Notice2024-10285
Merrimack & Grafton Railroad Corporation-Change in Operator Exemption-in Grafton and Coos Counties, N.H., and Essex County, Vt.
Primary source
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Published
May 10, 2024
Issuing agencies
Surface Transportation Board
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 92 (Friday, May 10, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 92 (Friday, May 10, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 40525]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-10285]
[[Page 40525]]
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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD
[Docket No. FD 36771]
Merrimack & Grafton Railroad Corporation--Change in Operator
Exemption--in Grafton and Coos Counties, N.H., and Essex County, Vt.
Merrimack & Grafton Railroad Corporation (MGRC), a Class III rail
carrier, has filed a verified notice of exemption pursuant to 49 CFR
1150.41 to assume operations over the following railroad lines (the
Lines), totaling approximately 52 route miles, owned by the State of
New Hampshire through the New Hampshire Department of Transportation
(NHDOT): (1) from milepost P 131.93 at North Stratford, N.H., to
milepost P 145.21 at Colebrook, N.H.; (2) from milepost C 119.86 east
of Wing Road in Bethlehem, N.H., to milepost C 130.7/P 101.9 at Hazen
Road in Whitefield, N.H.; (3) from milepost C 130.7/P 101.9 at Hazen
Road in Whitefield to milepost P 112.46/C 137.42 at Lancaster, N.H.;
(4) from milepost P 112.46/C 137.42 at Lancaster to milepost C 145.76
(proximate to the Whistle Post located south of the West Street
crossing at the connection with the St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad
Company) at Groveton, N.H.; and (5) from milepost P 100.91 at
Whitefield to milepost P 111.57 at Lunenburg, Vt. The verified notice
states that the Lines are currently operated by New Hampshire Central
Railroad, Inc. (NHCR).
According to the verified notice, MGRC, a subsidiary of Trans Rail
Holding Company, has entered into an operating agreement with NHDOT to
assume common carrier operations over the Lines. Upon consummation of
the proposed transaction, MGRC will replace NHCR as the exclusive
common carrier operator over the Lines.
MGRC certifies that the documents governing the proposed
transaction do not include terms that would limit future interchange
with a third-party connecting carrier. MGRC also certifies that its
projected annual revenues resulting from the transaction will not
result in the creation of a Class I or II rail carrier and are not
expected to exceed $5 million.
Under 49 CFR 1150.42(b), a change in operator requires that notice
be given to shippers. MGRC certifies that it has provided a copy of its
verified notice to all customers on the Lines.
The transaction may be consummated on or after May 26, 2024, the
effective date of the exemption (30 days after the verified notice was
filed). 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 effectiveness
of the exemption. Petitions for stay must be filed no later than May
17, 2024 (at least seven days before the exemption becomes effective).
All pleadings, referring to Docket No. FD 36771, must be filed with
the Surface Transportation Board via e-filing on the Board's website or
in writing addressed to 395 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20423-0001. In
addition, a copy of each pleading must be served on MGRC's
representative, Robert A. Wimbish, Fletcher & Sippel LLC, 29 North
Wacker Drive, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606-3208.
According to MGRC, this action is categorically excluded from
environmental review under 49 CFR 1105.6(c) and from historic
preservation reporting requirements under 49 CFR 1105.8(b).
Board decisions and notices are available at <a href="http://www.stb.gov">www.stb.gov</a>.
Decided: May 7, 2024.
By the Board, Mai T. Dinh, Director, Office of Proceedings.
Jeffrey Herzig,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2024-10285 Filed 5-9-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on May 10, 2024.
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