Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 186 / Friday, September 25, 1998 / Notices 51397 application may be reviewed in person DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION acquire control of Clinton,2 ONE Bus,3 at this same location. and Wisconsin,4 by acquiring all of the Surface Transportation Board stock of each of these carriers. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA Coach submits that there will be no [STB Docket No. MC±F±20930] proposes to rule and invites public transfer of any federal or state operating comment on the application 98–02–C– authorities held by any of the acquired 00–GUC to impose and use PFC revenue Coach USA, Inc.ÐControlÐClinton Avenue Bus Company; Orange, carriers. Following the consummation of at Gunnison County Airport, under the the control transactions, these carriers provisions of 49 U.S.C. 40117 and part Newark, Elizabeth Bus, Inc.; and Wisconsin Coach Lines, Inc. will continue operating in the same 158 of the Federal Aviation Regulations manner as before and, according to (14 CFR part 158). AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board, Coach, although Clinton and ONE Bus On September 18, 1998, the FAA DOT. already share common owners, granting determined that the application to ACTION: Notice Tentatively Approving the application will not reduce impose and use the revenue from a PFC Finance Transaction. competitive options available to the submitted by Gunnison County Airport, traveling public. Coach submits that Gunnison, Colorado, was substantially SUMMARY: Coach USA, Inc. (Coach), a each of the acquired carriers is relatively complete within the requirements of noncarrier, filed an application under small and that each faces substantial § 158.25 of part 158. The FAA will 49 U.S.C. 14303 to acquire control of competition from other bus companies approve or disapprove the application, Clinton Avenue Bus Company (Clinton); and transportation modes. in whole or in part, no later than Orange, Newark, Elizabeth Bus, Inc. Coach also submits that granting the December 15, 1998. (ONE Bus); and Wisconsin Coach Lines, application will produce substantial Inc. (Wisconsin), all motor carriers of The following is a brief overview of passengers. Persons wishing to oppose motor passenger carriers; and Coach USA, Inc.— the application. the application must follow the rules Continuance in Control—Salt Lake Coaches, Inc., Level of the proposed PFC: $3.00. STB Docket No. MC–F–20928 (STB served Sept. 4, under 49 CFR part 1182. The Board has 1998), in which it seeks to continue in control of Proposed charge effective date: tentatively approved the transaction, a new motor passenger carrier. December 1, 1999. and, if no opposing comments are 2 Clinton is a New Jersey corporation. It holds timely filed, this notice will be the final federally issued operating authority in Docket No. Proposed charge expiration date: MC–223062, which authorizes it to provide charter April 1, 2007. Board action. and special operations between points in the United DATES: Comments must be filed by States (except Alaska and Hawaii). It operates a fleet Total requested for use approval: November 9, 1998. Applicant may file a of approximately 30 buses, primarily in transit-type $619,631. services in northern New Jersey. Clinton does not reply by November 24, 1998. If no employ any persons, but uses employees of ONE Brief description of proposed project: comments are filed by November 9, Bus, with which it shares common owners. Planning studies; Terminal area land 1998, this notice is effective on that Together with ONE Bus, Clinton earned gross acquisition (Treadway property); annual revenues in fiscal 1997 of approximately date. $8.4 million. Prior to the transfer of its stock into Terminal area land acquisition (B&L ADDRESSES: Send an original and 10 a voting trust, it was owned by Kenneth C. White, property); Terminal area land copies of any comments referring to STB Joyce F. Revere, William S. Revere, Norman E. acquisition (Hertz property); Terminal Revere, Richard D. Revere, Frank P. Gallagher, Docket No. MC–F–20930 to: Surface Brenda J. Gallagher, John A. Gallagher, Jr., Stephen area land acquisition (Coleman Transportation Board, Office of the A. Gallagher, Alice M. Gallagher, Frank P. Gallagher property); Object free area land Secretary, Case Control Unit, 1925 K as Trustee of the Lisa A. Gallagher 1998 Trust, and acquisition (Percery property). Frank P. Gallagher as Trustee of the Kathryn A. Street, NW., Washington, DC 20423– Gallagher 1998 Trust. Class or classes of air carriers which 0001. In addition, send one copy of 3 ONE Bus is a New Jersey corporation. It holds the public agency has requested not be comments to applicant’s federally issued operating authority in Docket No. required to collect PFC’s: None. representatives: Betty Jo Christian and MC–206227, which authorizes it to provide charter and special operations between points in the United Any person may inspect the David H. Coburn, Steptoe & Johnson States (except Alaska and Hawaii). It also holds application in person at the FAA office LLP, 1330 Connecticut Avenue, NW., authority from the State of New Jersey to conduct intrastate operations. It