# 2026-12290: Rail Line Lease Deal Moves Forward in Whitman County

2026-12290, Washington, Idaho & Montana Railway LLC-Lease and Operation-BLPIRR LLC, is a Federal Register notice from Surface Transportation Board published 2026-06-18, effective 2026-07-04; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-06-25).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12290
- As of: 2026-06-25
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-12290
- Title: Washington, Idaho & Montana Railway LLC-Lease and Operation-BLPIRR LLC
- Type: Notice
- Agencies: Surface Transportation Board
- Citation: 91 FR 36930
- Published: 2026-06-18
- Effective: 2026-07-04
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-06-25

## In one line

Rail Line Lease Deal Moves Forward in Whitman County

## Summary

Washington, Idaho & Montana Railway LLC is set to lease and operate about 3.3 miles of rail line in Whitman County, Washington, from BLPIRR LLC starting July 4, 2026. This move won’t limit connections with other railroads and won’t create a bigger railroad company. The deal is expected to bring in less than $5 million a year, keeping things local and smooth.

## Effects PRIA read

- Local 3.27‑Mile Rail Lease Starts July 4, 2026: benefit, low. Washington, Idaho & Montana Railway LLC will lease and operate about 3.27 miles of the WIM Industrial Lead plus a 950‑foot Peterson Crossover and a 2,075‑foot Peterson House Track in Whitman County, Washington, beginning July 4, 2026. If you are a local shipper or business in Whitman County that us…
- Interchange Rights Preserved for Local Shippers: benefit, low. The lease agreement does not include any commitments or provisions that would limit future interchange with third‑party connecting carriers. That means local businesses using the Line can continue to connect with other railroads after the lease begins.
- Operator Expects Less Than $5 Million Yearly: benefit, low. WIMR certifies that its projected annual revenue from this transaction will not exceed $5,000,000 and that the transaction will not create a Class I or II rail carrier. The Board will treat this as a Class III (small) carrier action.

## Related documents

- [2026-22811](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22811): Policy Statement on Jurisdiction and Preemption Under the ICC Termination Act, 2026-11-09
- [2026-22666](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22666): Wilkes-Barre Terminal Railway Company-Acquisition, Operation and Change of Operator Exemption-Luzerne County Redevelopment Authority and Lu…, 2026-11-06
- [2026-22451](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22451): Kanawha River Railroad, L.L.C.-Lease Renewal and Operation Exemption With Interchange Commitment-Norfolk Southern Railway Company, 2026-11-04
- [2026-22256](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22256): Norfolk Southern Railway Company-Abandonment Exemption-in Madison County, Ohio, 2026-11-02
- [2026-22232](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22232): Release of Waybill Data, 2026-10-30
- [2026-22035](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22035): TBL Group, Inc.-Acquisition of Control-Horizon Motor Coach, Inc., 2026-10-29

## Sources
- [2026-12290 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/06/18/2026-12290/washington-idaho-and-montana-railway-llc-lease-and-operation-blpirr-llc)
- [2026-12290 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-06-18/pdf/2026-12290.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-12289, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Re…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12289)
- [Next: 2026-12291, BLPIRR LLC-Lease and Operation-Washington State Department of Transportation](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12291)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-12290 (as of 2026-06-25).