Portland & Western Railroad, Inc.-Acquisition and Operation Exemption-Port of Tillamook Bay, 14434-14435 [2015-06297]

Download as PDF 14434 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 53 / Thursday, March 19, 2015 / Notices on December 22, 2014 (79 FR 76436). Subpart D to part 183 allows the FAA to appoint organizations as representatives of the administrator. As authorized, these organizations perform certification functions on behalf of the FAA. Applications are submitted to the appropriate FAA office and are reviewed by the FAA to determine whether the applicant meets the requirements necessary to be authorized as a representative of the Administrator. Procedures manuals are submitted and approved by the FAA as a means to ensure that the correct processes are utilized when performing functions on behalf of the FAA. These requirements are necessary to manage the various approvals issued by the organization and to document approvals issued and must be maintained in order to address potential future safety issues. Respondents: Approximately 84 applicants. Frequency: Information is collected on occasion. Estimated Average Burden per Response: 41.7 hours. Estimated Total Annual Burden: 5,623 hours. Issued in Washington, DC on March 10, 2015. Albert R. Spence, FAA Assistant Information Collection Clearance Officer, IT Enterprises Business Services Division, ASP–110. [FR Doc. 2015–06338 Filed 3–18–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–13–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Railroad Administration [Docket Number FRA–2008–0010] Rmajette on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Petition for Waiver of Compliance In accordance with Part 211 of Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), this document provides the public notice that by a document dated November 10, 2014, Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District (SMART), owner of 77 miles of former Northwestern Pacific Railroad Company, and Southern Pacific Transportation Company trackage in Marin, Sonoma, and Napa Counties, CA, has petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for reconsideration of an approval condition, granted on February 24, 2009, on the Brazos Drawbridge at Milepost 64.7, specifically, condition 4 of FRA–2008–0010, which states ‘‘Approval is for freight movements only and shall be revisited prior to any passenger operations.’’ VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:18 Mar 18, 2015 Jkt 235001 SMART, Amtrak, and the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority are formally asking for an exception to the condition cited above to permit operation of two round-trip chartered Amtrak passenger trains, over the Brazos Drawbridge, to Sonoma Raceway on Sunday, June 28, 2015, for NASCAR Specials, on Sunday, August 2, 2015, for NHRA Specials, and on Sunday, August 30, 2015, for Indy Car Specials. FRA has previously granted an exception to this condition to allow a chartered Amtrak special train on June 23, 2013, which was a 1-day passenger train movement over the Brazos Drawbridge operating between Sacramento and Sonoma Raceway. That special was considered a great success. FRA also granted an exception to the condition for the operation of two special trains on June 22, 2014, as well as two special trains on August 24, 2014. The intended operating route of these 2015 specials is from Sacramento and San Jose on the Union Pacific Railroad to Suisun-Fairfield, then via the California Northern Railroad from Suisun-Fairfield to Brazos Junction, and over SMART trackage from Brazos Junction over the Brazos Drawbridge to Sonoma Raceway and return via the same route. As was the case in 2013, and 2014, a specific operating plan will be in place to ensure correct operation of the Brazos Drawbridge, the safety of train operations, equipment, passenger boarding/alighting, staffing, and raceway access/egress. A copy of the petition, as well as any written communications concerning the petition, is available for review online at www.regulations.gov and in person at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Docket Operations Facility, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., W12–140, Washington, DC 20590. The Docket Operations Facility is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays. Interested parties are invited to participate in these proceedings by submitting written views, data, or comments. FRA does not anticipate scheduling a public hearing in connection with these proceedings since the facts do not appear to warrant a hearing. If any interested party desires an opportunity for oral comment, they should notify FRA, in writing, before the end of the comment period and specify the basis for their request. All communications concerning these proceedings should identify the appropriate docket number and may be submitted by any of the following methods: PO 00000 Frm 00078 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 • Web site: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. • Fax: 202–493–2251. • Mail: Docket Operations Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., W12–140, Washington, DC 20590. • Hand Delivery: 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Room W12–140, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays. Communications received by May 4, 2015 will be considered by FRA before final action is taken. Comments received after that date will be considered as far as practicable. Anyone is able to search the electronic form of any written communications and comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the document, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the public to better inform its processes. DOT posts these comments, without edit, including any personal information the commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system of records notice (DOT/ALL– 14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at www.dot.gov/privacy. See also https:// www.regulations.gov/#!privacyNotice for the privacy notice of regulations.gov. Issued in Washington, DC, on March 13, 2015. Ron Hynes, Director of Technical Oversight. [FR Doc. 2015–06254 Filed 3–18–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–06–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Surface Transportation Board [Docket No. FD 35911] Portland & Western Railroad, Inc.— Acquisition and Operation Exemption—Port of Tillamook Bay Portland & Western Railroad, Inc. (PNWR), a Class III rail carrier, has filed a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.41 to acquire and continue to operate approximately 3.5 miles of rail line (the Line) owned by Port of Tillamook Bay (POTB), between milepost 774.0, at Banks, and milepost 770.5, at Schefflin, in Washington County, Or. PNWR is the current operator of the Line pursuant to a lease agreement dated May 6, 1999, between PNWR and E:\FR\FM\19MRN1.SGM 19MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 53 / Thursday, March 19, 2015 / Notices POTB, subject to trackage rights over the Line retained by POTB.1 PNWR states that the parties have entered into a purchase and sale agreement dated June 16, 2015. PNWR states that acquisition of the Line should allow PNWR to expand its rail network and establish a direct connection to its adjacent lines in the Willamette River Valley for a more cost efficient handling of traffic and will justify PNWR’s investments in the Line. As part of the transaction, POTB will discontinue its trackage rights over the Line.2 PNWR has certified that the transaction does not include an interchange commitment. PNWR states that it projected annual revenues as a result of this transaction will not result in PNWR’s becoming a Class II or Class I rail carrier, but that its projected annual revenues will Rmajette on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 1 See Portland & W. R.R.—Lease & Operation Exemption—Port of Tillamook Bay R.R., FD 33734 (STB served May 14, 1999); Port of Tillamook Bay R.R.—Trackage Rights Exemption—Portland & W. R.R., FD 33741 (STB served May 14, 1999). The entity PNWR refers to here as Port of Tillamook Bay is referred to in those cases as Port of Tillamook Bay Railroad, but it appears to be the same entity. 2 PNWR states that POTB’s discontinuance is the subject of a separate notice to be filed by POTB. VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:18 Mar 18, 2015 Jkt 235001 exceed $5 million. Accordingly, PNWR is required, at least 60 days before this exemption is to become effective, to send notice of the transaction to the national offices of the labor unions with employees on the affected line, post a copy of the notice at the workplace of the employees on the affected line, and certify to the Board that it has done so. 49 CFR 1150.42(e). PNWR’s verified notice, however, includes a request to waive that requirement. PNWR states that: (1) No POTB employee will be affected because none have worked on the Line for more than five years; and (2) there will be no operational changes, and no PNWR employees will be affected. PNWR asserts that providing the 60-day notice would serve no useful purpose because PNWR is merely acquiring the Line that it has been leasing and operating since 1999. PNWR’s waiver request will be addressed in a separate decision. PNWR states that it expects to consummate the transaction on or shortly after the effective date of this exemption. The Board will establish in the decision on the waiver request the earliest date this transaction may be consummated. PO 00000 Frm 00079 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 14435 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 March 26, 2015. An original and 10 copies of all pleadings, referring to Docket No. FD 35911, 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 Eric M. Hocky, Clark Hill PLC, One Commerce Square, 2005 Market St., Suite 1000, Philadelphia, PA 19103. Board decisions and notices are available on our Web site at ‘‘WWW.STB.DOT.GOV’’. Decided: March 16, 2015. By the Board, Rachel D. Campbell, Director, Office of Proceedings. Brendetta S. Jones, Clearance Clerk. [FR Doc. 2015–06297 Filed 3–18–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4915–01–P E:\FR\FM\19MRN1.SGM 19MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 53 (Thursday, March 19, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14434-14435]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-06297]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[Docket No. FD 35911]


