[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 190 (Friday, October 1, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59000-59001]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-21983]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Docket No. AB-33 (Sub-No. 220X)]


Union Pacific Railroad Company--Abandonment Exemption-in Brown 
and Doniphan Counties, KS

    On September 13, 2004, Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP) filed 
with the Surface Transportation Board a petition under 49 U.S.C. 10502 
for exemption from the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 10903 to abandon a line 
of railroad known as the St. Joseph Industrial Lead, extending from 
milepost 2.52 near Elwood to milepost 33.60 near Robinson, a distance 
of 30.98 miles in Brown and Doniphan Counties, KS (13.9 = 14.0).\1\ The 
line traverses United States Postal Service ZIP Codes 66024, 66087, 
66090, 66434, and 66532, and includes no stations.
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    \1\ On September 22, 2004, UP submitted a clarification to the 
milepost equation. UP states that, prior to 1934, the Chicago 
Pacific Rock Island Railroad (RIRR) and the St. Joseph and Grand 
Island Railway (SJ&GI), a subsidiary of UP, shared the rail line 
running from St. Joseph, MO, crossing the Missouri River, and 
extending through Wathena, KS. UP indicates that west of Wathena, at 
milepost 7.4, the two railroads split. In 1934, UP ceased using its 
line between milepost 7.4 and Troy, KS, as a separate route, and 
substituted via trackage rights the route over the RIRR. UP then 
returned to its own rail line and, rather than re-milepost the 
entire balance of the SJ&GI, UP did an equation so it could retain 
the rest of the SJ&GI mileposts as they were. UP further states that 
to correct for the milepost shift, UP placed the milepost equation 
at Troy, and then the traditional SJ&GI mileposts ran from that 
point.
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    The line does not contain federally granted rights-of-way. Any 
documentation in UP's possession 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 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 December 30, 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

[[Page 59001]]

49 CFR 1152.28 or for trail use/rail banking under 49 CFR 1152.29 will 
be due no later than October 21, 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 No. 
AB-33 (Sub-No. 220X) and must be sent to: (1) Surface Transportation 
Board, 1925 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20423-0001, and (2) Mack H. 
Shumate, Jr., 101 North Wacker Drive, Room 1920, Chicago, IL 60606. 
Replies to the UP petition are due on or before October 21, 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 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 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: September 24, 2004.

    By the Board, David M. Konschnik, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 04-21983 Filed 9-30-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P