[Federal Register: April 2, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 64)]
[Notices]               
[Page 17471]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02ap04-117]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Finance Docket No. 34482]

 
Old Augusta Railroad, LLC--Acquisition and Operation Exemption--
Assets of Old Augusta Railroad Company

    Old Augusta Railroad, LLC (OARLLC), a newly created Class III 
railroad, has filed a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.41 
to acquire and operate a short line railroad currently operated by the 
Old Augusta Railroad Company (OARC). OARLLC indicates that, on February 
26, 2004, Koch Cellulose (Koch), the parent corporation of OARLLC, 
entered into an agreement with Georgia Pacific Corporation (Georgia 
Pacific) and various subsidiaries of Georgia Pacific to acquire Georgia 
Pacific's non-integrated market and fluff pulp operations. In 
connection with this transaction, Koch will also acquire Georgia 
Pacific's Leaf River Pulp Mill in New Augusta, MS, and substantially 
all of the assets of OARC, including OARC's 2.5-mile short line 
railroad that it currently operates between the Leaf River Pulp Mill 
and the Canadian National Railway Company interchange. Before the 
closing of the transaction, Koch will assign to OARLLC its right to 
acquire the assets of OARC, and, upon the closing of the transaction, 
OARLLC will acquire and operate OARC's short line railroad.
    OARLLC certifies that its projected annual revenues will not exceed 
those that would qualify it as a Class III rail carrier and will not 
result in the creation of a Class II or Class I rail carrier.
    OARLLC states that it expects to consummate the transaction in the 
first week of May 2004.
    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 transaction.
    An original and 10 copies of all pleadings, referring to STB 
Finance Docket No. 34482, must be filed with the Surface Transportation 
Board, 1925 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20423-0001. In addition, a 
copy of each pleading must be served on Raffaele G. Fazio, Senior 
Counsel, Koch Industries, Inc., P.O. Box 2256, Wichita, KS 67201.
    Board decisions and notices are available on the Board's Web site 
at http://www.stb.dot.gov.


    Decided: March 23, 2004.

    By the Board, Joseph H. Dettmar, Acting Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 04-7070 Filed 4-1-04; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4915-01-P