemental filing consisting of the references 

cited in its reply. 

Terminal de Contenedores de la Habana 

(TCH) 

Terminal de Contenedores de Mariel, 

S.A. 

UCM—Unio ́n de Construcciones 

Militares 

Zona Especial de Desarrollo Mariel 

(ZEDM) 

Zona Especial de Desarrollo y 

Actividades Logı ́sticas (ZEDAL) 

≤Additional Subentities of Gaviota 

AT Comercial 

Centro de Buceo Varadero Effective June 

12, 2020 

Centro Internacional de Buceo Gaviota 

Las Molas Effective June 12, 2020 

Delfinario Cayo Naranjo Effective June 

12, 2020 

Diving Center—Marina Gaviota Effective 

April 24, 2019 

Gaviota Hoteles Cuba Effective March 

12, 2019 

Hoteles Habaguanex Effective March 12, 

2019 

Hoteles Playa Gaviota Effective March 

12, 2019 

Manzana de Gomez 

Marinas Gaviota Cuba Effective March 

12, 2019 

PhotoService 

Plaza La Estrella Effective November 15, 

2018 

Plaza Las Dunas Effective November 15, 

2018 

Plaza Las Morlas Effective November 15, 

2018 

Plaza Las Salinas Effective November 

15, 2018 

Plaza Las Terrazas del Atardecer 

Effective November 15, 2018 

Plaza Los Flamencos Effective 

November 15, 2018 

Plaza Pesquero Effective November 15, 

2018 

Producciones TRIMAGEN S.A. (Tiendas 

Trimagen) 

Additional Subentities of Habaguanex 

Sociedad Mercantil Cubana Inmobiliaria 

Fenix S.A. (Real Estate) 

* * Activities in parentheticals are 

intended to aid in identification, but are 

only representative. All activities of 

listed entities and subentities are subject 

to the applicable prohibitions.* * 

Manisha Singh, 

Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Economic and 

Business Affairs, Department of State. 

[FR Doc. 2021–00061 Filed 1–7–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4710–29–P 

SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD 

[Docket No. FD 36284] 

Seven County Infrastructure 

Coalition—Rail Construction & 

Operation Exemption—In Utah, 

Carbon, Duchesne, and Uintah 

Counties, Utah 

On May 29, 2020, the Seven County 

Infrastructure Coalition (Coalition) filed 

a petition for exemption under 49 U.S.C. 

10502 from the prior approval 

requirements of 49 U.S.C. 10901 for 

authorization to construct and operate 

an approximately 85-mile rail line 

connecting two termini in the Uinta 

Basin near South Myton Bench, Utah, 

and Leland Bench, Utah, to the national 

rail network at Kyune, Utah. The 

Coalition asks that the Board issue a 

preliminary decision addressing the 

transportation aspects of the project 

while the environmental review is 

ongoing. 

The Board received filings both 

supporting and opposing the petition. 

Several government officials have filed 

in support, as discussed below. The 

opponents include the Center for 

Biological Diversity (Center), the Argyle 

Wilderness Preservation Alliance 

(Argyle), and numerous individuals. 

These commenters argue, among other 

things, that the requested preliminary 

decision is not appropriate, that the 

transportation aspects of the petition do 

not satisfy the section 10502 standards, 

and that the Board should reject the 

petition and require an application 

under section 10901. 

As discussed below, the Board 

concludes that an application is not 

necessary and that the requested 

approach of issuing a preliminary 

decision on the transportation merits is 

appropriate here. The Board 

preliminarily concludes, subject to 

completion of the ongoing 

environmental review, that the 

proposed transaction meets the statutory 

standards for exemption under section 

10502. This decision only addresses the 

transportation merits, however, and 

does not grant the exemption or allow 

construction to begin. After the Board 

has considered the potential 

environmental impacts associated with 

this proposal, and weighed those 

potential impacts with the 

transportation merits, it will issue a 

final decision either granting the 

exemption, with conditions, if 

appropriate, or denying it. 

Background 

The Coalition explains that it is an 

independent political subdivision of the 

State of Utah, whose member counties 

include Carbon, Daggett, Duchesne, 

Emery, San Juan, Sevier, and Uintah 

Counties. (Pet. 5.) It was formed to, 

among other things, identify and 

develop infrastructure projects that will 

promote resource utilization and 

development. (Id.) The Coalition is 

proposing to construct a rail line that 

would extend generally southwest from 

terminus points in the Uinta Basin to a 

connection with an existing rail line 

owned by Union Pacific Railroad 

Company (UP) near Kyune, Utah (the 

Whitmore Park Alternative). The rail 

line would generally parallel U.S. Route 

191 through Indian Canyon and would 

be located within Utah, Carbon, 

Duchesne, and Uintah Counties in Utah. 

(Id. at 8–9, 43.) 

The Coalition asserts that goods 

produced or consumed in the Uinta 

Basin today can be transported only by 

truck and that the proposed project 

would give shippers an additional 

freight transportation option, 

eliminating longstanding transportation 

constraints. (Pet. 13–15.) The Coalition 

claims that adding a rail transportation 

option would provide local industries 

the opportunity to access new markets 

and increase their competitiveness in 

the national marketplace, and the 

removal of transportation constraints 

would benefit oil producers, mining 

companies, ranchers, farmers, and other 

local industries. (Id. at 15.) 

The Coalition argues that regulation of 

the construction and operation of the 

proposed line under section 10901 is 

not needed to carry out the rail 

transportation policy (RTP) at 49 U.S.C. 

10101, that the project would promote 

several provisions of the RTP, and that 

an application under section 10901 is 

not required to protect shippers from an 

abuse of market power. (Pet. 21–22.) As 

noted above, the Coalition requests that, 

in considering the petition, the Board 

follow a two-step approach, addressing 

the transportation aspects of the project 

in advance of the environmental issues. 

(Id. at 26–28.) 1

On July 7, 2020, the Center filed a 

reply 2 arguing that the Coalition has 

failed to justify its request for a 

preliminary decision on the 

transportation merits and that the Board 

should reject the petition and require 

the Coalition to seek its authority 

through an application under section 

10901. (Ctr. Reply 1.) On the same day, 

Argyle also filed a reply, likewise 

arguing that the Board should reject the 


tkelley on DSKBCP9HB2PROD with NOTICES