[Federal Register: July 22, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 140)] [Notices] [Page 39363] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr22jy98-107] [[Page 39363]] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Surface Transportation Board [STB Docket No. MC-F-20922] Greyhound Lines, Inc.--Continuance in Control--Autobuses Amigos, L.L.C. AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board. ACTION: Notice tentatively approving finance application. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Greyhound Lines, Inc. (Greyhound), a motor carrier of passengers, and its wholly owned noncarrier subsidiary, Sistema Internacional de Transporte de Autobuses, Inc. (SITA), jointly seek approval under 49 U.S.C. 14303 to continue in control of SITA's wholly owned subsidiary, Autobuses Amigos, L.L.C. (Amigos), upon Amigos becoming a motor carrier of passengers. Persons wishing to oppose the transaction must follow the rules at 49 CFR 1182, subpart B. The Board has tentatively approved the transaction, and, if no opposing comments are timely filed, this notice will be the final Board action. If opposing comments are timely filed, this tentative grant of authority will be deemed vacated, and the Board will consider the comments and any replies and will issue a further decision on the application. DATES: Comments are due by September 8, 1998. Applicants may reply by September 28, 1998. If no comments are received by September 8, 1998, this notice is effective on that date. ADDRESSES: Send an original and 10 copies of comments referring to STB Docket No. MC-F-20922 to: Surface Transportation Board, Office of the Secretary, Case Control Unit, 1925 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20423- 0001. Also, send one copy of comments to applicants' representative: Fritz R. Kahn, Suite 750 West, 1100 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20005-3934. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beryl Gordon, (202) 565-1600. [TDD for the hearing impaired: (202) 565-1695.] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Greyhound holds nationwide operating authority in Docket No. MC-1515. It also controls the following regional interstate motor carriers of passengers: Valley Transit Company, Inc. (MC-74), operating in Texas; Carolina Coach Company, Inc. (MC-13300), operating in Delaware, Virginia and North Carolina; Texas, New Mexico & Oklahoma Coaches, Inc. (MC-61120), operating in Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas and Oklahoma; Continental Panhandle Lines, Inc. (MC-8742), operating in Oklahoma and Texas; and Vermont Transit Co., Inc. (MC-45626), operating in Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts and New York. SITA controls Americanos U.S.A., L.L.C. (Americanos) (MC-309813), a nationwide passenger carrier, Gonzalez, Inc., d/b/a Golden State Transportation Company (MC-173837), operating in the Southwest, and Los Rapidos, Inc. (MC-293638), operating in California. Amigos filed an application on May 28, 1998, with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration to operate as a regional motor carrier of passengers to provide scheduled, regular-route operations between the Mexican border crossing points in Texas and points in the Southeast. Applicants state that the aggregate gross operating revenues for Greyhound and its affiliated motor carriers of passengers exceeded $2 million during the 12 months preceding this application. They assert that Amigos was organized to render specialized services designed to accommodate the travel requirements of the Spanish speaking passengers traveling between Brownsville, TX, and Los Angeles, CA, and between Brownsville and Miami, FL, and other points in the Southeast. Applicants state that the membership interests in Amigos have been placed into a voting trust 1 pending disposition of this proceeding. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ A voting trust agreement was informally approved by the Board's Secretary by letter dated June 18, 1998. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Applicants certify that: (1) Greyhound and its affiliates (except Americanos, which is not yet rated) hold satisfactory safety ratings,; (2) Amigos, before commencing operations, will have appointed agents in each of the states in which it anticipates operating, in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 13303 and 13304 and 49 CFR 366.1 et seq., and will have procured liability insurance as required by 49 U.S.C. 13906 and 49 CFR 387.1, et seq. (Greyhound and its affiliates are in compliance with these provisions); (3) Greyhound, SITA, and Amigos are not domiciled in Mexico and are not owned or controlled by a person of that country; and (4) approval of the transaction will not significantly affect either the quality of the human environment or the conservation of energy resources. Under 49 U.S.C. 14303(b), we must approve and authorize a transaction that we find consistent with the public interest, taking into consideration at least: (1) the effect of the proposed transaction on the adequacy of transportation to the public; (2) the total fixed charges that result from the proposed transaction; and (3) the interest of carrier employees affected by the proposed transaction. We find, based on the application, that the proposed transaction is consistent with the public interest and should be authorized. This action will not significantly affect either the quality of the human environment or the conservation of energy resources. It is ordered: 1. The proposed continuance in control is approved and authorized, subject to the filing of opposing comments. 2. If timely opposing comments are filed, the findings made in this decision will be deemed vacated. 3. This decision will be effective on September 8, 1998, unless timely opposing comments are filed. 4. A copy of this notice will be served on: (1) the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Motor Carriers-HIA 30, 400 Virginia Avenue, SW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20024; and (2) the U. S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, 10th Street & Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20530. Decided: July 16, 1998. By the Board, Chairman Morgan and Vice Chairman Owen. Vernon A. Williams, Secretary. [FR Doc. 98-19544 Filed 7-21-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4915-00-P