19390 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 76 / Monday, April 21, 1997 / Notices MFL signal generation and analysis reliability of the gas transmission and An original and 10 copies of all methods to establish a baseline from hazardous liquid pipeline pleadings, referring to STB Finance which today's tools can be evaluated infrastructure. Docket No. 33346, must be filed with and tomorrow's advances measured. Issued in Washington, D.C. on April 15, the Surface Transportation Board, Office Then, it will develop improvements to 1997. of the Secretary, Case Control Unit, 1925 signal analysis methods and verify them Richard D. Huriaux, K Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20423± through testing under realistic pipeline Acting Associate Administrator for Pipeline 0001. In addition, a copy of each conditions. Finally, it will build an Safety. pleading must be served on Larry D. experience base and defect sets to [FR Doc. 97±10196 Filed 4±18±97; 8:45 am] Starns, Esq., Leonard, Street and generalize the results from individual Deinard, 150 South Fifth Street, BILLING CODE 4910±60±P tools and analysis methods to the full Minneapolis, MN 55402. range of practical applications. Decided: April 15, 1997. Task 2 is to evaluate two inspection DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION technologies for detecting stress By the Board, David M. Konschnik, Director, Office of Proceedings. corrosion cracks. The focus in Task 2 is Surface Transportation Board on electromagnetic techniques that have Vernon A. Williams, Secretary. been developed in recent years and that [STB Finance Docket No. 33346] could be used on or as a modification [FR Doc. 97±10235 Filed 4±18±97; 8:45 am] to existing MFL tools. Three subtasks Soo Line Railroad CompanyÐ BILLING CODE 4915±00±P will evaluate velocity-induced remote- Temporary Trackage Rights field techniques, remote-field eddy- ExemptionÐI&M Rail Link, LLC current techniques, and external DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION techniques for sizing stress corrosion I&M Rail Link, LLC (I&M) has agreed cracks. to grant temporary local and overhead Surface Transportation Board A Task 3 is being considered for an trackage rights to Soo Line Railroad [STB Finance Docket No. 33388] option year to the contract. Task 3, if Company d/b/a/ Canadian Pacific done, will verify the results from Tasks Railway (CPR) over I&M's trackage CSX Corporation and CSX 1 and 2 by tests under realistic pipeline between milepost 123.8 near Comus and Transportation, Inc., Norfolk Southern conditions. Task 3 will (1) extend the milepost 100.5 near Owatonna, in Rice Corporation and Norfolk Southern mechanical damage detection, signal and Steele Counties, MN. Railway CompanyÐControl and decoupling, and sizing algorithms This notice is related to I&M Rail Operating Leases/AgreementsÐ developed in the basic program to Link, LLCÐAcquisition and Operation Conrail Inc. and Consolidated Rail include the effects of pressure, (2) verify ExemptionÐCertain Lines of Soo Line Corporation the algorithms under pressurized Railroad Company D/B/A/ Canadian conditions in GRI's 4,700 foot, 24-inch Pacific Railway, STB Finance Docket AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board, diameter Pipeline Simulation Facility No. 33326 (STB served April 2, 1997). DOT. (PSF) flow loop, and (3) evaluate the use The purpose of the trackage rights is to ACTION: Decision No. 2; Notice of of eddy-current techniques for permit CPR to provide continuous prefiling notification and request for characterizing cold working within service on the line until I&M comments. mechanical damage. commences operations on the line. CPR SUMMARY: A drawback of present pig technology has submitted a filing in support of the Pursuant to 49 CFR 1180.4(b), is the lack of a reliable pig performance notice. The temporary trackage rights CSX Corporation (CSXC), CSX verification procedure that is generally will be effective on April 12, 1997, and Transportation, Inc. (CSXT), Norfolk accepted by the pipeline industry and will terminate automatically on April Southern Corporation (NSC), Norfolk Southern Railway Company (NSR), RSPA. The experience gained by the 12, 1999.1 Conrail Inc. (CRI), and Consolidated pipeline industry and RSPA with the As a condition to this exemption, any Rail Corporation (CRC) 1 have notified use of the PSF flow loop in this project employees affected by the trackage the Surface Transportation Board will provide a framework to develop rights will be protected by the (Board) of their intent to file a joint procedures for evaluating pig conditions imposed in Norfolk and application seeking authority under 49 performance. Defect detection reliability Western Ry. Co.ÐTrackage RightsÐBN, U.S.C. 11323±25 for: (1) The acquisition is critical if instrumented pigging is to 354 I.C.C. 605 (1978), as modified in of control, by CSX and NS, of CRI, be used as an in-line inspection tool in Mendocino Coast Ry., Inc.