1220 Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 4 / Tuesday, January 7, 2025 / Notices 

1Carload controls Allegheny Valley Railroad 

Company and Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad 

Company. See Carload Express, Inc.—Continuance 

in Control Exemption—Delmarva Cent. R.R., FD 

36072 (STB served Dec. 2, 2016); see also Katahdin 

Railcar Servs. LLC—Change in Operators 

Exemption—Ohio Terminal Ry., FD 36487 (STB 

served Mar. 30, 2021). 

2According to Carload, MDDE and DCR connect 

at Townsend, Seaford, and Frankford, Delaware. 

(Pet. 3.) 

3 DCR filed a verified notice of exemption for the 

proposed acquisition, and notice of the exemption 

was served and published in the Federal Register 

on October 4, 2024 (89 FR 80982). See Delmarva 

Cent. R.R.—Acquis. Exemption—Line of the Md. & 

Del. R.R., FD 36805, slip op. at 1 (STB served Oct. 

4, 2024) (noting DCR stated that it would operate 

the Snow Hill North Line). According to the 

petition, following DCR’s proposed acquisition of 

the Snow Hill North Line and Old Line’s proposed 

acquisition of the Snow Hill South Line, ‘‘the 

current DCR–MDDE interchange at Frankford will 

be replaced by a DCR-Old Line interchange at 

Selbyville.’’ (Pet. 4 n.10.) 

4Carload states that these lines are owned by the 

Maryland Transit Administration and are operated 

by MDDE pursuant to a modified certificate of 

public convenience and necessity. (Pet. 3); see Md. 

& Del. R.R.—Modified Rail Certificate, FD 29830 

(ICC served Feb. 9, 1982). 

foreign delegations would be safe while 

there. 

Presentations and Site Visits: After an 

initial review of all proposals in 

February 2025, to include a virtual 

presentation in early-to-mid February, 

cities will be identified to move to the 

next round of review. Prior to final 

selection, the Office of the Chief of 

Protocol at the Department of State may 

also request a site visit of the city to 

review the venues and meet with city 

officials who are part of the proposal. 

(Authority: 22 U.S.C. 2651a, 2656; 5 U.S.C. 

552(a)) 

Tara A. Juliard, 

Senior Protocol Officer, Office of the Chief 

of Protocol, Major Events Division, 

Department of State. 

[FR Doc. 2025–00018 Filed 1–6–25; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4710–20–P 

SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD 

[Docket No. FD 36807] 

Carload Express, Inc.—Control 

Exemption—The Maryland and 

Delaware Railroad Company 

By petition filed on October 30, 2024, 

Carload Express, Inc. (Carload), a 

noncarrier, seeks an exemption under 

49 U.S.C. 10502 from the prior approval 

requirements of 49 U.S.C. 11323 to 

acquire control of The Maryland and 

Delaware Railroad Company (MDDE), a 

Class III rail carrier, through the 

purchase of the outstanding equity 

shares in MDDE from Old Line 

Holdings, Inc. (Old Line). As discussed 

below, the Board will grant Carload’s 

petition for exemption. 

Background 

MDDE, a wholly owned subsidiary of 

Old Line, is a Class III rail carrier that 

operates three unconnected rail lines 

between Delaware and Maryland: (1) the 

Centreville/Chesterton Line extending 

from milepost 1.0 at Townsend, Del., to 

milepost 34.0 at Centreville, Md., and 

from milepost 0.0 (milepost 9.3 on the 

Centreville segment) at Massey, Md., to 

milepost 18.82 at Worton, Md.; (2) the 

Seaford Line extending from milepost 

2.3 at Seaford, Del., to milepost 24.24 at 

Linkwood, Md.; and (3) the Snow Hill 

Line extending from milepost 39.0 at 

Frankford, Del., to milepost 65.7 at 

Snow Hill, Md., which MDDE also 

owns. (Id. at 3); see Md. & Del. R.R.— 

Acquis. Exemption—Snow Hill Shippers 

Ass’n, Inc., FD 33772 (STB served Feb. 

24, 2000). 

Carload is a noncarrier holding 

company that currently controls three 

Class III rail carriers: two operating in 

southwestern Pennsylvania,1 and the 

Delmarva Central Railroad Company 

(DCR), which leases or operates 

approximately 187 miles of rail line on 

the Delmarva Peninsula in Delaware, 

Maryland, and Virginia. (Pet. 1–2.) 

According to Carload, DCR operates a 

rail line that connects with each of the 

rail lines operated by MDDE,2 and 

therefore the proposed control 

transaction does not qualify for the class 

exemption under 49 CFR 1180.2(d)(2). 

(Pet. 1, 3.) 

