Notice2026-00124
Smoky Ridge Railroad, L.L.C.-Acquisition and Operation Exemption-EnergySolutions, LLC
Primary source
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Published
January 8, 2026
Issuing agencies
Surface Transportation Board
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 5 (Thursday, January 8, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 5 (Thursday, January 8, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 757-758]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-00124]
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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD
[Docket No. FD 36901]
Smoky Ridge Railroad, L.L.C.--Acquisition and Operation
Exemption--EnergySolutions, LLC
Smoky Ridge Railroad, L.L.C. (SMO), a noncarrier, has filed a
verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.31 to
[[Page 758]]
acquire a perpetual easement over and to operate approximately 7.07
miles of railroad track, extending from milepost 0, located at a switch
on a main line of the Norfolk Southern Railway, near Blair, Tenn., to
milepost 7.07, near Oak Ridge, Tenn., in Anderson and Roane Counties,
Tenn (the Line).\1\
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\1\ SMO will also operate over approximately 6.63 miles of spur
track that connects to the Line.
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This transaction is related to a verified notice of exemption
concurrently filed in Watco Holdings, Inc.--Continuance in Control
Exemption--Smoky Ridge Railroad, L.L.C., Docket No. FD 36902, in which
Watco Holdings, Inc., seeks to continue in control of SMO upon SMO's
becoming a Class III rail carrier.
According to SMO, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built the Line
and later conveyed it to the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE). SMO
states that, in 2003, USDOE granted Heritage Railroad Corporation
(HRRC) an easement to provide railroad freight service over the Line,
and in 2009, EnergySolutions, LLC (EnergySolutions), acquired HRRC's
easement. See Heritage R.R.--Lease & Operation Exemption--Rail Line of
U.S. Dep't of Energy, FD 34372 (STB served July 23, 2003); Energy
Solutions, LLC--Acquis. & Operation Exemption--Heritage R.R., FD 35288
(STB served Sep. 3, 2009). SMO further states that EnergySolutions and
SMO have reached an agreement, subject to the approval of USDOE,
whereby EnergySolutions will convey its common carrier easement
interest in the Line to SMO. According to the verified notice, upon
consummation of the proposed transaction, SMO will provide all common
carrier freight service on the Line, and EnergySolutions will have no
further rights on the Line.
SMO certifies that the proposed transaction does not involve an
interchange commitment. SMO also certifies that its projected annual
revenues are not expected to exceed $5 million and that the proposed
transaction will not result in SMO becoming a Class I or Class II rail
carrier.
The earliest this transaction may be consummated is January 22,
2026, 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 January 15,
2026 (at least seven days before the exemption becomes effective).
All pleadings, referring to Docket No. FD 36901, 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
SMO's representative, Stephen J. Foland, Fletcher & Sippel LLC, 29
North Wacker Drive, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606-3208.
According to SMO, 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: January 5, 2026.
By the Board, Anika S. Cooper, Chief Counsel, Office of Chief
Counsel.
Tammy Lowery,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2026-00124 Filed 1-7-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on January 8, 2026.
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