Massachusetts Department of Transportation-Acquisition Exemption-Certain Assets of Housatonic Railroad Company, Inc., 64883 [2014-25938]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 211 / Friday, October 31, 2014 / Notices basis for the request appears to be to allow the petitioner to avoid having 31— DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION to test pole-exempted models for new MDB compliance—and possibly have to reengineer to achieve satisfactory results. Then, before the pole test exemption ended, Aston Martin would have to retest and reengineer these pole-exempted models for A SECOND TIME, in order to achieve both new MDB and Pole test compliance. NHTSA clearly sought to allow lead time to avoid this double burden. [Emphasis in text.] Surface Transportation Board The agency is denying Aston Martin’s request to be exempted from the MDB requirement. We conclude that an exemption is not necessary on the basis of the information before it. Aston Martin submitted FMVSS No. 214 MDB test data 32 of a DB9 Volante convertible, Vantage coupe, and Vantage Roadster convertible tested with the mid-size adult male side impact dummy (SID) that FMVSS No. 214 had specified for use in the MDB test prior to the ES–2re. The data show that the vehicles appear to have passed the performance thresholds of FMVSS No. 214’s MDB test by a wide margin with the SID. In the final rule adopting the new MDB requirements into FMVSS No. 214 (requirements which use the ES–2re), NHTSA set forth findings indicating that manufacturers would likely not need to modify vehicles to meet the new MBD requirements when using the ES–2re in place of the SID.33 Moreover, data indicate that vehicles that pass the MDB requirement using the SID will likely pass the MDB test using the ES– 2re. The DB9 and Vantage models have easily passed the MDB test using the SID. Thus, we believe that data indicate the DB9 and Vantage models will pass the MDB test with the ES–2re and do not need a temporary exemption from the new MDB requirement. Accordingly, NHTSA is denying petitioner’s request for an exemption from the new MDB requirement due to an absence of information showing such an exemption is needed. Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30113; delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.95. Dated: October 22, 2014. David J. Friedman, Deputy Administrator. [FR Doc. 2014–25892 Filed 10–30–14; 8:45 am] asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES BILLING CODE 4910–59–P 31 See Aston Martin petition for temporary exemption, p. 5. 32 Accorded confidential treatment by NHTSA. 33 NHTSA believed that vehicle modifications would likely result from adding the SID–IIs 5th percentile adult female dummy to the rear seat of the MDB test. See 72 FR at 51947. The SID–IIs is not used in tests of Aston Martin vehicles because the vehicles do not have a rear seat or one large enough to accommodate the SID–IIs. VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:47 Oct 30, 2014 Jkt 235001 [Docket No. FD 35866] Massachusetts Department of Transportation—Acquisition Exemption—Certain Assets of Housatonic Railroad Company, Inc. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), a noncarrier, has filed a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.31 to acquire from Housatonic Railroad Company, Inc. (HRRC) and Maybrook Railroad Company (MRC) 1 certain railroad assets comprising a section of the ‘‘Berkshire Line,’’ extending from approximately milepost 50.0 at the MassachusettsConnecticut border at Sheffield, Mass., to a connection with CSX Transportation, Inc., at approximately milepost 86.3 at Pittsfield, Mass., a distance of approximately 36.3 miles (the Line). According to MassDOT, the acquisition of the Line is intended to facilitate the Commonwealth’s longterm plans to restore regional passenger train service linking the Berkshire region of western Massachusetts with the New York City metropolitan area and the Northeast Corridor megalopolis. MassDOT states that the acquisition of the Line is one step in what MassDOT anticipates will be an involved, multistep process that ultimately will lead to the establishment of a new railroad passenger service route in the Northeast. MassDOT states that, pursuant to a draft Purchase and Sale Contract, MassDOT has secured the right to purchase MRC’s and HRRC’s respective rights, title, and interest in the right-of-way, trackage, and other physical assets (such as signboard and fiber optics unrelated to the provision of common carrier freight service) associated with the Line, subject to HRRC’s retained exclusive, irrevocable, perpetual, assignable, divisible, licensable, and transferable freight railroad operating easement. MassDOT also states that it will not acquire the right, nor will it have the ability, to provide rail common carrier service over the Line.2 According to MassDOT, the agreements governing the subject asset sale and post-transaction railroad operations preclude MassDOT 1 MassDOT states that MRC is not a rail carrier for purposes of the present transaction and, therefore, is not listed in the proceeding caption. 2 A motion to dismiss the notice of exemption on grounds that the transaction does not require authorization from the Board was concurrently filed with this notice of exemption. The motion to dismiss will be addressed in a subsequent Board decision. PO 00000 Frm 00143 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 64883 from interfering materially with the provision of railroad common carrier service over the Line. MassDOT, however, will be entitled in the future to initiate (itself, or through a designated third party) intercity passenger service and regional commuter rail service over the Line. MassDOT states that the proposed transaction does not involve any provision or agreement that would limit future interchange with a third-party connecting carrier. MassDOT certifies that, because it will conduct no freight operations on the line segment being acquired, its revenues from freight operations will not result in the creation of a Class I or Class II carrier. MassDOT also states that the parties expect to consummate the transaction on or about December 15, 2014, which is after the effective date of November 15, 2014. 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 to stay must be filed no later than November 7, 2014 (at least seven days before the exemption becomes effective). An original and ten copies of all pleadings, referring to Docket No. FD 35866, 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 Robert A. Wimbish, Fletcher & Sippel LLC, 29 North Wacker Drive, Suite 920, Chicago, IL 60606– 2832. Board decisions and notices are available on our Web site at www.stb.dot.gov. Decided: October 28, 2014. By the Board, Rachel D. Campbell, Director, Office of Proceedings. Jeffrey Herzig, Clearance Clerk. [FR Doc. 2014–25938 Filed 10–30–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4915–01–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Surface Transportation Board [STB Docket No. FD 35523] CSX Transportation, Inc.—Joint Use— Louisville & Indiana Railroad Company, Inc. AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board, DOT. E:\FR\FM\31OCN1.SGM 31OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 211 (Friday, October 31, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 64883]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-25938]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[Docket No. FD 35866]


