[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 168 (Friday, August 29, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 45917]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-23055]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Surface Transportation Board
[STB Docket No. AB-227 (Sub-No. 10X)]
Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway Company--Abandonment Exemption--in
Stark County, OH
On August 12, 1997, Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway Company (W&LE)
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 to
abandon a line of railroad known as the Massillon Branch, extending
from milepost 22.05 at Run Junction, near Navarre, OH, to the end of
the track at milepost 16.40, near Massillon, OH, which traverses U.S.
Postal Service ZIP Codes 44647, 44618, 44662, and 44616, a distance of
5.65 miles, in Stark County, OH. The line includes the station of
Massillon at approximately milepost 16.
The line does not contain federally granted rights-of-way. Any
documentation in the railroad's possession will be made available
promptly to those requesting it.
The interest of railroad employees will be protected by 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 no later than November 28, 1997.1
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\1\ W&LE seeks expedited handling of this petition and requests
that the exemption be made effective by November 1, 1997, or soon
thereafter. In support of its request, W&LE states that the almost
$130,000 that is expected from salvage of the track materials on
this line is vital to its short-term viability. If the record
supports an abandonment, we will attempt to accommodate W&LE's
request.
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Any offer of financial assistance (OFA) 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 the filing
fee, which currently is set at $900. See 49 CFR 1002.2(f)(25).
All interested persons should be aware that, following abandonment
of rail service and salvage of the line, the line may be suitable for
other public use, including interim trail use. Any request for a public
use condition under 49 CFR 1152.28 or for trail use/rail banking under
49 CFR 1152.29 will be due no later than September 18, 1997. Each trail
use request must be accompanied by a $150 filing fee. See 49 CFR
1002.2(f)(27).
All filings in response to this notice must refer to STB Docket No.
AB-227 (Sub-No. 10X) and must be sent to: (1) Surface Transportation
Board, Office of the Secretary, Case Control Unit, 1925 K Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20423-0001; and (2) William C. Sippel, Oppenheimer Wolff
& Donnelly, Two Prudential Plaza, 45th Floor, 180 North Stetson Avenue,
Chicago, IL 60601.
Persons seeking further information concerning abandonment
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.)
An environmental assessment (EA) (or environmental impact statement
(EIS), if necessary) prepared by SEA will be served upon all parties of
record and upon any agencies or other persons who commented during its
preparation. Any other persons who would like to obtain a copy of the
EA (or EIS) may contact SEA. The EA in this proceeding will be issued
by September 19, 1997.2 The deadline for submission of
comments on the EA will generally be within 30 days of its service.
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\2\ EAs in these abandonment proceedings are normally available
within 60 days of the filing of the petition, but SEA will attempt
to issue the EA earlier in an effort to accommodate W&LE's request
for expedited handling.
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Decided: August 20, 1997.
By the Board, David M. Konschnik, Director, Office of
Proceedings.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-23055 Filed 8-28-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P