Concurrent with Carload’s petition, 

Old Line filed a verified notice of 

exemption to acquire from MDDE and 

operate an approximately 23.7-mile 

portion of the Snow Hill Line (Snow 

Hill South Line). Verified Notice, Old 

Line Holding Co.—Acquis. & Operation 

Exemption—Line of the Md. & Del. R.R., 

FD 36806. Notice of the exemption was 

served and published in the Federal 

Register on November 15, 2024 (89 FR 

90343). According to the petition, Old 

Line’s acquisition of the Snow Hill 

South Line from MDDE would occur 

immediately prior to Carload’s 

acquisition of MDDE from Old Line, 

pursuant to a purchase agreement dated 

August 1, 2024. (Pet. 1, 4.) The purchase 

agreement also contemplates that DCR 

would acquire from MDDE the 

remaining three-mile portion of the 

Snow Hill Line (Snow Hill North Line).3

(Pet. 4.) In the petition, Carload explains 

that the structure of the transactions 

‘‘accommodates certain tax treatment of 

the Snow Hill North Line acquisition’’ 

and would divide ownership of the 

Snow Hill Line between DCR and Old 

Line. (Id.) Carload states that, after it 

acquires control of MDDE, MDDE would 

continue operating the Centreville/ 

Chesterton and Seaford Lines.4 (Pet. 4.) 

According to Carload, upon 

consummation of the proposed 

transaction, the rail operations of MDDE 

and DCR would be closely coordinated 

and MDDE’s operations would be 

supported by Carload and DCR. (Id. at 

5.) Carload states that it does not 

anticipate service level changes on the 

Centreville/Chesterton and Seaford 

Lines. (Id.) Carload also states that the 

proposed transaction would not result 

in any shipper losing rail service or 

existing competitive options. (Id.) 

According to Carload, DCR serves as 

MDDE’s sole physical link to the 

remainder of the national rail system 

and all traffic currently moving over 

MDDE also moves over DCR’s rail line, 

which would continue after Carload 

acquires control of MDDE. (Id. at 3, 5.) 

Carload also states that the proposed 

transaction would not alter the 

arrangement that, as handling carriers 

for Norfolk Southern Railway Company 

(NSR), MDDE and DCR do not control 

pricing on interline traffic with NSR. 

(Id. at 4–5.) 

Carload states that the proposed 

transaction would ‘‘bring to MDDE the 

strengths and resources of an 

established short-line operator’’ while 

preserving MDDE’s current service. (Id. 

at 7.) Carload further states that the 

proposed transaction would permit 

coordination between the rail carriers, 

thereby ‘‘enhancing effective rail 

management and the economic benefits 

of MDDE’s service.’’ (Id.) According to 

Carload, the proposed transaction 

would not adversely impact 

competition, as MDDE and DCR do not 

serve common industries where they 

connect. (Id. at 8.) Carload also states 

that the proposed transaction would not 

impact competitive options because all 

MDDE traffic would continue moving 

over DCR’s rail line. (Id. at 5, 8.) 

According to Carload, ‘‘MDDE will 

simply be incorporated into the Carload 

family of short-line carriers,’’ and 

shippers may benefit from greater 

efficiencies as a result. (Id. at 8.) 

Carload seeks expedited consideration 

so that the proposed transaction—along 

with all related transactions involving 

Carload, DCR, MDDE, and Old Line— 

can be consummated no later than 

January 31, 2025. (Id. at 10.) According 

to Carload, an expedited decision would 

allow the parties to avoid multiple 

closings. (Id.) 

Discussion and Conclusions 

Under 49 U.S.C. 11323(a)(5), prior 

approval by the Board is required for the 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 4 / Tuesday, January 7, 2025 / Notices 1221 

5 Given this finding, the Board need not 

determine whether the transaction is limited in 

scope. See 49 U.S.C. 10502(a). 

acquisition of control of a rail carrier by 

a person that is not a rail carrier but that 

controls any number of rail carriers. 

Under 49 U.S.C. 10502(a), however, the 

Board shall, to the maximum extent 

consistent with U.S. Code Title 49, 

subtitle IV, part A, exempt a transaction 

from regulation if it finds that (1) 

regulation is not necessary to carry out 

the rail transportation policy (RTP) of 49 

U.S.C. 10101, and (2) either (a) the 

transaction or service is limited in 

scope, or (b) regulation is not needed to 

protect shippers from the abuse of 

market power. 

In this case, an exemption from the 

prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 

11323–25 is consistent with the 

standards of 49 U.S.C. 10502. Detailed 

scrutiny of the proposed transaction 

through an application for review and 

approval under sections 11323–25 is not 

necessary to carry out the RTP. An 

exemption would promote the RTP by 

minimizing the need for federal 

regulatory control over the proposed 

transaction, 49 U.S.C. 10101(2); 

ensuring the continuation of a sound 

rail transportation system that would 

continue to meet the needs of the 

public, 49 U.S.C. 10101(4); fostering 

sound economic conditions in 

transportation, 49 U.S.C. 10101(5); 

reducing regulatory barriers to entry 

into and exit from the industry, 49 

U.S.C. 10101(7); encouraging efficient 

management of railroads, 49 U.S.C. 

10101(9); and providing for the 

expeditious resolution of this 

proceeding, 49 U.S.C. 10101(15). Other 

aspects of the RTP would not be 

adversely affected. 