Massachusetts Department of Transportation--Acquisition 
Exemption--Certain Assets of Housatonic Railroad Company, Inc.

    The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), a 
noncarrier, has filed a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 
1150.31 to acquire from Housatonic Railroad Company, Inc. (HRRC) and 
Maybrook Railroad Company (MRC) \1\ certain railroad assets comprising 
a section of the ``Berkshire Line,'' extending from approximately 
milepost 50.0 at the Massachusetts-Connecticut border at Sheffield, 
Mass., to a connection with CSX Transportation, Inc., at approximately 
milepost 86.3 at Pittsfield, Mass., a distance of approximately 36.3 
miles (the Line).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ MassDOT states that MRC is not a rail carrier for purposes 
of the present transaction and, therefore, is not listed in the 
proceeding caption.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    According to MassDOT, the acquisition of the Line is intended to 
facilitate the Commonwealth's long-term plans to restore regional 
passenger train service linking the Berkshire region of western 
Massachusetts with the New York City metropolitan area and the 
Northeast Corridor megalopolis. MassDOT states that the acquisition of 
the Line is one step in what MassDOT anticipates will be an involved, 
multi-step process that ultimately will lead to the establishment of a 
new railroad passenger service route in the Northeast. MassDOT states 
that, pursuant to a draft Purchase and Sale Contract, MassDOT has 
secured the right to purchase MRC's and HRRC's respective rights, 
title, and interest in the right-of-way, trackage, and other physical 
assets (such as signboard and fiber optics unrelated to the provision 
of common carrier freight service) associated with the Line, subject to 
HRRC's retained exclusive, irrevocable, perpetual, assignable, 
divisible, licensable, and transferable freight railroad operating 
easement. MassDOT also states that it will not acquire the right, nor 
will it have the ability, to provide rail common carrier service over 
the Line.\2\ According to MassDOT, the agreements governing the subject 
asset sale and post-transaction railroad operations preclude MassDOT 
from interfering materially with the provision of railroad common 
carrier service over the Line. MassDOT, however, will be entitled in 
the future to initiate (itself, or through a designated third party) 
intercity passenger service and regional commuter rail service over the 
Line. MassDOT states that the proposed transaction does not involve any 
provision or agreement that would limit future interchange with a 
third-party connecting carrier.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ A motion to dismiss the notice of exemption on grounds that 
the transaction does not require authorization from the Board was 
concurrently filed with this notice of exemption. The motion to 
dismiss will be addressed in a subsequent Board decision.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    MassDOT certifies that, because it will conduct no freight 
operations on the line segment being acquired, its revenues from 
freight operations will not result in the creation of a Class I or 
Class II carrier.
    MassDOT also states that the parties expect to consummate the 
transaction on or about December 15, 2014, which is after the effective 
date of November 15, 2014.
    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 to stay must be filed no later than November 7, 
2014 (at least seven days before the exemption becomes effective).
    An original and ten copies of all pleadings, referring to Docket 
No. FD 35866, 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 Robert A. Wimbish, Fletcher & Sippel LLC, 29 
North Wacker Drive, Suite 920, Chicago, IL 60606-2832.
    Board decisions and notices are available on our Web site at 
www.stb.dot.gov.

    Decided: October 28, 2014.

    By the Board, Rachel D. Campbell, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Jeffrey Herzig,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2014-25938 Filed 10-30-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P
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