operates a fleet of FOR FURTHER Washington, DC 20036. listed above under approximately 18 motorcoaches primarily in INFORMATION CONTACT and at the FAA FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: transit-type service in northern New Jersey, Regional Airports Office located at: Beryl Gordon, (202) 565–1600. [TDD for employs approximately 120 persons, and, together Federal Aviation Administration, the hearing impaired: (202) 565–1695.] with Clinton, earned gross revenues in fiscal 1997 of $8.4 million. Prior to the transfer of its stock into Northwest Mountain Region, Airports SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Coach a voting trust, it was owned by Kenneth C. White, Division, ANM–600, 1601 Lind Avenue currently controls 56 motor passenger Joyce F. Revere, William S. Revere, Norman E. SW, Suite 315, Renton, WA 98055– carriers.1 In this transaction, it seeks to Revere, Richard D. Revere, Frank P. Gallagher, Brenda J. Gallagher, John A. Gallagher, Jr., Stephen 4056. A. Gallagher, Alice M. Gallagher, Frank P. Gallagher In addition, any person may, upon 1 In addition to the instant application, Coach has as Trustee of the Lisa A. Gallagher 1998 Trust, and three other pending control applications: Coach Frank P. Gallagher as Trustee of the Kathryn A. request, inspect the application, notice USA, Inc.—Control—Brunswick Transportation Gallagher 1998 Trust. and other documents germane to the Company d/b/a The Maine Line; Mini Coach of 4 Wisconsin is a Wisconsin corporation. It holds application in person at the Gunnison Boston; Olympia Trails Bus Co., Inc.; Stardust federally issued operating authority in Docket No. County Airport. Tours, Inc. d/b/a Gray Line Tours of Memphis; and MC–123432, which authorizes it to provide charter Valen Transportation, Inc., STB Docket No. MC–F– and special operations between points in the United Issued in Renton, Washington on 20926 (STB served Aug. 14, 1998), in which it seeks States (except Alaska and Hawaii). It operates a fleet September 18, 1998. to acquire control of five additional motor of approximately 33 motorcoaches, 2 minibuses, passenger carriers; Coach USA, Inc.—Control— David A. Field, and 4 vans, in charter services in Wisconsin and Chenango Valley Bus Lines, Inc.; Colonial Coach other Midwestern states and intrastate regular route Manager, Planning, Programming and Corp.; GL Bus Lines, Inc.; Gray Line Air Shuttle, services in Wisconsin; employs approximately 90 Capacity Branch, Northwest Mountain Inc.; Gray Line New York Tours, Inc.; Hudson full and part time employees; and earned gross Region. Transit Corporation; Hudson Transit Lines, Inc.; revenues in fiscal 1997 of $5.0 million. Prior to the and International Bus Services, Inc., STB Docket transfer of its stock into a voting trust, it was owned [FR Doc. 98–25744 Filed 9–24–98; 8:45 am] No. MC–F–20927 (STB served Aug. 28, 1998), in by Michael L. Hansen, Thomas D. Czanecki, and BILLING CODE 4910±13±M which it seeks to acquire control of eight additional John H. Osborne. 51398 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 186 / Friday, September 25, 1998 / Notices benefits, including interest cost savings procedural schedule will be adopted to of an AAR–ASLRRA Agreement (the from the restructuring of debt and reconsider the application.6 If no Agreement) that addresses issues raised reduced operating costs from Coach’s opposing comments are filed by the in Review of Rail Access and enhanced volume purchasing power. expiration of the comment period, this Competition Issues, Ex Parte No. 575 Specifically, Coach claims that each decision will take effect automatically (STB served Apr. 17, 1998) (Review). carrier to be acquired will benefit from and will be the final Board action. The Agreement, to which rail carriers the lower insurance premiums Board decisions and notices are may subscribe on an individual basis, is negotiated by Coach and from volume available on our website at intended to provide a framework for discounts for equipment and fuel. Coach ‘‘www.stb.dot.gov’’. improving the ability of smaller (Class II indicates that it will provide each This decision will not significantly or III) railroads and Class I railroads to carrier to be acquired with centralized affect either the quality of the human work together to fulfill their shared goal legal and accounting functions and environment or the conservation of of serving the shipping public in the coordinated purchasing services. In energy resources. most efficient possible manner. The addition, Coach states that vehicle It is ordered: rate-related principles outlined in the sharing arrangements will be facilitated 1. The proposed acquisition of control Agreement constitute a series of through Coach to ensure maximum use is approved and authorized, subject to bilateral commitments by each and efficient operation of equipment, the filing of opposing comments. subscribing Class I carrier to each and that coordinated driver training 2. If timely opposing comments are subscribing smaller railroad with which services will be provided. Coach also filed, the findings made in this decision it connects with respect to switch states that the proposed transaction will will be deemed