[Federal Register: May 14, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 93)]
[Notices]               
[Page 26477-26478]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14my99-123]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board
[STB Finance Docket No. 33743]

 
Pioneer Railcorp--Acquisition of Control Exemption--The Garden 
City Western Railway, Inc.

    Pioneer Railcorp (Pioneer), a noncarrier holding company, has filed 
a notice of exemption to acquire control of The Garden City Western 
Railway, Inc. (GCW), a Class III rail carrier, operating in the State 
of Kansas.<SUP>1</SUP>
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    \1\ See The Garden City CO-OP, Inc.--Acquisition and Operation 
Exemption--Between Garden City and Wolf, in Finney County, KS, 
Finance Docket No. 30091 (ICC served Dec. 30, 1982) and The Garden 
City CO-OP, Inc.--Corporate Family Transaction Exemption--The Garden 
City Western Railway Co. and The Garden City Northern Railway Co., 
Finance Docket No. 31861 (ICC served May 8, 1991).
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    The transaction was scheduled to be consummated on or shortly after 
May 7, 1999.
    Pioneer currently controls fourteen existing shortline rail 
carriers, thirteen directly and one indirectly.<SUP>2</SUP>
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    \2\ See Pioneer Railcorp and Wabash & Western Railway Co.--
Acquisition of Control Exemption--Michigan Southern Railroad Co., 
Inc., STB Finance Docket No. 33704 (STB served Jan. 28, 1999).
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    Pioneer states that: (i) the railroads do not connect with each 
other; (ii) the transaction is not part of a series of anticipated 
transactions that would connect the railroads with each other; and 
(iii) the transaction does not involve a Class I carrier. Therefore, 
the transaction is exempt from the prior approval requirements of 49 
U.S.C. 11323. See 49 CFR 1180.2(d)(2).
    Under 49 U.S.C. 10502(g), the Board may not use its exemption 
authority to relieve a rail carrier of its statutory obligation to 
protect the interests of its employees. Section 11326(c), however, does 
not provide for labor protection for transactions under sections 11324 
and 11325 that involve only Class III rail carriers. Because this 
transaction involves Class III rail carriers only, the Board, under the 
statute, may not impose labor protective conditions for this 
transaction.
    If the 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 transaction.
    An original and 10 copies of all pleadings, referring to STB 
Finance Docket No. 33743, must be filed with the Surface Transportation 
Board, Office of the Secretary, Case Control Unit, 1925 K Street, N.W., 
Washington, DC 20423-0001. In addition, a copy of all pleadings must be 
served on John D. Heffner, Esq., Rea, Cross & Auchincloss, 1707 L 
Street, N.W., Suite 570, Washington, DC 20036.
    Board decisions and notices are available on our website at 
``WWW.STB.DOT.GOV.''

    Decided: May 7, 1999.


[[Page 26478]]


    By the Board, David M. Konschnik, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-12261 Filed 5-13-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P