38631                     SERVICE DATE – LATE RELEASE DECEMBER 19, 2007

SEC

 

SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

 

DECISION

 

STB Finance Docket No. 35108

 

PERMIAN BASIN RAILWAYS, INC.─ACQUSITION OF CONTROL EXEMPTION─

MOUNT HOOD RAILROAD

 

MOTION FOR PROTECTIVE ORDER

 

Decided:  December 19, 2007

 

            By motion filed on December 11, 2007, Permian Basin Railways, Inc. (Permian) seeks a protective order under 49 CFR 1104.14 to protect the confidential and commercially sensitive terms and conditions of the Agreement for Sale of Stock (the Agreement) between Permian and Mount Hood Railroad (MHRR) submitted under seal in this proceeding.  Permian also has filed a notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1180.2(d)(2) to acquire control of MHRR by purchasing 100% of the stock of MHRR while remaining in control of five existing rail carriers, Texas-New Mexico Railroad, West Texas & Lubbock Railway, Arizona Eastern Railway, San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad, and the Chicago Terminal Railway.

 

            Good cause exists to grant the motion for protective order.  Permian submits that a protective order is necessary because the Agreement contains commercially sensitive information that could harm Permian if those terms were made public. 

 

            The motion conforms with the Board’s rules at 49 CFR 1104.14 governing protective orders to maintain the confidentiality of materials submitted to the Board.  Issuance of the protective order will ensure that confidential information will be used solely for this proceeding and not for other purposes.  Accordingly, the motion for protective order will be granted, and the Agreement shall be subject to the Protective Order and Undertaking, as modified, contained in the Appendix to this decision.[1]

 

            This decision will not significantly affect either the quality of the human environment or the conservation of energy resources.

 

            It is ordered:

 

            1.  The motion for a protective order is granted, and the Protective Order and Undertaking in the Appendix to this decision are adopted.

 

            2.  The Agreement submitted in STB Finance Docket No. 35108 will be kept under seal by the Board and not placed in the public docket or otherwise disclosed to the public, unless the attached Undertaking is executed and the terms of the Protective Order are followed, or unless otherwise ordered by the Board.

 

            3.  This decision is effective on its service date.

 

By the Board, Vernon A. Williams, Secretary.

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                            Vernon A. Williams

                                                                                                                      Secretary

 

 

APPENDIX

 

                        PROTECTIVE ORDER

 

            1.  For purposes of this Protective Order, “Confidential Information” means the executed purchase and sale agreement and all supporting documents furnished by Permian Basin Railways, Inc. (Permian) in connection with Permian’s notice of exemption in the above-captioned matter.

 

2.  Confidential Information shall be provided to any employee, agent, counsel, or consultant of any party to this proceeding only pursuant to this Protective Order and only upon execution and delivery to Permian of the attached Undertaking.  Confidential Information shall be used solely for the purpose of this and any related Board proceedings, or any judicial review proceeding arising therefrom, and not for any other business, commercial, or competitive purpose.

3.  Confidential Information shall not be disclosed in any way or to any person without the written consent of Permian or an order of the Board, solely for use in connection with this and related Board proceedings, or any judicial review proceeding arising therefrom, provided that such person has been given and has read a copy of this Protective Order and agrees to be bound by its terms by executing the attached Undertaking prior to receiving access to this information.

4.  Any documents containing Confidential Information must be destroyed, and notice of such destruction must be served on Permian at the completion of this and any related Board proceedings, or any judicial review proceeding arising therefrom, whichever comes first.

5.  If the Board retains the Confidential Information, it shall, in order to keep it confidential, treat the information in accordance with the procedure set forth at 49 CFR 1104.14.

6.  If any party intends to use Confidential Information at hearings in this proceeding or in any related Board proceedings, or in any judicial review proceeding arising therefrom, the party shall submit any documents setting forth or revealing such Confidential Information to the Board, or the reviewing court as appropriate, under seal, and shall accompany such submission with a written request to the Board or the court to (i) restrict attendance at the hearing during discussion of such Confidential Information, and (ii) restrict access to the portion of the record or briefs reflecting discussion of such Confidential Information in accordance with the Protective Order.

7.  A person must file simultaneously a public version of any confidential submission it files with the Board.

8.  All parties must comply with all of the provisions stated in this Protective Order unless good cause, as determined by the Board, is shown by any party to warrant suspension of any of the provisions herein. 

 

 

UNDERTAKING

 

CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL

 

 

I, ___________________________________, have read the Protective Order governing the filing of Confidential Information by Permian Basin Railway, Inc. (Permian) in STB Finance Docket No. 35108, understand the same, and agree to be bound by its terms.  I agree not to use or permit the use of any data or information obtained under this Undertaking, or to use or permit the use of any techniques disclosed or information learned as a result of receiving such data or information, for any purposes other than the preparation and presentation of evidence and argument in STB Finance Docket No. 35108 or any judicial review proceedings taken or filed in connection therewith.  I further agree not to disclose any data or information obtained under this Protective Order to any person who is not also bound by the terms of this Protective Order and has not executed an Undertaking in the form hereof.

 

I understand and agree that money damages would not be a sufficient remedy for breach of this Undertaking and that Permian shall be entitled to specific performance and injunctive and/or other equitable relief as a remedy for any such breach, and I further agree to waive any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection with such remedy.  Such remedy shall not be deemed to be the exclusive remedy for breach of this Undertaking but shall be in addition to all remedies available at law or equity.

 

 

            Signed:  ________________________________

           

            Position: _______________________________

 

            Affiliation:______________________________

 

            Dated:    ________________________________