Portland & Western Railroad, Inc.--Acquisition and Operation 
Exemption--Port of Tillamook Bay

    Portland & Western Railroad, Inc. (PNWR), a Class III rail carrier, 
has filed a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.41 to 
acquire and continue to operate approximately 3.5 miles of rail line 
(the Line) owned by Port of Tillamook Bay (POTB), between milepost 
774.0, at Banks, and milepost 770.5, at Schefflin, in Washington 
County, Or.
    PNWR is the current operator of the Line pursuant to a lease 
agreement dated May 6, 1999, between PNWR and

[[Page 14435]]

POTB, subject to trackage rights over the Line retained by POTB.\1\ 
PNWR states that the parties have entered into a purchase and sale 
agreement dated June 16, 2015. PNWR states that acquisition of the Line 
should allow PNWR to expand its rail network and establish a direct 
connection to its adjacent lines in the Willamette River Valley for a 
more cost efficient handling of traffic and will justify PNWR's 
investments in the Line. As part of the transaction, POTB will 
discontinue its trackage rights over the Line.\2\
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    \1\ See Portland & W. R.R.--Lease & Operation Exemption--Port of 
Tillamook Bay R.R., FD 33734 (STB served May 14, 1999); Port of 
Tillamook Bay R.R.--Trackage Rights Exemption--Portland & W. R.R., 
FD 33741 (STB served May 14, 1999). The entity PNWR refers to here 
as Port of Tillamook Bay is referred to in those cases as Port of 
Tillamook Bay Railroad, but it appears to be the same entity.
    \2\ PNWR states that POTB's discontinuance is the subject of a 
separate notice to be filed by POTB.
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    PNWR has certified that the transaction does not include an 
interchange commitment.
    PNWR states that it projected annual revenues as a result of this 
transaction will not result in PNWR's becoming a Class II or Class I 
rail carrier, but that its projected annual revenues will exceed $5 
million. Accordingly, PNWR is required, at least 60 days before this 
exemption is to become effective, to send notice of the transaction to 
the national offices of the labor unions with employees on the affected 
line, post a copy of the notice at the workplace of the employees on 
the affected line, and certify to the Board that it has done so. 49 CFR 
1150.42(e). PNWR's verified notice, however, includes a request to 
waive that requirement. PNWR states that: (1) No POTB employee will be 
affected because none have worked on the Line for more than five years; 
and (2) there will be no operational changes, and no PNWR employees 
will be affected. PNWR asserts that providing the 60-day notice would 
serve no useful purpose because PNWR is merely acquiring the Line that 
it has been leasing and operating since 1999. PNWR's waiver request 
will be addressed in a separate decision.
    PNWR states that it expects to consummate the transaction on or 
shortly after the effective date of this exemption. The Board will 
establish in the decision on the waiver request the earliest date this 
transaction may be consummated.
    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 March 26, 
2015.
    An original and 10 copies of all pleadings, referring to Docket No. 
FD 35911, 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 Eric M. Hocky, Clark Hill PLC, One Commerce 
Square, 2005 Market St., Suite 1000, Philadelphia, PA 19103.
    Board decisions and notices are available on our Web site at 
``WWW.STB.DOT.GOV''.

    Decided: March 16, 2015.

    By the Board, Rachel D. Campbell, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Brendetta S. Jones,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2015-06297 Filed 3-18-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4915-01-P
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