Notice2026-07852

Tazewell & Peoria Railroad, Inc.-Lease and Operation Exemption-Peoria and Pekin Union Railway Company

Primary source

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Published
April 23, 2026

Issuing agencies

Surface Transportation Board

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 78 (Thursday, April 23, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 78 (Thursday, April 23, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 21860]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-07852]


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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

[Docket No. FD 36890]


Tazewell & Peoria Railroad, Inc.--Lease and Operation Exemption--
Peoria and Pekin Union Railway Company

    Tazewell & Peoria Railroad, Inc. (TZPR), a Class III rail carrier, 
has filed a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.41 to enter 
into a lease agreement (the Lease Agreement) with Peoria and Pekin 
Union Railway Company (PPU) to replace a prior lease agreement between 
TZPR and PPU. Under the Lease Agreement, TZPR will continue to lease 
and operate the entirety of PPU's rail lines (the Lines), totaling 
approximately 19.3 miles of mainline and connecting track, consisting 
of the following segments: (1) from approximately milepost 4.5 (at or 
near Bridge Junction) to approximately milepost 12.2 (at or near IC 
Junction); (2) the Peoria Uptown Subdivision, extending from 
approximately milepost 0.0 (at or near Bridge Junction) to 
approximately milepost 5.4 (at or near Iowa Interstate Junction); (3) 
the Southern Subdivision, extending from approximately milepost 0.0 (at 
or near UP Junction) to approximately milepost 4.5 (at or near Bridge 
Junction); and (4) the Nickel Plate Sub, extending from approximately 
milepost 0.0 (at or near Wesley Junction) to approximately milepost 1.7 
(at or near P&PU Junction).
    According to the verified notice, TZPR currently operates the Lines 
via a lease agreement entered into with PPU in 2004.\1\ See Tazewell & 
Peoria R.R.--Lease & Operation Exemption--Peoria & Pekin Union Ry., FD 
34544 (STB served Sept. 28, 2004). TZPR will continue operating the 
Lines through the Lease Agreement, which has a term of 20 years and 
allows for two five-year extensions.
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    \1\ TZPR notes that the Lines' mileposts have been renumbered 
since 2004.
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    TZPR certifies that its projected annual revenues as a result of 
this transaction will not exceed those that would qualify it as a Class 
III rail carrier and that its annual revenues currently exceed $5 
million. Pursuant to 49 CFR 1150.42(e), if a carrier's projected annual 
revenues will exceed $5 million, it must, at least 60 days before the 
exemption becomes effective, post a notice of its intent to undertake 
the proposed transaction at the workplace of the employees on the 
affected lines, serve a copy of the notice on the national offices of 
the labor unions with employees on the affected lines, and certify to 
the Board that it has done so. However, TZPR has filed a request for 
waiver of the 60-day advance labor notice requirements to allow the 
exemption to take effect 30 days after the filing of TZPR's verified 
notice of exemption. TZPR's waiver request will be addressed in a 
separate decision. The Board will establish the effective date of the 
exemption in its separate decision on the waiver request.
    TZPR certifies that the Lease Agreement does not include an 
interchange commitment.
    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 30, 
2026.
    All pleadings, referring to Docket No. FD 36890, 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 
TZPR's representative, Justin J. Marks, Clark Hill PLC, 1001 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 1300 South, Washington, DC 20004.
    According to TZPR, 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: April 20, 2026.

    By the Board, Anika S. Cooper, Chief Counsel, Office of Chief 
Counsel.
Eden Besera,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2026-07852 Filed 4-22-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on April 23, 2026.

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