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Notice2026-19627

5E SVM Railway Company, LLC-Acquisition and Operation Exemption-Assets of Trona Railway Company LLC

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Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.

Published
September 25, 2026

Issuing agencies

Surface Transportation Board

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 185 (Friday, September 25, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 185 (Friday, September 25, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 61020]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-19627]


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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

[Docket No. FD 36955]


5E SVM Railway Company, LLC--Acquisition and Operation 
Exemption--Assets of Trona Railway Company LLC

    5E SVM Railway Company, LLC (SVMR), a noncarrier, has filed a 
verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1150.31 to acquire and 
operate a rail line owned by Trona Railway Company LLC, Debtor (TRC), 
extending from milepost 0.0 at Searles Junction, Cal., to the end of 
the line at milepost 30.6 in Trona, Cal., a distance of approximately 
30.6 miles (the Line).
    According to the verified notice, SVMR's parent, 5E SVM, LLC (5E 
SVM), entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with TRC and TRC's 
parent company, Searles Valley Minerals Inc. (SVM), to acquire the 
assets of TRC. The verified notice indicates that SVMR will operate and 
provide rail common carrier service on the Line. SVMR has concurrently 
filed a petition for waiver of the 30-day effectiveness period 
specified under 49 CFR 1150.32(b) to allow the exemption to become 
effective immediately.\1\
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    \1\ The petition for waiver will be addressed in a separate 
decision.
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    SVMR certifies that the proposed acquisition of the Line does not 
involve any provision or agreement that would limit future interchange 
with a third-party connecting carrier. SVMR further certifies that its 
projected annual revenues as a result of this transaction are not 
expected to exceed $5 million and will not result in the creation of a 
Class II or Class I rail carrier.
    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.
    All pleadings, referring to Docket No. FD 36955, 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 
SVMR's representative, Thomas J. Litwiler, Fletcher & Sippel LLC, 29 
North Wacker Drive, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606-3208.
    According to SVMR, 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: September 22, 2026.

    By the Board, Anika S. Cooper, Chief Counsel, Office of Chief 
Counsel.
Jeffrey Herzig,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2026-19627 Filed 9-24-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P


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Indexed from Federal Register on September 25, 2026.

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