[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