[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 180 (Friday, September 15, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 56019]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-23661]



[[Page 56019]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Docket Nos. AB-486 (Sub-No. 2X) and AB-33 (Sub. No. 154X)]


Kyle Railroad Company--Discontinuance of Service Exemption--in 
Smith, Phillips and Norton Counties, KS and Union Pacific Railroad 
Company--Abandonment Exemption--in Smith, Phillips and Norton Counties, 
KS

    On August 28, 2000, Kyle Railroad Company (Kyle) and Union Pacific 
Railroad Company (UP) (collectively, petitioners) jointly filed with 
the Surface Transportation Board (Board) a petition under 49 U.S.C. 
10502 for exemption \1\ from the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 10903 for Kyle 
to discontinue service over and UP to abandon a 70.5-mile segment of a 
line of railroad known as the Lenora Branch, extending from milepost 
552.7 near Harlan to the end of the line at milepost 623.6 near Lenora, 
in Smith, Phillips, and Norton Counties, KS.\2\ The line traverses U.S. 
Postal Zip Codes 67638, 67628, 67626, 67644, 67639, 67661, 67646, and 
67645, and includes the stations of Gaylord (milepost 557.8), Cedar 
(milepost 563.0), Claudell (milepost 567.4), Kirwin (milepost 572.4), 
Glade (milepost 583.1), Speed (milepost 589.8), Logan (milepost 598.5), 
and Edmond (milepost 612.9).
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    \1\ Petitioners' original petition for exemption was filed on 
August 23, 2000. On August 28, 2000, Kyle filed supplemental 
information that had been omitted from the original petition. 
Accordingly, August 28, 2000, when all of the required information 
was submitted, is considered to be the actual filing date and the 
due dates in this notice are based on that date.
    \2\ Petitioners state that milepost 582.52 is equivalent to 
milepost 582.92, which makes the line 0.4 mile shorter than it would 
appear from the terminal mileposts.
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    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 by December 15, 2000.
    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 $1,000. 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 October 5, 2000. 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 
Nos. AB-486 (Sub-No. 2X) and AB-33 (Sub-No. 154X) and must be sent to: 
(1) Surface Transportation Board, Office of the Secretary, Case Control 
Unit, 1925 K Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20423-0001; (2) Fritz R. 
Kahn, 1920 N Street, N.W. (8th Floor), Washington, DC 20036-1601; and 
(3) James P. Gatlin, 1416 Dodge Street (#830), Omaha, NE 68179-0001. 
Replies to the petition are due on or before October 5, 2000.
    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 1-800-
877-8339.]
    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. Other interested persons may contact SEA to obtain a copy 
of the EA (or EIS). EAs in these abandonment proceedings normally will 
be made available within 60 days of the filing of the petition. The 
deadline for submission of comments on the EA will generally be within 
30 days of its service.
    Board decisions and notices are available on our website at 
``WWW.STB.DOT.GOV.''

    Decided: September 8, 2000.

    By the Board, David M. Konschnik, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-23661 Filed 9-14-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P