98-6289. Harbor Belt Line Railroad; Discontinuance Exemption; Port of Los Angeles

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 11, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 11950]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-6289]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board
[STB Docket No. AB-542X]


Harbor Belt Line Railroad; Discontinuance Exemption; Port of Los 
Angeles

    On February 19, 1998, Harbor Belt Line Railroad (HBL) filed with 
the Surface Transportation Board a petition under 49 U.S.C. 10502 for 
exemption from the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 10903 to discontinue its 
switching operations on tracks owned by the City of Los Angeles (the 
City) within the Port of Los Angeles (the Port) harbor complex, Los 
Angeles County, CA.1 The tracks traverse U.S. Postal Service 
Zip Codes 90731, 90744, 90802, and 90822.
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    \1\ HBL was created in 1928 by the City and the railroads then 
serving the Port to provide switching service within the Port. HBL 
is now controlled by the City through its Board of Harbor 
Commissioners, Union Pacific Railroad Company and The Burlington 
Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company.
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    This transaction is related to Pacific Harbor Line, Inc.--Operation 
Exemption--Port of Los Angeles, STB Finance Docket No. 33411 (STB 
served Dec. 2, 1997), in which Pacific Harbor Line, Inc. (PHL), filed a 
notice of exemption to acquire operating rights from the City to 
provide the switching services being discontinued here. Upon 
commencement of services by PHL, HBL will be replaced as the operator 
of the lines in the harbor complex and will completely discontinue all 
operations.
    The lines do not contain federally granted rights-of-way. Any 
documentation in HBL's possession will be made available promptly to 
those requesting it. Because HBL is proposing to discontinue services 
over its entire line, no labor conditions will be imposed.
    By issuance of this notice, the Board is instituting an exemption 
proceeding pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 10502(b). A final decision will be 
issued by June 9, 1998.
    Any offer of financial assistance to subsidize continued rail 
service under 49 CFR 1152.27(b)(2) will be due no later than 10 days 
after service of a decision granting the petition for exemption. Each 
offer of financial assistance must be accompanied by a $1,000 filing 
fee. See 49 CFR 1002.2(f)(25).
    Because this is a discontinuance proceeding and not an abandonment, 
trail use/rail banking and public use conditions are not appropriate.
    This proceeding is exempt from environmental reporting requirements 
under 49 CFR 1105.6(c) and from historic reporting requirements under 
1105.8(b).
    All filings in response to this notice must refer to STB Docket No. 
AB-542X and must be sent to: (1) Surface Transportation Board, Office 
of the Secretary, Case Control Unit, 1925 K Street, N.W., Washington, 
DC 20423-0001; and (2) Samuel M. Sipe, Jr., Steptoe & Johnson, LLP, 
1330 Connecticut Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20036.
    Persons seeking further information concerning abandonment and 
discontinuance procedures may contact the Board's Office of Public 
Services at [phone] or refer to the full abandonment or 
discontinuance regulations at 49 CFR part 1152. Questions concerning 
environmental issues may be directed to the Board's Section of 
Environmental Analysis at [phone]. [TDD for the hearing impaired 
is available at [phone].]

    Decided: March 6, 1998.
    By the Board, Joseph H. Dettmar, Acting Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-6289 Filed 3-10-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P