[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 139 (Tuesday, July 21, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 39118]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-19402]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Surface Transportation Board
[STB Docket No. AB-554X]
Perry County Port Authority d/b/a Hoosier Southern Railroad;
Discontinuance Exemption; in Spencer County, IN
On July 1, 1998, Perry County Port Authority d/b/a Hoosier Southern
Railroad (HSR) filed with the Surface Transportation Board (Board) a
petition under 49 U.S.C. 10502 for exemption from the provisions of 49
U.S.C. 10903-10905 1 to discontinue service on a line of
railroad known as the Rockport Line extending from milepost 0.0 at
Rockport Junction to milepost 16.2 at Rockport, a distance of 16.2
miles in Spencer County, IN. As part of the exemption, HSR also seeks
to discontinue incidental trackage rights over approximately 1.1 miles
of Norfolk Southern Railway Company's (NSR) main line extending from
milepost 32.1-EB at Rockport Junction to milepost 33.2-EB at Lincoln
City, also in Spencer County, IN.2 The lines traverse U.S.
Postal Service Zip Codes 47552, 47611 and 47635. The Rockport Line
includes the stations of Rockport, Chrisney, Rock Hill and Rockport
Junction.
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\1\ HSR seeks exemption from the offer of financial assistance
(OFA) subsidy provision of 49 U.S.C. 10904. This exemption request
will be addressed in the final decision. HSR also seeks exemption
from the public use provisions of 49 U.S.C. 10905. However, because
this is a discontinuance proceeding and not an abandonment, trail
use/rail banking and public use conditions are not applicable.
\2\ HSR desires to terminate service because NSR has terminated
its lease with HSR effective May 31, 1998. NSR resumed providing all
rail service on the Rockport Line as of June 1, 1998.
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The interest of railroad employees will be protected by the
conditions set forth in Oregon Short Line R. Co.--Abandonment--Goshen,
360 I.C.C. 91 (1979).
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 October 19, 1998.
Unless an exemption is granted from the OFA provisions of 49 U.S.C.
10904, any OFA 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 OFA must be
accompanied by a $1,000 filing fee. See 49 CFR 1002.2(f)(25).
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-554X 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) John D. Heffner, Rea, Cross & Auchincloss, Suite
570, 1707 L Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20036.
Persons seeking further information concerning abandonment and
discontinuance procedures may contact the Board's Office of Public
Services at (202) 565-1592 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 (SEA) at (202) 565-1545. [TDD for the hearing
impaired is available at (202) 565-1695.]
Board decisions and notices are available on our website at
``WWW.STB.DOT.GOV.''
Decided: July 14, 1998.
By the Board, Joseph H. Dettmar, Acting Director, Office of
Proceedings.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-19402 Filed 7-20-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P
