[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 127 (Friday, July 2, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36067-36068]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-16792]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board
[STB Docket No. AB-32 (Sub-No. 87X)]


Boston and Maine Corporation--Abandonment Exemption--in 
Rockingham and Hillsborough Counties, NH

    Boston and Maine Corporation (B&M) has filed a notice of exemption 
under 49 CFR 1152 Subpart F--Exempt Abandonments and Discontinuances to 
abandon an approximately 5.78-mile line of railroad on the Manchester 
to Lawrence Branch between engineering station 2474+75 and engineering 
station 2780+36 in Rockingham and Hillsborough Counties, NH. The line 
traverses United States Postal Service Zip Codes 03101, 03103 and 
03053.
    B&M has certified that: (1) no local traffic has moved over the 
line for at least 2 years; (2) any overhead traffic has been rerouted 
over other lines; (3) no formal complaint filed by a user of rail 
service on the line (or by a state or local government entity acting on 
behalf of such user) regarding cessation of service over the line 
either is pending with the Surface Transportation Board (Board) or with 
any U.S. District Court or has been decided in favor of complainant 
within the 2-year period; and (4) the requirements at 49 CFR 1105.7 
(environmental reports), 49 CFR 1105.8 (historic reports), 49 CFR 
1105.11 (transmittal letter), 49 CFR 1105.12 (newspaper publication), 
and 49 CFR 1152.50(d)(1) (notice to governmental agencies) have been 
met.
    As a condition to this exemption, any employee adversely affected 
by the abandonment shall be protected under Oregon Short Line R. Co.--
Abandonment-- Goshen, 360 I.C.C. 91 (1979). To address whether this 
condition adequately protects affected employees, a petition for 
partial revocation under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d) must be filed. Provided no 
formal expression of intent to file an offer of financial assistance 
(OFA) has been received, this exemption will be effective on August 1, 
1999, unless stayed pending reconsideration. Petitions to stay that do 
not involve environmental issues,1 formal expressions of 
intent to file an OFA under 49 CFR 1152.27(c)(2),2 and trail 
use/rail banking requests under 49 CFR 1152.29 must be filed by July 
12, 1999. Petitions to reopen or requests for public use conditions 
under 49 CFR 1152.28 must be filed by July 22, 1999, with: Surface 
Transportation Board, Office of the Secretary, Case Control Unit, 1925 
K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20423.
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    \1\ The Board will grant a stay if an informed decision on 
environmental issues (whether raised by a party or by the Board's 
Section of Environmental Analysis in its independent investigation) 
cannot be made before the exemption's effective date. See Exemption 
of Out-of-Service Rail Lines, 5 I.C.C.2d 377 (1989). Any request for 
a stay should be filed as soon as possible so that the Board may 
take appropriate action before the exemption's effective date.
    \2\ Each offer of financial assistance must be accompanied by 
the filing fee, which currently is set at $1000. See 49 CFR 
1002.2(f)(25).
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    A copy of any petition filed with the Board should be sent to 
applicant's representative: Robert B. Culliford, Esq., Boston and Maine 
Corporation, Law Department, Iron Horse Park, North Billerica, MA 
01862.
    If the verified notice contains false or misleading information, 
the exemption is void ab initio.
    B&M has filed an environmental report which addresses the 
abandonment's effects, if any, on the environment and historic 
resources. The Section of Environmental Analysis (SEA) will issue an 
environmental assessment (EA) by July 7, 1999. Interested persons may 
obtain a copy of the EA by writing to SEA (Room 500, Surface 
Transportation Board, Washington, DC 20423) or by calling SEA, at (202) 
565-1545. Comments on environmental and historic preservation matters 
must be filed within 15 days after the EA becomes available to the 
public.
    Environmental, historic preservation, public use, or trail use/rail 
banking conditions will be imposed, where appropriate, in a subsequent 
decision.
    Pursuant to the provisions of 49 CFR 1152.29(e)(2), B&M shall file 
a notice of consummation with the Board to signify that it has 
exercised the authority granted and fully abandoned the line. If 
consummation has not been effected by B&M's filing of a notice of 
consummation by July 2, 2000, and there are no legal or regulatory 
barriers to consummation, the authority to abandon will automatically 
expire.
    Board decisions and notices are available on our website at 
``WWW.STB.DOT.GOV.''

    Decided: June 25, 1999.


[[Page 36068]]


    By the Board, David M. Konschnik, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-16792 Filed 7-1-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P