[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 161 (Friday, August 21, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 42365]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-20086]



[[Page 42365]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Finance Docket No. 35279]


Wisconsin Central Ltd.--Trackage Rights Exemption--Illinois 
Central Railroad Company

    Pursuant to a written trackage rights agreement dated July 13, 
2009, Illinois Central Railroad Company (IC) has agreed to grant 
Wisconsin Central Ltd. (WCL) non-exclusive trackage rights over 23.6 
miles of IC's Joliet Subdivision between IC's connection with Indiana 
Harbor Belt Railroad Company at or near milepost 13.1 (CP Canal), at 
Argo, IL, and IC's connection with Union Pacific Railroad Company at or 
near milepost 36.7 (Jackson Street), at Joliet, IL.\1\
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    \1\ A redacted version of the trackage rights agreement between 
IC and WCL was filed with the notice of exemption. The full version 
of the agreement, as required by 49 CFR 1180.6(a)(7)(ii), was 
concurrently filed under seal along with a motion for protective 
order. The motion is being addressed in a separate decision.
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    WCL proposes to consummate the transaction on or about September 3, 
2009, but the earliest it may be consummated is September 4, 2009, the 
effective date of the exemption (30 days after the exemption was 
filed). The purpose of the trackage rights is to enable WCL to 
efficiently handle freight movements between Argo and Joliet, over IC's 
Joliet Subdivision. The transaction also extends to all industry spurs, 
connecting tracks and sidings now existent or hereafter constructed 
along the tracks to be used here, and right-of-way for the tracks to be 
used here, signals, interlocking devices and plants, telegraph and 
telephone lines, and other appurtenances necessary to the use of those 
tracks.
    This is one of 17 notices of exemption for trackage rights in the 
Chicago area submitted simultaneously by carrier subsidiaries of the 
Canadian National Railway Company (CN). We note that the involved lines 
of railroad were examined as part of the project area in Canadian 
National Railway Company and Grand Trunk Corporation--Control--EJ&E 
West Company, Finance Docket No. 35087 (STB served Dec. 24, 2008) (CN--
EJ&E). Neither CN nor any of the carriers submitting these notices has 
explained how the notices relate to each other, or how they would 
impact the information provided to the Board in CN--EJ&E. CN and its 
carrier subsidiaries are directed to submit this information, as well 
as a color-coded map showing all 17 proposed trackage rights 
exemptions, by August 21, 2009.
    As a condition to this exemption, any employee affected by the 
acquisition of 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 the 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. Stay petitions 
must be filed by August 28, 2009 (at least 7 days before the exemption 
becomes effective).
    Pursuant to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, Public Law 
110-161, Sec.  193, 121 Stat. 1844 (2007), nothing in this decision 
authorizes the following activities at any solid waste rail transfer 
facility: collecting, storing, or transferring solid waste outside of 
its original shipping container; or separating or processing solid 
waste (including baling, crushing, compacting, and shredding). The term 
``solid waste'' is defined in section 1004 of the Solid Waste Disposal 
Act, 42 U.S.C. 6903.
    An original and 10 copies of all pleadings, referring to STB 
Finance Docket No. 35279, must be filed with the Surface Transportation 
Board, 395 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20423-0001. In addition, a 
copy of each pleading must be served on Thomas J. Healey, Counsel--
Regulatory, CN, 17641 S. Ashland Avenue, Homewood, IL 60430.
    Board decisions and notices are available on our Web site at 
``http://www.stb.dot.gov.''
    It is ordered:
    The carriers filing this notice and CN are hereby directed to file 
by August 21, 2009: (1) An explanation of how this notice relates to 
the 16 other notices filed simultaneously by carrier subsidiaries of 
CN, (2) an explanation of how these notices would impact the 
operational information provided to the Board in CN--EJ&E, and (3) a 
color-coded map.

    Decided: August 17, 2009.

    By the Board, Rachel D. Campbell, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Kulunie L. Cannon,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. E9-20086 Filed 8-20-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P