{"abstract":"The Surface Transportation Board (STB or Board) adopts final regulations governing proposals for major rail consolidations. These new rules substantially increase the burden on applicants to demonstrate that a proposed transaction would be in the public interest, by requiring them, among other things, to demonstrate that the transaction would enhance competition where necessary to offset negative effects of the merger, such as competitive harm or service disruptions.","action":"Final rules.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION","name":"Transportation Department","id":492,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/transportation-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/492","parent_id":null,"slug":"transportation-department"},{"raw_name":"SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD","name":"Surface Transportation Board","id":481,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/surface-transportation-board","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/481","parent_id":null,"slug":"surface-transportation-board"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2001/06/15/01-14984.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":1180,"title":49}],"citation":"66 FR 32582","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":null,"correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"These rules are effective July 11, 2001.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["STB Ex Parte No. 582 (Sub-No. 1)"],"dockets":[],"document_number":"01-14984","effective_on":"2001-07-11","end_page":32590,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2001/06/15/01-14984.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2001/06/15/01-14984/major-rail-consolidation-procedures","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/01-14984?publication_date=2001-06-15","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2001-06-15/01-14984/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":9,"page_views":{"count":1754,"last_updated":"2026-10-23 06:15:04 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2001-06-15/pdf/01-14984.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":null,"publication_date":"2001-06-15","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2001/06/15/01-14984.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{},"regulation_id_numbers":[],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":null,"signing_date":null,"start_page":32582,"subtype":null,"title":"Major Rail Consolidation Procedures","toc_doc":"Major rail consolidation procedures","toc_subject":"Practice and procedure:","topics":["Administrative practice and procedure","Bankruptcy","Railroads","Reporting and recordkeeping requirements"],"type":"Rule","volume":66}