ÐLease and which is to be jointly owned by CSXC pipeline industry risk management Operate, 360 I.C.C. 653 (1980). This and NSC, by and through a special programs. notice is filed under 49 CFR purpose limited liability company (LLC) The ultimate benefits of the project 1180.2(d)(7). If it contains false or and LLC's wholly owned subsidiary, could be more efficient and cost- misleading information, the exemption Green Acquisition Corporation effective operations, maintenance is void ab initio. Petitions to revoke the (Acquisition); and (2) as soon as programs to monitor and enhance the exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d) practicable after the authorization and safety of gas transmission and may be filed at any time. The filing of exercise of such control, the division of hazardous liquid pipelines. Pipeline a petition to revoke will not Conrail's assets into (a) certain assets companies will benefit from having automatically stay the transaction. access to inspection technologies for which will continue to be held by CRI and CRC or their subsidiaries and detecting critical mechanical damage 1 The Board has previously authorized temporary and stress-corrosion cracks. Inspection or limited term trackage rights. Limiting the term operated for Conrail's account and that tool vendors will benefit by of the trackage rights is consistent with the limited understanding where improvements are scope of the transaction. Se, e.g., Union Pacific 1 CSXC and CSXT are referred to collectively as Railroad CompanyÐTrackage Rights ExemptionÐ CSX. NSC and NSR are referred to collectively as beneficial and needed. These benefits Chicago, Central & Pacific Railroad Company, STB NS. CRI and CRC are referred to collectively as will support RSPA's long-range Finance Docket No. 32959 (Sub-No. 1) (STB served Conrail. CSX, NS, and Conrail are referred to objective of ensuring the safety and July 25, 1996). collectively as applicants. Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 76 / Monday, April 21, 1997 / Notices 19391 of its stockholders; (b) certain assets SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the Applicants state that they will use the which will be the subject of separate notice of intent (CSX/NS±1) filed April year 1995 as the base year for purposes long-term operating agreements, 10, 1997, applicants state that CSX and of their impact analysis to be filed in the operating leases or other operating NS will participate jointly in the application, and that they anticipate arrangements with CSX and NS, acquisition of CRI consistent with CSX's filing their application on or before July respectively; and (c) certain assets and CRI's October 14, 1996 Merger 10, 1997.3 which will be separately owned by CSX Agreement, as amended through and The Board finds that this is a major and NS. In addition, as part of the including a Fourth Amendment dated transaction, as defined at 49 CFR overall transaction, NSR will sell to April 8, 1997, and under agreements 1180.2(a), as it is a control transaction CSXT a line of railroad formerly owned made between CSX and NS. CSX and involving two or more Class I railroads. by Conrail and now owned by NSR. NS jointly, through LLC and The application must conform to the The Board finds this to be a major Acquisition, will acquire all CRI shares regulations set forth at 49 CFR part 1180 transaction as defined in 49 CFR part not already held by voting trusts of and must contain all information 1180. As requested by applicants, the which CSX and NS are beneficiaries, required therein for major transactions, Board also waives the minimum 3- through a tender offer to be followed by except as modified by any advance month prefiling notification the merger of CRI with a subsidiary of waiver.4 The carriers are also required to requirement of 49 CFR 1180.4(b)(1), and Acquisition. The shares of CRI as submit maps with overlays that show invites comments from interested acquired will be placed in a voting trust their existing routes and those of their persons on applicants' proposed subject to the Board's regulations at 49 competitors. procedural schedule. CFR part 1013. Petition for Waiver DATES: Written comments on applicants' Once the CRI stock has been acquired, proposed schedule must be filed with and contingent on and following the By petition filed April 10, 1997 (CSX/ the Board no later than May 1, 1997. Board's authorization and approval of NS±2), applicants request that the Board Applicants' reply is due by May 8, 1997. control and the other contemplated waive the requirements of 49 CFR transactions, CSX and NS will assume 1180.4(b)(1) so that they need not wait ADDRESSES: An original and 25 copies of control of Conrail and, as soon as 3 months before filing their proposed all documents must refer to STB practicable thereafter, will cause Conrail primary application. Applicants Finance Docket No.