80374 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 221 / Friday, November 17, 2023 / Notices 

1Additional information about the carriers, 

including U.S. Department of Transportation 

(USDOT) numbers, motor carrier numbers, and 

USDOT safety fitness ratings, can be found in the 

application. (See Appl. 1–3, 9 (pdf pages 3–5, 11).) 

Counsel, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 

Washington, DC 20590. 

Decided: November 8, 2023. 

By the Board, Board Members Fuchs, 

Hedlund, Oberman, Primus, and Schultz. 

Stefan Rice, 

Clearance Clerk. 

[FR Doc. 2023–25391 Filed 11–16–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4915–01–P 

SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD 

[Docket No. FD 36733] 

Buckingham Branch Railroad 

Company—Acquisition Exemption— 

Norfolk Southern Railway Company 

Buckingham Branch Railroad 

Company (BBRR), a Class III rail carrier, 

has filed a verified notice of exemption 

under 49 CFR 1150.41 to acquire from 

Norfolk Southern Railway Company 

(NSR) approximately 58.1 route miles of 

railroad line extending from milepost 

F86.0 at Burkeville, Va., to milepost 

F65.8 at Keysville, Va. (historically 

known as the F Line), and from milepost 

D0.0 at Keysville to milepost D37.9 at 

Clarksville, Va. (historically known as 

the D Line) (collectively, the Lines). 

According to the verified notice, 

except for a portion of the F Line 

between milepost F86.0 and F84.8 at or 

near Burkeville, BBRR has operated the 

Lines pursuant to a lease since 2009. 

BBRR states that the parties have agreed 

in principle to the sale of the Lines from 

NSR to BBRR under the terms of a draft 

transaction agreement. The verified 

notice also states that BBRR intends to 

consummate the subject transaction on 

or after the effective date of this 

exemption, and that BBRR will provide 

all rail common carrier service on the 

Lines. 

BBRR certifies that the transaction 

agreement does not have an interchange 

commitment. BBRR further certifies that 

its projected annual revenues will not 

result in BBRR’s becoming a Class I or 

Class II rail carrier, but that its annual 

revenues currently exceed $5 million 

and are expected to continue to exceed 

$5 million following its acquisition of 

the Lines. Pursuant to 49 CFR 

1150.42(e), if a carrier’s projected 

annual revenues will exceed $5 million, 

it must, at least 60 days before the 

exemption is to become effective, post a 

notice of its intent to undertake the 

proposed transaction at the workplace 

of the employees on the affected lines, 

serve a copy of the notice on the 

national offices of the labor unions with 

employees on the affected lines, and 

certify to the Board that it has done so. 

On October 6, 2023, BBRR certified that 

it had complied with those advance 

notice requirements. 

The transaction may be consummated 

on or after December 8, 2023, the 

effective date of the exemption (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 December 1, 2023. 

All pleadings, referring to Docket No. 

FD 36733, 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, one copy of each pleading 

must be served on BBRR’s 

representative, Bradon J. Smith, Fletcher 

& Sippel LLC, 29 North Wacker Drive, 

Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606. 

According to BBRR, 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: November 14, 2023. 

By the Board, Mai T. Dinh, Director, Office 

of Proceedings. 

Jeffrey Herzig, 

Clearance Clerk. 

[FR Doc. 2023–25492 Filed 11–16–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4915–01–P 

SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD 

[Docket No. MCF 21112] 

TBL Group, Inc.—Acquisition of 

Control—East Coast Transportation 

Company of North Florida LLC 

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board. 

ACTION: Notice tentatively approving 

and authorizing finance transaction. 

SUMMARY: On October 19, 2023, TBL 

Group, Inc. (TBL Group or Applicant), 

a holding company, filed an application 

to acquire substantially all of the 

business operations and assets of East 

Coast Transportation Company of North 

Florida LLC (East Coast Transportation 

or Seller). The Board is tentatively 

approving and authorizing the 

transaction, and, if no opposing 

comments are timely filed, this notice 

will be the final Board action. 

DATES: Comments may be filed by 

January 2, 2024. If any comments are 

filed, TBL Group may file a reply by 

January 16, 2024. If no opposing 

comments are filed by January 2, 2024, 

this notice shall be effective on January 

3, 2024. 

