[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 59 (Tuesday, March 29, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15989-15990]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-6129]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Docket No. AB-32 (Sub-No. 93X), STB Docket No. 355 (Sub-No. 31X)]


Boston and Maine Corporation--Discontinuance of Service 
Exemption--in Suffolk County, MA; Springfield Terminal Railway 
Company--Discontinuance of Service Exemption--in Suffolk County, MA

    On March 11, 2005, the Boston and Maine Corporation (B&M) and 
Springfield Terminal Railway Company (ST) jointly filed with the Board 
a petition under 49 U.S.C. 10502 for exemption from the provisions of 
49 U.S.C. 10903. B&M and ST seek to discontinue service over a line of 
railroad known as the Mystic Wharf Branch, extending from milepost 0.0 
to milepost 1.45 in Suffolk County, MA.\1\ The line traverses U.S. 
Postal Service ZIP Code 02129 and includes no stations.
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    \1\ In 2003, B&M sold the underlying real estate, track and 
related structures of the Mystic Wharf Branch to the Massachusetts 
Port Authority (Massport), and retained a perpetual easement to 
perform rail service. Massport also entered into an operating 
agreement with B&M and ST for ST to provide rail service on the 
line. See Massachusetts Port Authority--Acquisition Exemption--
Certain Assets of Boston and Maine Corporation, STB Finance Docket 
No. 34276 (STB served Mar. 25, 2003). Because B&M is seeking 
authority only to discontinue service over the line, B&M remains 
obligated to seek abandonment authority to extinguish fully its 
common carrier rights and obligations under the perpetual easement.
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    The line does not contain federally granted rights-of-way. Any 
documentation in the possession of B&M 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 pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 10502(b). A final decision will be 
issued by June 29, 2005.
    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 $1,200 
filing fee. See 49 CFR 1002.2(f)(25).\2\
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    \2\ Because this is a discontinuance proceeding and not an 
abandonment, trail use/rail banking and public use conditions are 
not appropriate. Likewise, no environmental or historic 
documentation is required under 49 CFR 1105.6(c) and 1105.8.
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    All filings in response to this notice must refer to STB Docket 
Nos. AB-32 (Sub-No. 93) and AB-355 (Sub-No. 31X), and must be sent to: 
(1) Surface Transportation Board, 1925 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 
20423-0001, and (2) Katherine E. Potter, Law Department, Iron House 
Park, North Billerica, MA 01862. Replies to the petition are due on or 
before April 20, 2005.
    Persons seeking further information concerning discontinuance 
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 at

[[Page 15990]]

(202) 565-1539. [Assistance for the hearing impaired is available 
through the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-
8339.]
    Board decisions and notices are available on our Web site at http://www.stb.dot.gov.

    Decided: March 22, 2005.

    By the Board, David M. Konschnik, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 05-6129 Filed 3-28-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P