16872 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 65 / Thursday, April 5, 2007 / Notices

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION controlled by FirstGroup America, Inc., employees of will not be a wholly owned subsidiary of adversely impacted. Additional Surface Transportation Board FirstGroup USA, Inc.; and First information, including a copy of the [STB Docket No. MC–F–21020] Services, Inc. is wholly owned by application, may be obtained from the FirstGroup USA, Inc. applicant’s representative. Firstgroup PLC—Acquisition—Laidlaw Laidlaw is a noncarrier holding On the basis of the application, we International, Inc. company, with operations conducted by find that the proposed acquisition of its subsidiaries: Laidlaw Transit, Inc., control is consistent with the public AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board, d/b/a Laidlaw Education Services (MC– interest and should be authorized. If any DOT. 161299); Laidlaw Transit Services, Inc. opposing comments are timely filed, ACTION: Notice tentatively approving (MC–163344); and , this finding will be deemed vacated, finance transaction. Inc. (MC–1515), Greyhound and unless a final decision can be made Transportation Corp. (MC–304126) and on the record as developed, a SUMMARY: On March 8, 2007, FirstGroup subsidiaries (collectively Greyhound).3 procedural schedule will be adopted to plc (FirstGroup), a noncarrier in control The gross operating revenues of reconsider the application. See 49 CFR of one or more motor carriers of FirstGroup and Laidlaw exceed $2 1182.6(c). If no opposing comments are passengers, filed an application under million annually. Under the terms of the filed by the expiration of the comment 49 U.S.C. 14303 to acquire Laidlaw Acquisition Agreement, FirstGroup has period, this notice will take effect International, Inc. (Laidlaw), a agreed to acquire Laidlaw by way of a automatically and will be the final noncarrier in control of one or more merger of FirstGroup Acquisition 1 Board action. motor carriers of passengers. Persons Corporation 4 (a newly incorporated Board decisions and notices are wishing to oppose this application must Delaware corporation and a wholly available on our Web site at http:// follow the rules at 49 CFR 1182.5 and owned subsidiary of FirstGroup) with www.stb.dot.gov. 1182.8. The Board has tentatively and into Laidlaw. On completion of the This decision will not significantly approved the transaction, and, if no acquisition, Laidlaw will become a affect either the quality of the human opposing comments are timely filed, wholly owned subsidiary of FirstGroup environment or the conservation of this notice will be the final Board and, as in the past, will continue to energy resources. action. conduct operations through its It is ordered: DATES: Comments must be filed by May subsidiaries. 1. The proposed finance transaction is 21, 2007. Applicant may file a reply by Under 49 U.S.C. 14303(b), the Board approved and authorized, subject to the June 4, 2007. If no comments are filed must approve and authorize a filing of opposing comments. by May 21, 2007, this notice is effective transaction found to be consistent with 2. If timely opposing comments are on that date. the public interest, taking into filed, the findings made in this notice ADDRESSES: Send an original and 10 consideration at least: (1) The effect of will be deemed as having been vacated. copies of any comments referring to STB the transaction on the adequacy of 3. This notice will be effective May Docket No. MC–F–21020 to: Surface transportation to the public; (2) the total 21, 2007, unless timely opposing Transportation Board, 395 E Street, SW., fixed charges that result; and (3) the comments are filed. Washington, DC 20423–0001. In interest of affected carrier employees. 4. A copy of this notice will be served addition, send one copy of comments to FirstGroup and Laidlaw have on: (1) The U.S. Department of the applicant’s representative: Fritz R. submitted information, as required by Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Kahn, 1920 N Street, NW., 8th Floor, 49 CFR 1182.2, including the Safety Administration, 400 7th Street, Washington, DC 20036. information to demonstrate that the SW., Room 8214, Washington, DC proposed transaction is consistent with 20590; (2) the U.S. Department of FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julia the public interest under 49 U.S.C. Justice, Antitrust Division, 10th Street & Farr (202) 245–0359 [Federal 14303(b). Applicant states that the Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Information Relay Service (FIRS) for the proposed transaction will have no Washington, DC 20530; and (3) the U.S. hearing impaired: 1–800–877–8339]. impact on the adequacy of Department of Transportation, Office of SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: transportation services available to the the General Counsel, 400 7th Street, FirstGroup is a public limited company public, that the proposed transaction SW., Washington, DC 20590. organized under the laws of Scotland, will not have an adverse effect on total Decided: March 30, 2007. U.K. It is the largest operator and fixed charges, and that the interests of largest passenger rail operator in the By the Board, Chairman Nottingham, Vice United Kingdom. FirstGroup’s North Chairman Buttrey, and Commissioner transaction. Accordingly, we deny FirstGroup’s Mulvey. American operations, First Student, Inc. request for authorization and we inform FirstGroup (MC–191534) and , Inc. that it must file a new complete application under Vernon A. Williams, 2 49 CFR 1182 to authorize First Transit’s acquisition Secretary. (First Transit) (MC–576222) are of Cognisa. 3 Greyhound has eight affiliates in the United [FR Doc. E7–6380 Filed 4–4–07; 8:45 am] 1 As supplemented by facsimile received on States rendering scheduled intercity, special and BILLING CODE 4915–01–P March 14, 2007. charter bus transportation: Americanos U.S.A., 2 In 2006 First Transit purchased Cognisa L.L.C. (MC–309813); Carolina Company Transportation, Inc. (Cognisa), a transit service (MC–13300); Crucero U.S.A., L.L.C. (MC–438895); provider registered as a motor carrier rendering Hotard Coaches, Inc. (MC–143881); Mississippi DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY special and charter operations pursuant to authority Coast Limousine, Inc., d/b/a Coastliner (MC– granted in MC–548215. Cognisa has been merged 133182); Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma Internal Revenue Service into First Transit. Board authorization was not Coaches, Inc., (MC–61120); Valley Transit Company sought at the time of the transaction. FirstGroup (MC–74); and Vermont Transit Co., Inc. (MC– Open Meeting of the Ad Hoc asks the Board, as part of this transaction, to 45626). approve the acquisition of Cognisa by First Transit. 4 By letter filed on March 20, 2007, the name of Committee of the Taxpayer Advocacy In support of this request, FirstGroup has provided, the company was changed from Fern Acquisition Panel in the supplemental filing, uncertified information Vehicle Corporation to FirstGroup Acquisition that is insufficient under the requirements of 49 Corporation. The corporate structure of FirstGroup AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), CFR 1182.2 to support Board authorization of this and the proposed transaction have not changed. Treasury.

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