[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 67 (Tuesday, April 8, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17150-17151]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-8521]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Docket No. AB-850X]


St. Croix Valley Railroad Company--Abandonment and Discontinuance 
of Service Exemption--in Pine and Kanabec Counties, MN

    On March 19, 2003, St. Croix Valley Railroad Company (SCXY) 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: 
(1) Abandon its rail easement over a line of the Burlington Northern 
and Santa Fe Railway Company (BNSF) between milepost 58.3 at Mora 
Junction (Brook Park) and milepost 47.6 at Mora, a distance of 10.7 
miles;\1\ and (2) discontinue rail service pursuant to overhead 
trackage rights over a rail line of BNSF between Hinckley and Mora 
Junction (Brook Park), a distance of 8.2 miles, in Pine and Kanabec 
Counties, MN. The line traverses United States Postal Service zip codes 
55007, 55037, and 55051. There are three stations on the line.
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    \1\ According to SCXY, this segment was embargoed, effective 
July 22, 2002, due to unsafe track conditions.
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    The line contains Federally granted rights-of-way. Any requests for 
documentation should be made to BNSF as the owner of the line.
    The interest 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 July 7, 2003.
    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 a $1,100 
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 28, 2003. 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-850X and must be sent to: (1) Surface

[[Page 17151]]

Transportation Board, 1925 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20423-0001; 
and (2) Thomas F. McFarland, P.C., 208 South LaSalle St., Suite 1890, 
Chicago, IL 60604-1194. Replies to the SCXY petition are due on or 
before April 28, 2003.
    Persons seeking further information concerning abandonment and 
discontinuance 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) 565-1552. (Assistance for the 
hearing impaired is available through the Federal Information Relay 
Service 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 Web site at http://www.stb.dot.gov.

    Decided: April 3, 2003.

    By the Board, David M. Konschnik, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-8521 Filed 4-7-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P