[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 77 (Friday, April 19, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17349-17350]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-9227]



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[[Page 17350]]


DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Surface Transportation Board
[Finance Docket No. 30186 (Sub No. 2)]


Tongue River Railroad Company--Construction and Operation of an 
Additional Rail Line From Ashland to Decker, in Rosebud and Big Horn 
Counties, Montana

    The Tongue River Railroad Company (TRRC) applied to the Interstate 
Commerce Commission (ICC), now the Surface Transportation Board 
(Board),\1\ for authority to construct and operate a 41-mile rail line 
from a point south of Ashland, MT to a point near Decker, MT. The ICC's 
Section of Environmental Analysis (SEA) began the environmental 
analysis of this proposal, considering the potential environmental 
impacts associated with TRRC's preferred route, the Four Mile Creek 
Alternative, and a ``no build'' alternative. SEA completed a Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (served July 17, 1992) and a 
Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (served March 17, 
1994).
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    \1\ The ICC Termination Act of 1995, Pub. L. No. 104-88, 109 
Stat. 803 (the Act), enacted December 29, 1995, and effective 
January 1, 1996 abolished the Interstate Commerce Commission and 
transferred certain rail proceedings to the Surface Transportation 
Board (Board) if they involve functions retained by the Act. This 
proceeding concerns a function, authorization of rail construction 
under 49 U.S.C. 10901, that has been transferred to the Board.
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    The Board's SEA has now completed the environmental review process, 
and its conclusions are discussed in the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (FEIS). SEA concludes that the Four Mile Creek Alternative 
would be environmentally preferable to the TRRC preferred route if the 
Board grants TRRC's proposal, because it would avoid the 
environmentally sensitive Tongue River Canyon. With the recommended 
mitigation, construction and operation of that route should meet 
applicant's project goals of providing more efficient service to coal 
shippers in this area, without having an unduly severe impact on the 
environment. The ``no build'' alternative, while environmentally 
benign, would not meet those objectives.
    Copies of the FEIS have been served on representative individuals 
and agencies. Also, two copies are available for review at the Rosebud 
County Library, Forsyth, MT. For additional information about the FEIS, 
please contact: Elaine K. Kaiser, Chief, Section of Environmental 
Analysis, or Dana White at (202) 927-6213.
    Copies of the FEIS are available to all persons for a fee through 
DC News and Data Inc. at (202) 289-4357, (assistance for the hearing 
impaired is available through TDD services (202) 927-5721) or by pickup 
from Room 2229, 1201 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20423. 
Because of limited resources, we are no longer able to make additional 
copies available at no cost.
    Date made available to the public: April 11, 1996.

    By the Surface Transportation Board, Elaine K. Kaiser, Chief, 
Section of Environmental Analysis, Office of Economic and 
Environmental Analysis.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-9227 Filed 4-18-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-U