[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 129 (Monday, July 7, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40331-40332]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-17011]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Finance Docket No. 30186 (Sub-No. 3)]


Tongue River Railroad Co.--Construction and Operation--Western 
Alignment

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of adoption of procedural schedule.

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SUMMARY: The Board is giving notice of the procedural schedule it 
adopted in a decision served July 7, 2003. The schedule is a result of 
the supplemental evidence the Tongue River Railroad Company (TRRC) 
filed to update the transportation aspects of its Western Alignment 
construction application in this sub-numbered proceeding (Tongue River 
III).

DATES: The Board's decision is effective on July 7, 2003. Pleadings and 
notices of intent to participate must be filed in accordance with the 
schedule set forth in the Appendix to this notice.

ADDRESSES: Send an original and 10 copies of the notice of intent to 
participate in STB Finance Docket No. 30186 (Sub-No. 3) to: Surface 
Transportation Board, 1925 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20423-0001. 
All subsequent filings must be concurrently served on the Board and all 
parties of record as listed in the forthcoming updated service list.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph H. Dettmar, (202) 565-1600 
[Assistance for the hearing impaired is available through the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339.]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Board's procedural schedule, each 
party of record (POR) will be allowed 40 days from the issuance date of 
the updated service list, discussed below, to file evidence or comments 
responsive to TRRC's supplemental evidence. A 40-day comment period 
provides ample time to analyze and comment on the updated evidence, 
which consists of two updated pro forma charts, four verified 
statements, and two letters supporting the proposal. This length of 
time balances the PORs' need to examine the updated evidence with the 
need to move forward on this matter. After the 40-day comment period 
has ended, TRRC will have 20 days to reply to the comments and 
responsive evidence.
    In addition, prior to the beginning of the 40-day comment period, 
an opportunity will be given for new participants to become PORs. It 
has been almost 5 years since notice of this alternative construction 
proposal was originally published, and there may now be additional 
members of the public with an interest in this matter. Anyone 
interested in becoming a POR and being added to the service list must 
file a notice of intent to participate with the Board within 10 days of 
the service date of this decision (by July 17, 2003).\1\ Send an 
original and 10 copies of the notice of intent to the address listed 
above. The new PORs must comply with the 40-day comment period, 
discussed above, for filing comments or evidence responsive to TRRC's 
updated evidence with the Board and serving copies on all other PORs.
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    \1\ Current PORs may update their addresses during this 10-day 
period by sending any new information to the Board.
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    After expiration of the 10-day period for filing notices of intent 
to participate, the Board will issue an updated service list, which 
will include persons who have given notice of their intent to 
participate pursuant to this decision, as well as those currently on 
the list. Within 5 days of the issuance of the updated service list, 
current PORs must serve the new PORs with copies of all filings 
submitted by that party since May 1, 2003. The current PORs will also 
be required to file with the Board, within 10 days of the service date 
of the updated list, an original plus 10 copies of a certificate of 
service indicating that the service required by this decision has been 
accomplished. The 40-day period for comments, described above, will 
begin running on the date the updated service list is issued.
    Copies of TRRC's supplemental evidence and its original Tongue 
River

[[Page 40332]]

III application are available for public inspection at the office of 
either the Surface Transportation Board or the applicant, TRRC.\2\
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    \2\ TRRC has filed a petition for substitution of parties, in 
which it requests that Tongue River Railroad Company, Inc. be 
substituted for Tongue River Railroad Company as the applicant in 
this proceeding. This petition has been contested and will be 
addressed in a subsequent decision by the Board. Until then, all 
pleadings should continue to refer to applicant as Tongue River 
Railroad Company. The address of the office where the copies 
mentioned above may be obtained has not changed.
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    Board decisions and notices are available on our Web site at 
WWW.STB.DOT.GOV.
    This decision will not significantly affect either the quality of 
the human environment or the conservation of energy resources.

    Decided: June 27, 2003.

    By the Board, Vernon A. Williams, Secretary.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.

Appendix--Procedural Schedule

July 17, 2003--Due date for notices of intent to participate as a 
POR.
L--Date of service of updated Service List.
L + 5--Due date for current PORs to serve previously submitted 
filings on new PORs.
L + 10--Due date for certificates of service from current PORs.
L + 40--Due date for comments or evidence responsive to the 
supplemental evidence.
L + 60--Due date for replies to comments and responsive evidence.

[FR Doc. 03-17011 Filed 7-3-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P