as having been vacated. charges and interline rates between benefit the employees of each carrier 3. This decision will be effective on those two carriers. These principles and that all collective bargaining November 9, 1998, unless timely relate to rates within the meaning of 49 agreements will be honored. opposing comments are filed. U.S.C. 10706(a)(2)(A). The Board is Coach plans to acquire control of 4. A copy of this notice will be served approving the application on an interim additional motor passenger carriers in on: (1) the U.S. Department of basis, subject to comments. If opposing the coming months. It asserts that the Transportation, Office of Motor Carriers- comments are timely filed, the Board financial benefits and operating HIA 30, 400 Virginia Avenue, SW, Suite will consider the comments, and any efficiencies will be enhanced further by 600, Washington, DC 20024; and (2) the reply, and issue a further decision on these subsequent transactions. Over the U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust the application. Absent opposing long term, Coach states that it will Division, 10th Street & Pennsylvania comments, this notice will constitute provide centralized marketing and Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20530. final approval of the application and reservation services for the bus firms Decided: September 18, 1998. will be the final Board action. that it controls, thereby further By the Board, Chairman Morgan and Vice DATES: Comments must be filed by enhancing the benefits resulting from Chairman Owen. October 26, 1998. Applicants may file a these control transactions. Vernon A. Williams, reply by November 10, 1998. If no Coach certifies that none of the Secretary. comments are filed by October 26, 1998, carriers to be acquired holds an [FR Doc. 98–25599 Filed 9–24–98; 8:45 am] this interim approval will be final as of unsatisfactory safety rating from the BILLING CODE 4915±00±M that date. 5 U.S. Department of Transportation, that ADDRESSES: Send an original and 10 each has sufficient liability insurance; copies of any comments referring to STB that none is domiciled in Mexico or DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Docket No. S5R 100 to: Surface owned or controlled by persons of that Transportation Board, Office of the country; and that approval of the Surface Transportation Board Secretary, Case Control Unit, 1925 K transaction will not significantly affect [STB Docket No. S5R 100] Street, NW, Washington, DC 20423– either the quality of the human 0001. In addition, send one copy of environment or the conservation of Association of American Railroads and comments to applicants’ energy resources. Additional American Short Line and Regional representatives: Arvid E. Roach II, information may be obtained from Railroad AssociationÐAgreementÐ Covington & Burling, 1201 Pennsylvania applicant’s representatives. Application Under 49 U.S.C. 10706 Avenue, NW, P.O. Box 7566, Under 49 U.S.C. 14303(b), we must Washington, DC 20044–7566, for AAR; AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board. approve and authorize a transaction we and Alice C. Saylor, American Short find consistent with the public interest, ACTION: Notice of interim approval. Line and Regional Railroad Association, taking into consideration at least: (1) the SUMMARY: The Association of American 1120 G Street, NW, Suite 520, effect of the transaction on the adequacy Washington, DC 20005. of transportation to the public; (2) the Railroads (AAR) and the American FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: total fixed charges that result; and (3) Short Line and Regional Railroad the interest of affected carrier Association (ASLRRA) have filed an Beryl Gordon, (202) 565–1600. (TDD for employees. application under 49 U.S.C. 10706 for the hearing impaired: (202) 565–1695.) On the basis of the application, we approval of the rate-related provisions SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In Review, find that the proposed acquisition of slip op. at 8, we discussed impediments control is consistent with the public 6 Under revised 49 CFR part 1182, scheduled to to the ability of smaller railroads to become effective October 1, 1998, as adopted in reach their full potential in providing interest and should be authorized. If any Revisions to Regulations Governing Finance opposing comments are timely filed, Applications Involving Motor Passenger Carriers, service to the shipping public. Noting this finding will be deemed vacated STB Ex Parte No. 559 (STB served Sept. 1, 1998), our preference for private-sector over and, unless a final decision can be made there will be minor changes to the procedures government-mandated solutions, we involved in motor passenger finance applications. urged the railroads to address and on the record as developed, a As pertinent, a procedural schedule will not be issued if the Board is able to dispose of opposition resolve these issues expeditiously. We 5 Clinton and ONE Bus have no safety rating; to the application on the basis of the comment and committed to take administrative action Wisconsin holds a satisfactory safety rating. applicant’s reply. as necessary and appropriate to