Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 118 / Friday, June 19, 1998 / Notices 33761

1MC certifies that its projected revenues will not

result in the creation of a Class II or Class I rail

carrier.

2BNSF classified the SEMSD as industrial

trackage, and, consequently, there are no mileposts

on the subject trackage.

each of these carriers is currently held

in independent voting trusts to avoid

any unlawful control pending

disposition of this proceeding.

Applicant submits that there will be

no transfer of any federal or state

operating authorities held by the

acquired carriers. Following the

consummation of the control

transaction, each of the acquired carriers

will continue operating in the same

manner as before and, according to

applicant, granting the application will

not reduce competitive options

available to the traveling public.

Applicant asserts that the acquired

carriers do not compete with one

another or, to any meaningful degree,

with any other Coach-controlled

company. Applicant submits that each

of the acquired carriers is relatively

small and each faces substantial

competition from other bus companies

and other transportation modes.

Applicant also submits that granting

the application will produce substantial

benefits, including interest cost savings

from the restructuring of debt and

reduced operating costs from Coach’s

enhanced volume purchasing power.

Specifically, applicant claims that the

carriers to be acquired will benefit from

lower insurance premiums negotiated

by Coach and from volume discounts for

equipment and fuel. Applicant indicates

that Coach will provide each of the

carriers to be acquired with centralized

legal and accounting functions and

coordinated purchasing services. In

addition, applicant states that vehicle

sharing arrangements will be facilitated

through Coach to ensure maximum use

and efficient operation of equipment

and that coordinated driver training

services will be provided. Applicant

also states that the proposed transaction

will benefit the employees of the

acquired carriers and that all collective

bargaining agreements will be honored

by Coach.

Coach plans to acquire control of

additional motor passenger carriers in

the coming months. It asserts that the

financial benefits and operating

efficiencies will be enhanced further by

these subsequent transactions. Over the

long term, Coach states that it will

provide centralized marketing and

reservation services for the bus firms

that it controls, thereby enhancing the

benefits resulting from these control

transactions.

Applicant certifies that: (1) Blue Bird,

Butler, Gad-About, and P&S hold

satisfactory safety ratings from the U.S.

Department of Transportation (DOT)

and that PTCS, S&O, Tippett, Tucker,

and Utica-Rome have not been rated by

DOT; (2) each of the acquired carriers

has sufficient liability insurance; (3)

none of the acquired carriers is either

domiciled in Mexico or owned or

controlled by persons of that country;

and (4) approval of the transaction will

not significantly affect either the quality

of the human environment or the

conservation of energy resources.

Additional information may be obtained

from applicant’s representatives.

Under 49 U.S.C. 14303(b), we must

approve and authorize a transaction we

find 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.

On the basis of the application, we

find that the proposed acquisition of

control is consistent with the public

interest and should be authorized. If any

opposing comments are timely filed,

this finding will be deemed vacated and

a procedural schedule will be adopted

to reconsider the application. 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 website at

‘‘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 acquisition of control

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

August 3, 1998, unless timely opposing

comments are filed.

4. A copy of this notice will be served

on the U.S. Department of Justice,

Antitrust Division, 10th Street &

Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington,

DC 20530.

Decided: June 10, 1998.

By the Board, Chairman Morgan and Vice

Chairman Owen.

Vernon A. Williams,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 98–16392 Filed 6–18–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4915–00–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Finance Docket No. 33606]

Minnesota Commercial Railway

Company—Acquisition and Operation

Exemption—Certain Lines of The

Burlington Northern and Santa Fe

Railway Company

Minnesota Commercial Railway

Company (MC), a Class III rail carrier,

has filed a notice of exemption under 49

CFR 1150.41 to acquire and operate

approximately 5 miles of rail line

owned by The Burlington Northern and

Santa Fe Railway Company (BNSF),

plus incidental trackage rights to reach

certain industries and MC’s own

trackage.1 The line is located in

Minneapolis, MN, known as the

Southeast Minneapolis Switching

District (SEMSD).2

The transaction was scheduled to be

consummated on or shortly after May

28, 1998.

If this 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 does not

automatically stay the transaction.

An original and 10 copies of all

pleadings, referring to STB Finance

Docket No. 33606, must be filed with

the Surface Transportation Board, Office

of the Secretary, Case Control Unit, 1925

K Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20423–

0001. In addition, a copy of each

pleading must be served on Eugenia

Langan, Esq., Shea & Gardner, 1800

Massachusetts Ave., N.W., Washington,

DC 20036.

Board decisions and notices are

available on our website at

‘‘WWW.STB.DOT.GOV.’’

Decided: June 11, 1998.

By the Board, David M. Konschnik,

Director, Office of Proceedings.

Vernon A. Williams,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 98–16317 Filed 6–18–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4915–00–P