[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 52 (Friday, March 16, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 15324]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-6595]



[[Page 15324]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Docket No. AB-579X and STB Docket No. AB-580X]


County of Coahoma, Mississippi--Abandonment Exemption--In 
Tallahatchie and Coahoma Counties, MS and Gulf & Ohio Railways, Inc., 
d/b/a Mississippi Delta Railroad--Discontinuance of Service Exemption--
in Tallahatchie and Coahoma Counties, MS

    On February 26, 2001, the County of Coahoma, Mississippi (County) 
and the Gulf and Ohio Railways, Inc. d/b/a Mississippi Delta Railroad 
(MSDR) (jointly, petitioners) jointly 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. 10903-05.
    The County proposes to abandon its 51.06-mile rail line consisting 
of: (1) the 18.6-mile Lula Segment between milepost 55.40 near Lula and 
milepost 74.00 near Lyon, MS; and (2) the 32.46-mile Swan Lake Line 
between milepost 74.00 near Lyon and milepost 79.00 near Clarksdale, 
MS, and between milepost 76.54 near Clarksdale and milepost 104.00 at 
Swan Lake. The County also proposes to discontinue incidental overhead 
trackage rights over 1.39 miles of an Illinois Central Railroad Company 
(IC) rail line between milepost 104.00 and the connection with IC's 
main line at milepost 105.39.
    MSDR proposes to discontinue service over the County's above-
described 51.06-mile rail line, and also proposes to discontinue 
trackage and lease operating rights over the above-described 1.39 miles 
of IC's rail line.
    Located in Tallahatchie and Coahoma Counties, MS, the line 
traverses U.S. Postal Service Zip Codes 38614, 38645, 38617, 38963 and 
38921 and includes the station of Clarksdale.
    In addition to an exemption from 49 U.S.C. 10903, petitioners also 
seek exemptions from 49 U.S.C. 10904 (offer of financial assistance 
procedures) and 49 U.S.C. 10905 (public use conditions). In support, 
they state that the County intends to retain the track and bridges on 
the line and seek a new operator to provide service on a non-regulated, 
contractual basis. Petitioners indicate that MSDR has agreed to 
continue to operate the line through June 30, 2001; they request that 
the exemption be made effective the date MSDR proposes to terminate 
service, which may require a shortened period before the abandonment 
becomes effective. These requests will be addressed in the final 
decision.
    The line does not contain federally granted rights-of-way. Any 
documentation in petitioners' possession will be made available 
promptly to those requesting it.
    The interests of railroad employees will be protected by the 
conditions set forth in 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 June 15, 2001.
    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 offer must be accompanied by a $1,000 
filing fee. 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 April 5, 2001. Each trail use 
request must be accompanied by a $150 filing fee. See 49 CFR 
1002.2(f)(27). However, petitioners indicate that they are not willing 
to negotiate trail use.
    All filings in response to this notice must refer to STB Docket No. 
AB-579X, et al. and must be sent to: (1) Surface Transportation Board, 
Office of the Secretary, Case Control Unit, 1925 K Street, NW, 
Washington, DC 20423-0001; (2) William C. Sippel, Fletcher & Sippel 
LLC, Two Prudential Plaza, Suite 3125, 180 North Stetson Avenue, 
Chicago, IL 60601-6721; and (3) Troy W. Garris, Weiner Brodsky Sidman 
Kider PC, 1300 Nineteenth Street, NW, Fifth Floor, Washington, DC 
20036-1609. Replies to the exemption petition are due on or before 
April 5, 2001.
    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: March 9, 2000.

    By the Board, David M. Konschnik, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-6595 Filed 3-15-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P