[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 199 (Wednesday, October 15, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59443-59444]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-26037]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Docket No. AB-842X]


Almono LP--Abandonment Exemption--in Allegheny County, PA

    On September 25, 2003, Almono LP (Almono) filed with the Board a 
petition under 49 U.S.C. 10502 for exemption from the provisions of 49 
U.S.C. 10903 to abandon its entire line of railroad extending between 
the plant of shipper MetalTech on the north side of the Monongahela 
River and an interchange point with CSX Transportation, Inc. (CSXT) 
north of CSXT's Glenwood Yard in Hazelwood, Allegheny County, PA, a 
distance of approximately 2 miles.\1\ Almono states that the line does 
not have milepost designations. The line traverses U.S. Postal Service 
Zip Codes 15207 and 15213 and includes no stations.
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    \1\ Almono acquired the line from Monongahela Connecting 
Railroad Company (Mon Con) in Almono LP--Acquisition and Operation 
Exemption--Line of Monongahela Connecting Railroad Company, STB 
Finance Docket No. 34250 (STB served Oct. 2, 2002). In that 
proceeding, Almono stated that Mon Con is a wholly owned subsidiary 
of LTV Steel Corporation (LTV), which is in bankruptcy and is 
liquidating its assets, and that it acquired Mon Con's assets as 
well as adjoining LTV property with court approval. Also, Almono 
informed the Board that it intended to seek abandonment of the 
acquired line shortly after consummation of the transaction. In the 
decision in that proceeding, Almono was told that it must submit 
evidence showing that the interest of the involved shipper, 
MetalTech, will be protected.
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    In addition to an exemption from 49 U.S.C. 10903, petitioner seeks 
exemption from 49 U.S.C. 10904 [offer of financial assistance (OFA) 
procedures] and 49 U.S.C. 10905 [public use conditions].\2\ In support, 
Almono

[[Page 59444]]

contends that the exemption from these provisions is necessary to allow 
the two shippers on the line to operate it as a private spur following 
abandonment without incurring the regulatory overhead costs associated 
with common carrier operations. Also, Almono will be able to proceed 
with plans to redevelop the adjoining property and the right-of-way. 
These requests will be addressed in the final decision.
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    \2\ Almono also seeks a waiver or exemption from various 
prefiling requirements, particularly detailed revenue and cost data 
[49 CFR 1152.22(d)] and detailed information on possible diversions 
to motor carriage [49 CFR 1105.7(e)(4)]. However, detailed revenue 
and cost data are not specifically required when petitioning for an 
abandonment exemption; such information is required to be filed only 
in abandonment applications. Almono has included the information 
pertaining to possible diversion to motor carriage in its 
environmental report. Accordingly, Almono does not appear to require 
the waiver sought.
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    The line does not contain federally granted rights-of-way. Any 
documentation in Almono's possession will be made available promptly to 
those requesting it.
    In this proceeding, Almono is proposing to abandon a line that 
constitutes its entire rail system. Almono seeks to extinguish its 
common carrier obligation and, following abandonment of the line, to 
operate it as a private carrier. When issuing abandonment authority for 
a railroad line that constitutes the carrier's entire system, the Board 
does not impose labor protection, except in specifically enumerated 
circumstances. See Northampton and Bath R. Co.--Abandonment, 354 I.C.C. 
784, 785-86 (1978) (Northampton). Therefore, if the Board grants the 
petition for exemption, in the absence of a showing that one or more of 
the exceptions articulated in Northampton are present, no labor 
protective conditions will be imposed.
    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 January 13, 2004.
    Any 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, 
unless the Board grants the requested exemption from the OFA process. 
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. Unless the Board grants 
the requested exemption from the public use provisions, 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 November 4, 
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-842X and must be sent to: (1) Surface Transportation Board, 1925 K 
Street, NW, Washington, DC 20423-0001; and (2) Robert D. Rosenberg, 
1224 Seventeenth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036. Replies to the 
Almono petition are due on or before November 4, 2003.
    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) 565-1539. [Assistance for the hearing impaired is available 
through the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) 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 http://www.stb.dot.gov.

    Decided: October 8, 2003.

    By the Board, David M. Konschnik, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-26037 Filed 10-14-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P