FOR RELEASE
Contact: Dennis Watson
02/23/2004 (Monday)
(202) 565-1596
No. 04-4
FIRS 1 (800) 877-8339
www.stb.gov


Public & Media Advisory: Surface Transportation Board To Hold April 2 Public Hearing in Trenton, N.J., & May 3 Public Hearing in Washington, D.C., in Agency’s "Conrail Merger" Oversight Proceeding


Surface Transportation Board Chairman Roger Nober today announced that the STB will hold public hearings on Friday, April 2, 2004, in Trenton, New Jersey, and on Monday, May 3, 2004 in Washington, D.C., concerning the agency's fifth and final round of oversight of the "Conrail merger" approved by the agency in July 1998, in the case entitled CSX Corporation and CSX Transportation, Inc., Norfolk Southern Corporation and Norfolk Southern Railway Company--Control and Operating Leases/Agreements--Conrail Inc. and Consolidated Rail Corporation, STB Finance Docket No. 33388 (Sub-No. 91)



Relative to the April 2 public hearing in Trenton:

• This hearing will be held at the Ceremonial Courtroom #1, Third Floor, Clarkson S. Fisher Federal Building & Courthouse, 402 East State Street, and will address the three "shared asset areas" created in the merger.



Relative to the May 3 hearing in Washington:

• This hearing will begin at 10:00 a.m. in the STB's Hearing Room on the 7th Floor of the Mercury Building, 1925 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., and will address all other issues related to the merger.



Forthcoming official public notices and STB news releases regarding the hearings will be available on the agency's Web site at http://www.stb.dot.gov.



The STB's February 12, 2004 decision in STB Finance Docket No. 33388 (Sub-No. 91) announcing the April 2 and May 3 public hearings and establishing procedures for persons to participate in the hearings is available for viewing and downloading via the agency's Web site at http://www.stb.dot.gov. A printed copy of the agency's decision also is available for a fee by contacting ASAP Document Solutions, 9332 Annapolis Rd., Suite 103, Lanham, MD 20706, telephone (301) 577-2600, or via asapmd@verizon.net. A fact sheet summarizing the issues in this case is attached.



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ATTACHMENT
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ATTACHMENT

FACT SHEET

CSX Corporation and CSX Transportation, Inc., Norfolk Southern Corporation and Norfolk Southern Railway Company--Control and Operating Leases/Agreements--Conrail Inc. and Consolidated Rail Corporation, STB Finance Docket No. 33388 (Sub-No. 91)

On July 23, 1998, the STB approved the "Conrail merger," subject to various conditions, including a five-year general oversight condition. The STB established the five-year oversight so that the agency could assess the merger's implementation and the workings of various other of the agency's conditions.

In its January 21, 2004 "Decision No. 11" in this case, the STB announced that, to allow interested parties an opportunity to express their views on the merger implementation, at least one public hearing would be held prior to June 1, 2004, the fifth anniversary of the merger's consummation. In its February 12, 2004 "Decision No. 12" in this case, the STB announced that a hearing would be held in Trenton, New Jersey on April 2, 2004, and that a hearing would be held in Washington, D.C. on May 3.

The April 2 hearing in Trenton will deal with the three "shared assets areas" (SAAs) created in connection with the merger. Parties and persons wishing to speak at this hearing should file with the STB an original and 10 copies of a written notice of intent to speak, and the requested time allotment, as soon as possible but no later than March 18, 2004. An original and 10 copies of the written statements of persons intending to speak at this hearing should be submitted to the STB no later than March 26, 2004.

The May 3 hearing in Washington will deal with all aspects of the merger other than the SAAs. Parties and persons wishing to speak at this hearing should file with the STB an original and 10 copies of a written notice of intent to speak, and the requested time allotment, as soon as possible but no later than April 16, 2004. An original and 10 copies of the written statements of persons intending to speak at this hearing should be submitted to the STB no later than April 26, 2004.

The required filings and summaries should refer to "STB Finance Docket No. 33388 (Sub-No. 91)" and be addressed to:

Attn: STB Finance Docket No. 33388 (Sub-No. 91)

Surface Transportation Board
1925 K Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20423-0001

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