[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 216 (Friday, November 7, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63190-63191]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-27970]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Finance Docket No. 34305]


The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company--
Construction and Operation Exemption--in Merced County, CA

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board, Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment and request 
for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Surface Transportation Board's (Board) Section of 
Environmental Analysis (SEA) has prepared an Environmental Assessment 
(EA) in response to a petition filed by the Burlington Northern and 
Santa Fe Railway Company. The petition seeks an exemption under 49 
U.S.C. 10502 from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 10901 
for authority to construct and operate an 850-foot long rail line in 
Merced, California. The EA identifies the natural and man-made 
resources in the area of the proposed rail line and analyzes the 
potential impacts of the rail line construction and operation on these 
resources. Based on the information provided from all sources to date 
and its independent analysis, SEA preliminarily concludes that 
construction and operation of the proposed rail line would have no 
significant environmental impacts if the Board imposes and the 
Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company implements the 
recommended mitigation measures set forth in this EA. Copies of the EA 
have been served on

[[Page 63191]]

all interested parties and will be made available to additional parties 
upon request. The entire EA is also available on the Board's Web site 
(http://www.stb.dot.gov) by clicking on the ``Decisions & Notices'' 
button and searching by Service Date (November 7, 2003), Docket Number 
(FD 34305) or Full Text (key word ``Quebecor''). SEA will consider all 
comments received when making its final environmental recommendations 
to the Board. The Board will then consider SEA's final recommendations 
and the complete environmental record in making its final decision in 
this proceeding.

DATES: The EA is available for public review and comment. Comments must 
be postmarked December 10, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Comments (an original and 10 copies) should be sent in 
writing to: Surface Transportation Board, Case Control Unit, 1925 K 
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20423. The lower left corner of the 
envelope should be marked: Attention: Mr. David Navecky, Environmental 
Comments, Finance Docket No. 34305.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Navecky by mail at the address 
above, by telephone at (202) 565-1593 (FIRS for the hearing impaired 
(1-800-877-8339)), or by e-mail at [email protected].

    By the Board, Victoria Rutson, Chief, Section of Environmental 
Analysis.
Vernon Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-27970 Filed 11-6-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P