Notice2025-05389

Central New York Railroad Corporation-Amended Lease and Operation Exemption Containing Interchange Commitment-Norfolk Southern Railway Company

Primary source

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Published
March 28, 2025

Issuing agencies

Surface Transportation Board

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 59 (Friday, March 28, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 59 (Friday, March 28, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14176-14177]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-05389]


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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

[Docket No. FD 36825]


Central New York Railroad Corporation--Amended Lease and 
Operation Exemption Containing Interchange Commitment--Norfolk Southern 
Railway Company

    Central New York Railroad Corporation (CNY), a Class III railroad, 
has filed a verified notice of exemption pursuant to 49 CFR 1150.41, to 
continue to lease from Norfolk Southern Railway Company (NSR) and 
operate approximately 123.1 miles of rail line between milepost 89.9 at 
or near Port Jervis, NY, and milepost 213.0 at Binghamton, NY, in 
Broome, Sullivan, Delaware, and Orange Counties, NY, and Pike and 
Susquehanna Counties, Pa. (the Line).
    CNY states that it has leased the Line from NSR since 2004.\1\ See 
Cent. N.Y. R.R.--Lease & Operation Exemption--Norfolk S. Ry., FD 34643 
(STB served Jan. 21, 2005). According to CNY, the 2004 lease agreement 
was amended in 2009 (First Amendment) and 2011 (Second Amendment).\2\ 
CNY now seeks authority for a third amendment, which modifies the terms 
of the 2004 lease agreement to extend the lease term and amend the 
lease renewal provisions. According to CNY, ``[a]ll other terms and 
conditions of the Lease Agreement and prior amendments remain in full 
force and effect.'' \3\ (Notice 3.)
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    \1\ CNY asserts NSR has retained overhead trackage rights since 
2004.
    \2\ CNY states that it did not seek authority from the Board for 
the First or Second Amendments because ``it was not clear at the 
time'' of their execution that they required Board authority. 
(Notice 2 n.2.)
    \3\ The class exemption invoked by CNY does not provide for 
retroactive effectiveness. See San Pedro R.R.--Lease & Operation 
Exemption--Union Pac. R.R., FD 35968, slip op. at 1 n.1 (STB served 
Nov. 6, 2015).
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    According to the verified notice, the lease contains an existing 
interchange commitment. CNY has provided additional information 
regarding the interchange commitment, as required by 49 CFR 
1150.43(h).\4\
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    \4\ CNY filed a copy of the agreement, including the three 
amendments, under seal with the verified notice. See 49 CFR 
1150.43(h)(1) (providing that certain information related to 
interchange commitments, such as copies of agreements, will be kept 
confidential without an accompanying motion for a protective order).
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    CNY certifies that its projected annual revenues as a result of 
this transaction will not exceed $5 million annually and will not 
result the creation of a Class II or Class I carrier.
    The transaction may be consummated on or after April 12, 2025, 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 April 4, 2025 
(at least seven days before the exemption becomes effective).
    All pleadings, referring to Docket No. FD 36825, must be filed with 
the Surface Transportation Board either 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 
CNY's representative, Crystal M. Zorbaugh, Mullins Law

[[Page 14177]]

Group PLLC, 2001 L Street NW, Suite 720, Washington, DC 20036.
    According to CNY, 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: March 25, 2025.

    By the Board, Scott M. Zimmerman, Acting Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Eden Besera,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2025-05389 Filed 3-27-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on March 28, 2025.

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