ADDRESSES: Comments may be filed 

with the Board either via e-filing at 

www.stb.gov/proceedings-actions/efiling/other-filings/ or in writing 

addressed to: Surface Transportation 

Board, 395 E Street SW, Washington, DC 

20423–0001. Comments must reference 

Docket No. MCF 21112. In addition, one 

copy of comments must be sent to TBL 

Group’s representative: Barry Lewis, 

United States Transit Funding, Inc., P.O. 

Box 2563, Ormond Beach, FL 32175. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Amy Ziehm at (202) 245–0391. If you 

require an accommodation under the 

Americans with Disabilities Act, please 

call (202) 245–0245. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: According 

to the application, TBL Group is a 

domestic for-profit incorporated entity 

headquartered in the state of Texas. TBL 

Group has been in operation since 2015 

and has two wholly owned subsidiaries, 

GBJ, Inc. and Echo Tours & Charters LP, 

which primarily provide charter, tour, 

and local intercity and intracity 

transportation in the Houston-DallasSan Antonio, Texas corridor, as well as 

the Jacksonville, North Florida market. 

(Appl. 1–2 (pdf pages 3–4).) According 

to Applicant, its subsidiaries currently 

operate 189 commercial motor vehicles 

in the above-mentioned markets.1 (Id. at 

2 (pdf page 4).) 

East Coast Transportation is an S 

Corporation with its principal place of 

business located in the state of Florida. 

(Id.) According to the application, East 

Coast Transportation is federally 

registered to provide passenger-carrier 

motor services and has been in 

operation for 14 years, providing charter 

service in Florida and other parts of the 

Southeast United States. (Id.) East Coast 

Transportation operates 23 

motorcoaches and currently has no 

parent, subsidiary, or affiliate 

companies. (Id.) TBL Group clarified by 

letter filed October 30, 2023, that, 

through the proposed transaction, Seller 

intends to transfer 80% ownership and 

control of East Coast Transportation to 

TBL Group, under the name Echo East 

Coast Transportation, LLC (Echo East 

Coast Transportation), and Robert M. 

Sobol, Chief Executive Officer of East 

Coast Transportation, will hold 20% 

ownership of the company. (TBL Group 

Letter 1, Oct. 30, 2023.) 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 221 / Friday, November 17, 2023 / Notices 80375 

1Persons interested in submitting an OFA must 

first file a formal expression of intent to file an 

Continued 

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

must approve and authorize a 

transaction that it finds consistent with 

the public interest, taking into 

consideration at least (1) the effect of the 

proposed transaction on the adequacy of 

transportation to the public, (2) the total 

fixed charges that result, and (3) the 

interest of affected carrier employees. 

TBL Group has submitted the 

information 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), see 49 CFR 

1182.2(a)(7), and a jurisdictional 

statement under 49 U.S.C. 14303(g) that 

the aggregate gross operating revenues 

of TBL Group and East Coast 

Transportation exceeded $2 million 

during the 12-month period 

immediately preceding the filing of the 

application, see 49 CFR 1182.2(a)(5). 

TBL Group asserts that the transaction 

is consistent with the public interest. 

TBL Group states that the transaction is 

not expected to have a material, 

detrimental impact on the adequacy of 

transportation services available for the 

public, but rather it anticipates that 

public services will be improved as 

operating efficiencies will ‘‘enable the 

carriers to provide service across a 

broad geographic area.’’ (Appl. 5 (pdf 

page 7).) With respect to fixed charges, 

TBL Group asserts that the restructuring 

of day-to-day operations will allow the 

Applicant to lower operational costs 

and continue to provide affordable 

passenger-carrier transportation 

services. (Id. at 7 (pdf page 9).) Further, 

TBL Group anticipates that there will be 

no overall negative impact to employees 

as a result of the transaction. According 

to TBL Group, the transaction will 

enable the parties to consolidate some 

headquarters and administrative 

personnel. (Id.) TBL Group, asserts, 

however, that labor force additions in 

higher paying sales and field operations 

in multiple cities will offset any 

personnel contraction across Texas and 

Florida. (Id.) TBL Group notes that, 

‘‘while the current goal of the 

transaction is to maximize utilization 

with fewer vehicles, over time the 

companies will be able to grow by 

taking advantage of economies of scale, 

better financial terms, and increased 

buying power, resulting in additions to 

driver and non-driver personnel.’’ (Id.) 

