[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 40 (Wednesday, February 28, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 7427-7428]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4515]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
49 CFR Part 1153

[STB Ex Parte No. 534]


Removal of Obsolete Passenger Train or Ferry Discontinuance 
Regulations

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Surface Transportation Board (the Board) is removing 
obsolete regulations concerning passenger train and ferry 
discontinuances from the Code of Federal Regulations.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beryl Gordon (202) 927-5610. [TDD for 
the hearing impaired: (202) 927-5721.]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Effective January 1, 1996, the ICC 
Termination Act of 1995, Pub. L. No. 104-88, 109 Stat. 803 (the Act), 
abolished the Interstate Commerce Commission (the Commission) and 
established within the Department of Transportation the Surface 
Transportation Board. Section 204 of the Act provides that ``[t]he 
Board shall promptly rescind all regulations established by the 
[Commission] that are based on provisions of law repealed and not 
substantively reenacted by this Act.'' 49 U.S.C. 10908 and 10909, the 
statutory bases for the part 1153 passenger train 

[[Page 7428]]
or ferry discontinuance regulations, have been repealed. We are 
therefore removing the now obsolete part 1153 regulations.1 These 
changes are not necessarily the final changes in the regulations 
resulting from the elimination of 49 U.S.C. 10908 and 10909.2

    \1\  These regulations were last modified in Discontinuance or 
Change of Train or Ferry Service, 366 I.C.C. 877 (1983).
    \2\  At this time, we are not removing related matters found in 
the regulations concerning user fees (Sec. 1002) and environmental 
regulations (Sec. 1105.6), because we plan to separately address 
those parts shortly. Parties may submit other suggested changes to 
the Code of Federal Regulations in light of the elimination of 
Sec. 10908 and Sec. 10909.
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    Because this action merely reflects, and is required by, the 
enactment of the Act and will not have an adverse effect on the 
interests of any person, this action will be deemed to be effective as 
of January 1, 1996.
    This action will not significantly affect either the quality of the 
human environment or the conservation of energy resources.

List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 1153

    Administrative practice and procedure, Railroads.

    Decided: February 15, 1996.

    By the Board, Chairman Morgan, Vice Chairman Simmons, and 
Commissioner Owen.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble and under the authority 
of 49 U.S.C. 721(a), title 49, chapter X of the Code of Federal 
Regulations is amended by removing part 1153.

[FR Doc. 96-4515 Filed 2-27-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P