Surface Transportation Board November 12, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Board is granting an exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502 from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 10902 for Wisconsin & Southern Railroad, L.L.C. (WSOR), a Class II rail carrier, to acquire from the Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP) and operate a permanent exclusive freight rail operating easement over approximately 69.62 miles of rail line (the Line) in the State of Wisconsin. Specifically, the Line includes: (a) The Reedsburg Line, between milepost 134.0 and milepost 191.90 near Reedsburg; (b) the Central Soya Industrial Lead, between milepost 83.78 and milepost 85.5 in Madison; and (c) the Cottage Grove Industrial Lead, between milepost 81.00 and milepost 71.00. WSOR has been the exclusive operator over the Line since 1996 pursuant to a lease with UP, and upon consummation of the transaction, will continue to operate the line. The exemption is subject to standard labor protective conditions. In the same decision, the Board is granting WSOR a waiver of the employee notice requirements of 49 CFR 1121.4(h).