Lastly, TBL Group asserts that the 

transaction will not have a material, 

adverse effect on competition. 

According to TBL Group, the areas 

served by the carriers are subject to 

robust competition. (Id.) Specifically, 

TBL Group states that the Jacksonville, 

Florida market has over 20 interstate 

transportation providers offering charter 

and tour service. (Id.) TBL Group 

estimates that interstate and intrastate 

carriers in the Jacksonville, Florida 

market generate over $75 million in 

annual revenues and operate 

approximately 800 vehicles, including 

sedans, mini buses, and motor coaches. 

(Id. at 7–8 (pdf pages 9–10).) After the 

transaction, TBL Group states that the 

combined revenues of Echo East Coast 

Transportation will be less than 10% of 

$75 million and will account for less 

than five percent of the vehicles in the 

local market. (Id. at 8 (pdf page 10.) 

Thus, TBL Group asserts that the 

applicable carriers are largely separate 

and distinct, with a small amount of 

overlap in the larger markets, and do not 

plan on significantly altering their 

current operations, but merely wish to 

take advantage of efficiencies gained 

through working under one corporate 

structure. (Id. at 7–8 (pdf pages 8–9).) 

The Board finds that the acquisition 

as proposed in the application is 

consistent with the public interest and 

should be tentatively approved and 

authorized. If any opposing comments 

are timely filed, these findings 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. If no 

opposing comments are filed by 

expiration of the comment period, this 

notice will take effect automatically and 

will be the final Board action. Persons 

wishing to oppose the application must 

follow the rules at 49 CFR 1182.5 and 

1182.8. 

This action is categorically excluded 

from environmental review under 49 

CFR 1105.6(c). 

Board decisions and notices are 

available at www.stb.gov. 

It is ordered: 

1. The proposed transaction is 

approved and authorized, subject to the 

filing of opposing comments. 

2. If opposing comments are timely 

filed, the findings made in this notice 

will be deemed vacated. 

3. This notice will be effective January 

3, 2024, unless opposing comments are 

filed by January 2, 2024. If any 

comments are filed, TBL Group may file 

a reply by January 16, 2024. 

4. A copy of this notice will be served 

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

Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier 

Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE, 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, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 

Washington, DC 20590. 

Decided: November 9, 2023. 

By the Board, Board Members Fuchs, 

Hedlund, Oberman, Primus, and Schultz. 

Jeffrey Herzig, 

Clearance Clerk. 

[FR Doc. 2023–25491 Filed 11–16–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4915–01–P 

SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD 

[Docket No. AB 55 (Sub-No. 813X)] 

CSX Transportation, Inc.- 

Abandonment Exemption—in 

Worcester, Mass. 

CSX Transportation, Inc. (CSXT), has 

filed a verified notice of exemption 

under 49 CFR part 1152 subpart F— 

Exempt Abandonments to abandon an 

approximately 0.38-mile rail line that 

runs between milepost QBU 4.2 and 

milepost QBU 4.58, on its Albany 

Division, Boston Subdivision, Fitchburg 

Branch, in Worcester, Mass. (the Line). 

The Line traverses U.S. Postal Service 

Zip Code 01453. 

CSXT has certified that: (1) no local 

freight traffic has moved over the Line 

during the past two years; (2) any 

overhead traffic on the Line can be 

rerouted over other lines; (3) no formal 

complaint filed by a user of rail service 

on the Line (or by a state or local 

government on behalf of such user) 

regarding cessation of service over the 

Line is pending with either the Surface 

Transportation Board (Board) or any 

U.S. District Court or has been decided 

in favor of a complainant within the 

two-year period; and (4) the 

requirements at 49 CFR 1105.7(b) and 

1105.8(c) (notice of environmental and 

historic reports), 49 CFR 1105.12 

(newspaper publication), and 49 CFR 

1152.50(d)(1) (notice to government 

agencies) have been met. 

As a condition to this exemption, any 

employee adversely affected by the 

abandonment shall be protected under 

Oregon Short Line Railroad— 

Abandonment Portion Goshen Branch 

Between Firth & Ammon, in Bingham & 

Bonneville Counties, Idaho, 360 I.C.C. 

91 (1979). To address whether this 

condition adequately protects affected 

employees, a petition for partial 

revocation under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d) 

must be filed. 

Provided no formal expression of 

intent to file an offer of financial 

assistance (OFA) has been received,1


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES