Surface Transportation Board November 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 the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad, L.L.C. (WSOR), a Class II rail carrier, to acquire and operate a permanent, exclusive freight rail operating easement over an approximately 15-mile line of railroad (the Line) owned by the City of Fitchburg and the Village of Oregon, Wis. (the Municipalities). The Line, also known as the Evansville Line, extends between milepost 119.0, near Evansville, Wis., and milepost 134.0, near ``MX'' (a crossing of WSOR near Madison, Wis.), in Dane, Green, and Rock Counties. WSOR states that there has been no freight rail traffic on the Line since 1997. However, WSOR asserts that the Wisconsin River Rail Transit Commission (WRRTC), which describes itself as a governmental entity representing a consortium of nine Wisconsin counties, has recently been notified that a shipper seeking rail service is locating in the Village of Oregon. Consequently, WRRTC has requested that WSOR initiate service over the Line. WSOR states that it will enter into an agreement with the Municipalities whereby WSOR will acquire the exclusive rail freight easement for resumption of rail operations. The Board is also granting WSOR's request for a waiver of the employee notice requirements of 49 CFR 1121.4(h). This exemption is subject to standard labor protective conditions.

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).

The Surface Transportation Board (Board) hereby gives notice of two vacancies for small railroad representatives on RSTAC. The Board is soliciting suggestions from the public for candidates to fill these two vacancies.