Regulation of the transaction is not 

needed to protect shippers from an 

abuse of market power.5 MDDE and 

DCR do not serve common industries 

where they connect at Townsend, 

Seaford, and Frankford. (Pet. 8.) Further, 

the common control of MDDE and DCR 

would not reduce competitive options 

for shippers, as all MDDE traffic 

currently moves over DCR’s line and 

would continue to do so following 

Carload’s acquisition of MDDE. (Id. at 5, 

8.) Indeed, because DCR is MDDE’s 

‘‘sole physical link’’ to the remainder of 

the interstate rail network, there is no 

risk that Carload may foreclose 

interchange between MDDE and other 

connecting carriers. (Id. at 3, 8 n.12; see 

also id., Ex. A (showing MDDE 

interchanges).) Shippers may also 

benefit from improved coordination 

between MDDE and DCR. Moreover, no 

shipper (or any other entity) has 

objected to the proposed control 

transaction. Nevertheless, to ensure that 

the shippers are informed of our action, 

we will require Carload to serve a copy 

of this decision on all shippers on the 

Centreville/Chesterton, Seaford, and 

Snow Hill North Lines and certify to the 

Board that it has done so within five 

days of the service date of this decision. 

Under 49 U.S.C. 10502(g), the Board 

may not use its exemption authority to 

relieve a carrier of its statutory 

obligation to protect the interests of 

employees. Section 11326(c), however, 

does not provide for labor protection for 

transactions under sections 11324 and 

11325 that involve only Class III rail 

carriers. Therefore, because all the 

carriers involved in the proposed 

transaction are Class III carriers, the 

Board may not impose labor protective 

conditions. 

The control transaction is exempt 

from environmental reporting 

requirements under 49 CFR 

1105.6(c)(1)(i) because it will not result 

in any significant change in carrier 

operations. Similarly, the transaction is 

exempt from the historic reporting 

requirements under 49 CFR 1105.8(b)(3) 

because it will not substantially change 

the level of maintenance of railroad 

properties. 

As indicated above, Carload seeks to 

be able to consummate this transaction 

and other related transactions together 

by no later than January 31, 2025. The 

Board finds that Carload’s request is 

reasonable. Accordingly, the effective 

date of the exemption will be January 

31, 2025. See 49 CFR 1121.4(e) (‘‘Unless 

otherwise specified in the decision, an 

exemption generally will be effective 30 

days from the service date of the 

decision.’’). Petitions for stay must be 

filed by January 16, 2025. Petitions to 

reopen will be due by January 27, 2025. 

It is ordered: 

1. Under 49 U.S.C. 10502, the Board 

exempts from the prior approval 

requirements of 49 U.S.C. 11323–25 

Carload’s acquisition of control of 

MDDE through the purchase of the 

outstanding equity shares in MDDE 

from Old Line. 

2. Notice of the exemption will be 

published in the Federal Register. 

3. Carload shall serve a copy of the 

decision on all shippers on the 

Centreville/Chesterton, Seaford, and 

Snow Hill North Lines and certify to the 

Board that it has done so, by January 7, 

2025. 

4. The exemption will become 

effective on January 31, 2025. Petitions 

for stay must be filed by January 16, 

2025. Petitions to reopen must be filed 

by January 27, 2025. 

Decided: December 31, 2024. 

By the Board, Board Members Fuchs, 

Hedlund, Primus, and Schultz. 

Zantori Dickerson, 

Clearance Clerk. 

[FR Doc. 2025–00068 Filed 1–6–25; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4915–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 

Agency Information Collection 

Activities; Submission for OMB 

Review; Comment Request; Multiple 

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) 

Information Collection Requests 

AGENCY: Departmental Offices, U.S. 

Department of the Treasury. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Department of the 

Treasury will submit the following 

information collection requests to the 

Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) for review and clearance in 

accordance with the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995, on or after the 

date of publication of this notice. The 

public is invited to submit comments on 

these requests. 

DATES: Comments should be received on 

or before February 6, 2025 to be assured 

of consideration. 

ADDRESSES: Written comments and 

recommendations for the proposed 

information collection should be sent 

within 30 days of publication of this 

notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/ 

PRAMain. Find this particular 

information collection by selecting 

‘‘Currently under 30-day Review—Open 

for Public Comments’’ or by using the 

search function. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Copies of the submissions may be 

obtained from Melody Braswell by 

emailing PRA@treasury.gov, calling 

(202) 622–1035, or viewing the entire 

information collection request at 

www.reginfo.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) 

1. Title: United States Gift (and 

Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax 

Return. 

OMB Number: 1545–0020. 

Form Number: Form 709, 709–NA. 

Abstract: Form 709 is used by 

individuals to report transfers subject to 

the gift and generation-skipping transfer 

taxes and to compute these taxes. The 

IRS uses the information to collect and 

enforce these taxes, to verify that the 

taxes are properly computed, and to 

compute the tax base for the estate tax. 

Form 709–NA is used to report certain 

transfers by a nonresident not a citizen 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1