[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 221 (Friday, November 14, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 67572]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-27073]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Finance Docket No. 35147]


Norfolk Southern Railway Company, Pan Am Railways Inc., et al.--
Joint Control and Operating/Pooling Agreements--Pan Am Southern LLC

AGENCIES: Surface Transportation Board.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment and request 
for Public Review and Comment.

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SUMMARY: On May 30, 2008, Norfolk Southern Railway Company (Norfolk 
Southern), Pan Am Railways, Inc. (PARI), Boston and Maine Corporation 
(B&M) and Springfield terminal Railway company (Springfield Terminal) 
(collectively, Applicants) filed a petition with the Surface 
Transportation Board (Board) seeking Board approval under 49 U.S.C. 
11322 and 11323 of (1) the acquisition by Norfolk Southern and B&M of 
joint control and ownership of Pan Am Southern, LLC (PAS), a new rail 
carrier to be formed; and (2) the agreements by which Springfield 
Terminal would operate the lines of PAS and establish rates for PAS. 
The agreements for which approval and authorization are being sought by 
the application and the related filings will be referred to 
collectively as the Transaction. The Board, through its Section of 
Environmental Analysis (SEA), is the lead agency responsible for the 
preparation of the Environmental Assessment (EA).
    If the Transaction is approved, PAS would own or operate over 
(through trackage rights) approximately 437 miles of existing rail 
lines (referred to in the application as the PAS Lines), comprised of 
approximately 238.4 miles of existing rail lines to be owned by PAS and 
approximately 198.4 miles of existing track over which PAS would have 
trackage rights. Norfolk Southern would contribute capital to PAS which 
would go into improving infrastructure by creating a new intermodal and 
automotive facility in Mechanicville, NY (the Mechanicville Facility), 
creating a new automotive facility in Ayer, MA (San Vel Automotive 
Facility), making minor improvements at an existing intermodal facility 
at Ayer (Ayer Intermodal), and enhancing other infrastructure along the 
existing east-west main line. The Transaction also includes acquisition 
and/or operation by PAS of six other existing rail yards in addition to 
the three facilities at which some construction would occur. The 
Transaction does not contemplate any yard improvements or changes in 
activity at any of these six rail yards.
    Based on the information provided from all sources to date and its 
independent analysis, SEA preliminarily concludes that construction and 
operation of the two proposed new rail facilities and improvements to 
an existing rail facility and existing rail lines would not have 
significant environmental impacts if the Board imposes and Applicants 
implement the recommended mitigation measures set forth in the EA.
    Copies of the EA have been served on all interested parties and 
will be made available to additional parties upon request. The entire 
EA is also available for review on the Board's Web site (http://www.stb.dot.gov) by going to ``E-LIBRARY,'' clicking on the ``Decisions 
and Notices'' link, and then searching by the Service Date (November 
14, 2008) or Docket Number (FD 35147). SEA will consider all comments 
received in making its final 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth Blodgett, Project Manager, at 
(202) 245-0305; e-mail: [email protected]. Federal Information 
Relay Service for the hearing impaired: 1-800-877-8339.

DATES: The EA is available for public review and comment. All comments 
must be submitted or post-marked by December 15, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments (an original and one copy) to Surface 
Transportation Board, Case Control Unit, 395 E Street, SW., Washington, 
DC 20423, to the attention of Kenneth Blodgett. Environmental comments 
may also be filed electronically on the Board's Web site, http://www.stb.dot.gov, by clicking on the ``E-FILING'' link. Please refer to 
Finance Docket No. 35147 (FD 35147) in all correspondence, including e-
filings, addressed to the Board.

    Decided: November 14, 2008.

    By the Board, Victoria Rutson, Chief, Section of Environmental 
Analysis.
Kulunie L. Cannon,
Clearance Clerk.
 [FR Doc. E8-27073 Filed 11-13-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P