[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 135 (Tuesday, July 15, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 41858]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-17840]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Finance Docket No. 34335]


Keokuk Junction Railway Company--Feeder Line Acquisition--Line of 
Toledo Peoria and Western Railway Corporation Between La Harpe and 
Hollis, IL

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.

ACTION: Notice of acceptance of feeder line application and institution 
of proceeding.

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SUMMARY: Subject to compliance with the requirements of 49 CFR 1105.7 
(environmental report), the Surface Transportation Board (Board) is 
accepting for filing an application submitted by Keokuk Junction 
Railway Company (KJRY). KJRY seeks to acquire, from Toledo, Peoria and 
Western Railway Corporation (TP&W), a 76-mile rail line between 
milepost 194.5 near La Harpe and milepost 118.5 at Hollis, IL (La 
Harpe-Hollis Line), and the Mapleton Industrial Spur and Wye Facilities 
(Mapleton Spur), a 2.5-mile line connected to the La Harpe-Hollis Line 
at milepost 121.5 at or near Kolbe, IL. Alternatively, KJRY seeks to 
acquire only the La Harpe-Hollis Line. The application was filed under 
the Feeder Railroad Development Program, 49 U.S.C. 10907 and 49 CFR 
Part 1151.

DATES: Competing applications must be filed by August 14, 2003; 
verified statements and comments addressing the initial and/or any 
competing applications must be filed by September 15, 2003; and 
verified replies by applicants and other interested parties must be 
filed by October 6, 2003. The Board will issue a decision on the merits 
after consideration of any competing applications, verified statements, 
comments, and verified replies that are submitted.

ADDRESSES: Send an original and 10 copies of any competing 
applications, verified statements, comments, and verified replies 
referring to STB Finance Docket No. 34335 to: Surface Transportation 
Board, 1925 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20423-0001. In addition, send 
one copy of any competing applications, verified statements, comments, 
and verified replies to (1) applicants' representatives: William A. 
Mullins and David C. Reeves, 401 Ninth Street, NW., Washington, DC 
20004-2134; and (2) TP&W's representatives: Gary A. Laakso, 5300 Broken 
Sound Boulevard NW., Boca Raton, FL 33487 and Louis E. Gitomer, 1455 F 
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20005.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under 49 U.S.C. 10907(b)(1), the Board is 
authorized to require the sale of a rail line to a financially 
responsible person if the public convenience and necessity permit or 
require the sale. KJRY contends that the proposed sale is required 
under the public convenience and necessity criteria, 49 U.S.C. 
10907(c)(1)(A)-(E), and that it is a financially responsible person 
willing to pay not less than the constitutional minimum value of both 
the La Harpe-Hollis Line and Mapleton Spur or only the La Harpe-Hollis 
Line.
    KJRY filed a feeder line application April 9, 2003, and a 
supplement to that application on June 9, 2003, offering to purchase 
the La Harpe-Hollis Line and Mapleton Spur for an estimated going 
concern value of $3,461,434. Alternatively, KJRY offers to purchase 
only the 76-mile La Harpe-Hollis Line for an estimated net liquidation 
value of $3,284,605. Under the latter offer, TP&W would retain 
exclusive access to, and all the revenues from, the Mapleton Spur and 
would receive without charge trackage rights over KJRY between Hollis 
and the Mapleton Spur.
    Subject to KJRY's compliance with the requirements of 49 CFR 
1105.7, KJRY has submitted sufficient information to meet the 
requirements of 49 CFR 1151.3. The Board will rule on the merits of the 
application as amended when the record is complete.
    Copies of the application and supplement may be obtained free of 
charge by contacting applicant's representatives. Alternatively, the 
application and supplement may be inspected at the offices of the 
Surface Transportation Board, Room 755, during normal business hours, 
or a copy of the application and supplemental filing may be obtained 
from the Board's Web site at HTTP://WWW.STB.DOT.GOV.
    Copies of the Board's decision may be purchased from Da-2-Da Legal 
Copy Service by calling 202-293-7776 (assistance for the hearing 
impaired is available through FIRS at 1-800-877-8339) or visiting Suite 
405, 1925 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20006.
    This action will not significantly affect either the quality of the 
human environment or the conservation of energy resources.

    Decided: July 1, 2003.

     By the Board, Joseph H. Dettmar, Acting Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-17840 Filed 7-14-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P