[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 137 (Monday, July 19, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43054-43055]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-16079]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Docket No. AB-33 (Sub-No. 214X), AB-853 (Sub-No. 2X)]


Union Pacific Railroad Company--Abandonment Exemption--in Lane, 
Ness and Rush Counties, KS; Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad Inc.--
Discontinuance Exemption--in Lane, Ness and Rush Counties, KS

    On June 29, 2004, Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP) and Kansas & 
Oklahoma Railroad, Inc. (K&O) jointly filed with the Board a petition 
under 49 U.S.C. 10502 for exemption from the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 
10903. UP seeks to abandon and K&O seeks to discontinue service over a 
line of railroad extending from milepost 664.5, near Healy, to milepost 
606.0, near McCracken, a distance of 58.5 miles in Lane, Ness and Rush 
Counties, KS. The line traverses U.S. Postal Service ZIP Codes 67556, 
67521, 67572, 67515, 67584, 67839, and 67850 and includes stations 
located at Shields, Pendennis, Utica, Arnold, Ransom, Osgood and 
Brownell, KS.
    The line does not contain federally granted rights-of-way. Any 
documentation in the possession of UP or K&O will be made available 
promptly to those requesting it.
    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 issuing this notice, the Board is instituting an exemption 
proceeding

[[Page 43055]]

pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 10502(b). A final decision will be issued by 
October 15, 2004.
    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 August 9, 2004. Each trail use 
request must be accompanied by a $200 filing fee. See 49 CFR 
1002.2(f)(27).
    All filings in response to this notice must refer to STB Docket 
Nos. AB-33 (Sub-No. 214X) and AB-853 (Sub-No. 2X) and must be sent to: 
(1) Surface Transportation Board, 1925 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 
20423-0001, (2) Karl Morell, Ball Janik LLP, 1455 F Street, NW., Suite 
225, Washington, DC 20005, and (3) Mack H. Shumate, 101 North Wacker 
Drive, Room 1920, Chicago, IL 60606. Replies to the petition are due on 
or before August 9, 2004.
    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 the 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: July 9, 2004.

    By the Board, David M. Konschnik, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 04-16079 Filed 7-16-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P