[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 18, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 7638]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-3241]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Docket No. AB-1023 (Sub-No. 1X)]


Puget Sound & Pacific Railroad Company--Abandonment Exemption--in 
Grays Harbor County, WA

    On January 29, 2009, Puget Sound & Pacific Railroad Company (PS&P) 
\1\ filed with the Board a petition under 49 U.S.C. 10502 for exemption 
from the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 10903 to permit PS&P to abandon an 
8,344-foot long rail line that begins just south of where the railroad 
line crosses U.S. Highway 101 in Hoquiam, and proceeds in a northerly 
direction for 8,344 feet to the end of the line, in Grays Harbor 
County, WA. PS&P explains that the line begins 3,424 feet north of the 
main track clearance off of the Elma Main and is part of the line known 
as the Horn Spur.\2\ The line traverses U.S. Postal Service Zip Code 
98550, and includes the station of Hoquiam.
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    \1\ PS&P is a subsidiary of Rail America, Inc.
    \2\ PS&P states that there are no mileposts on the line. PS&P 
also states that the line was purchased from The Burlington Northern 
and Santa Fe Railway Company in 1997. According to PS&P, the line 
has been embargoed since February 2008 due to track conditions.
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    The line does not contain federally granted rights-of-way. Any 
documentation in PS&P'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 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 May 19, 2009.
    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 $1,500 
filing fee. See 49 CFR 1002.2(f)(25).\3\
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    \3\ Effective July 18, 2008, the filing fee for an OFA increased 
to $1,500. See Regulations Governing Fees for Services Performed in 
Connection With Licensing and Related Services--2008 Update, STB Ex 
Parte No. 542 (Sub-No. 15) (STB served June 18, 2008).
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    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 March 10, 2009. 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-1023 (Sub-No. 1X) and must be sent to: (1) Surface Transportation 
Board, 395 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20423-0001; (2) Louis E. 
Gitomer, 600 Baltimore Avenue, Suite 301, Towson, MD 21204-4022; and 
(3) Scott G. Williams, Esq., Senior Vice President & General Counsel, 
RailAmerica, Inc., 7411 Fullerton Street, Suite 300, Jacksonville, FL 
32256. Replies to the petition are due on or before March 10, 2009.
    Persons seeking further information concerning abandonment 
procedures may contact the Board's Office of Public Assistance, 
Governmental Affairs, and Compliance at (202) 245-0238 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) 245-0305. 
[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 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: February 10, 2009.

    By the Board, David M. Konschnik, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Jeffrey Herzig,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. E9-3241 Filed 2-17-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P