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San Joaquin Valley Railroad Co. (SJVR) has filed a notice to continue leasing and operating 101.5 miles of rail lines from Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP). This new lease replaces a previous one from 1994 and includes an interchange commitment. SJVR ensures its revenue won’t exceed the limit for a Class III carrier but admits it currently surpasses $5 million, for which it seeks a waiver on the 60-day labor notice period. This request will be reviewed separately by the Surface Transportation Board, which will set the exemption's effective date.

Louisiana Southern Railroad, L.L.C. (LAS), a small rail company, has filed a notice to continue leasing and operating about 165.8 miles of rail lines from the Kansas City Southern Railway Company (KCS). The lease agreements have been in place since 2005 and were recently amended to extend until November 2034. LAS must meet certain conditions, such as informing employees and unions about the transaction, because their annual revenues exceed $5 million. However, LAS has requested a waiver for the 60-day advance notice requirement, which will be decided separately. The document mentions the possibility of legal challenges but notes that LA's operations are exempt from environmental and historic preservation reporting.

The Surface Transportation Board received a prefiling notification regarding a proposed transaction where Norfolk Southern Corporation and Norfolk Southern Railway Company aim to gain control of Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line Railroad Company. After reviewing the February 14, 2025 submission, the Board determined the transaction is "significant" rather than "minor," requiring more detailed information and compliance with different procedures. The Board instructed Norfolk Southern to amend their application, submit a revised procedural schedule by March 21, 2025, and to pay the additional filing fee associated with significant transactions. Additionally, the Board noted concerns from CSX Transportation and the Virginia Port Authority about potential anticompetitive effects.

SRC Railway LLC, a noncarrier company, has announced its plan to lease and operate a 4.25-mile stretch of rail line called the Strasburg Line in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, from the Strasburg Rail Road Company. This action is part of a related notice that allows SRC to continue to control SRC Railway LLC once it starts functioning as a Class III rail carrier. The company assures that its annual revenue from this operation will not exceed $5 million, keeping it from advancing to a Class I or II rail carrier status. Any challenges to this lease exemption must be submitted by January 12, 2021, with the exemption's effective date being January 20, 2021.

Dakota Northern Railroad, Inc. (DN), a small Class III railroad, plans to lease and operate two rail lines from BNSF Railway Company in North Dakota. The rail lines extend 59.84 miles near Grafton, Walhalla, and St. Thomas, ND. DN is continuing an existing lease and expects to finalize the new lease terms before the current one expires on January 31, 2021, without any interchange commitments. The Surface Transportation Board notes that the transaction may proceed from January 29, 2021, and it won't lead to DN becoming a larger Class I or II rail carrier.

Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District (SMART), a Class III rail carrier, has filed for an exemption to acquire and operate an 87.65-mile rail line from North Coast Railroad Authority (NCRA) in California. The transaction allows SMART to be the freight operator using a noncarrier contract operator and is expected to be completed on or after March 4, 2021. SMART assures that its annual revenues from the deal will not exceed $5 million and that there are no agreements limiting future connections with other carriers. This transaction is mostly exempt from environmental and historic preservation reviews.

Mingus Mountain Railroad, LLC (MMRL) has filed a notice to acquire and operate a 38.74-mile rail line from Clarkdale Arizona Central Railroad, L.C. (CACR) in Arizona. MMRL is not a carrier yet but plans to run regular train services and acquire additional trackage rights after this transaction, becoming a Class III rail carrier. They assure that their annual earnings will not exceed $5 million, preventing them from becoming a larger Class I or II carrier. The transaction could be finalized by March 30, 2025, unless issues arise with the details provided in the notice.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has introduced an interim rule to help quantify, report, and verify greenhouse gas emissions linked with the production of biofuel feedstock crops grown using climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices. This rule is part of an effort to provide standardized guidelines for farmers and other entities within the biofuel supply chain, aiming to boost participation in environmental service markets. By offering a more uniform approach, the USDA hopes to increase transparency and efficiency in tracking reduced-carbon intensity crops, potentially enhancing environmental benefits and market opportunities. Comments from the public will be considered by the USDA as they seek to finalize the rule, which remains open for feedback until March 18, 2025.

Kansas City West Bottoms Railroad, LLC (KCWB) is planning to lease and operate a section of railroad track from Union Pacific Railroad Company in the Kansas City area. The agreement will involve the State Line Yard Tracks and a portion of the KC Metro Big Mary Subdivision between two mileposts. This transaction is pending exemption approval and is part of a larger plan involving Jaguar companies, which intend to manage KCWB as a Class III rail carrier. The transaction is expected to be finalized after March 5, 2025, provided all legal requirements are met and any exemptions are not revoked.

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) is proposing a rule that would require alcohol beverage labels to disclose the presence of major food allergens such as milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, soybeans, and sesame. This initiative aims to give consumers who are allergic to these foods essential information to make informed choices about alcohol consumption. The proposal is part of a broader push to standardize labeling with other food products, and TTB is considering an extended compliance period to reduce the impact on the industry, particularly small businesses. Comments on the proposal are being sought until April 17, 2025.