Lone Star Railroad, Inc. and Southern Switching Company-Track Construction and Operation Exemption-in Howard County, Texas

The Board is granting an exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502 from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 10901 for Lone Star Railroad, Inc., to construct and operate a new line of railroad in Howard County, Tex. The Line would be used to provide rail service to an industrial park near Big Spring, Tex., via a connection with an existing Union Pacific Railroad Company mainline that extends between Dallas and El Paso, Tex. This exemption is subject to environmental mitigation conditions. The Board, however, is denying, without prejudice, the petition for exemption with respect to Southern Switching Company's proposed operation of the newly constructed line because the record does not support the authority requested.