[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 10 (Friday, January 15, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2580-2581]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-694]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Docket No. AB-1056X; STB Docket No. AB-1066 (Sub-No. 1X)]


Pioneer Industrial Railway Co.--Discontinuance of Service 
Exemption--Line in Peoria County, IL; Central Illinois Railroad 
Company--Discontinuance of Service Exemption--Line in Peoria County, IL

    On December 29, 2009, Pioneer Industrial Railway Co. (PIRY) and 
Central Illinois Railroad Company (CIRY), jointly 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.\1\ PIRY seeks to 
discontinue service over 8.29 miles of rail line known as the Kellar 
Branch, between mileposts 1.71 and 10.0, owned by and located in the 
City of Peoria and the Village of Peoria Heights, IL. CIRY seeks to 
discontinue service over a 5.72-mile portion of the Kellar Branch, 
between mileposts 2.78 and 8.50.\2\ The line traverses United

[[Page 2581]]

States Postal Service Zip Codes 61603, 61604, 61614, 61615 and 61616, 
and includes the stations of Peoria P&PU Switch, Averyville, Peoria 
Heights, Keller, and Pioneer Park.
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    \1\ Applicants also seek exemptions from 49 U.S.C. 10904 (offer 
of financial assistance procedures) and 49 U.S.C. 10905 (public use 
conditions). These requests will be addressed in the final decision. 
We note, however, that because this is a discontinuance proceeding 
and not an abandonment, trail use/rail banking and public use 
conditions are not appropriate. Similarly, no environmental or 
historic documentation is required under 49 CFR 1105.6(c)(2) and 
1105.8(e).
    \2\ PIRY was authorized to lease and operate the line in Pioneer 
Industrial Railway Co.--Lease and Operation Exemption--Peoria, 
Peoria Heights & Western Railroad, STB Finance Docket No. 33549 (STB 
served Feb. 20, 1998); CIRY was authorized to operate the line in 
Central Illinois Railroad Company--Operation Exemption--Rail Line of 
The City of Peoria and The Village of Peoria Heights in Peoria and 
Peoria Heights, Peoria County, IL, STB Finance Docket No. 34518 (STB 
served July 28, 2004).
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    This transaction is related to a concurrently filed verified notice 
of exemption for PIRY to acquire from CIRY non-exclusive local trackage 
rights to operate over approximately 4.81 miles of rail line (the 
northern and southern sections of the Kellar Branch and the western 
connection). See STB Finance Docket No. 35341, Pioneer Industrial 
Railway Co.--Trackage Rights Exemption--Central Illinois Railway 
Company.
    The line does not contain Federally granted rights-of-way. Any 
documentation in PIRY's or CIRY'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 is 
scheduled to be issued by April 16, 2010.
    Any offer of financial assistance (OFA) to subsidize continued rail 
service 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 
offer must be accompanied by a $1,500 filing fee. See 49 CFR 
1002.2(f)(25).
    All filings in response to this notice must refer to STB Docket No. 
AB-1056X and STB Docket No. AB-1066 (Sub-No. 1X) and must be sent to: 
(1) Surface Transportation Board, 395 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20423-0001; and (2) William A. Mullins, 2401 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., 
Suite 300, Washington, DC 20037, and Michael R. Ascher, 2500 S. 
Highland Ave., Suite 360, Lombard, IL 60148. Replies to the petition 
are due on or before February 4, 2010.
    Persons seeking further information concerning discontinuance 
procedures may contact the Board's Office of Public Assistance, 
Governmental Affairs and Compliance at (202) 245-0230 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.]
    Board decisions and notices are available on our Web site at http://www.stb.dot.gov.

    Decided: January 12, 2010.

    By the Board, Rachel D. Campbell, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Kulunie L. Cannon,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2010-694 Filed 1-14-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P