[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 62 (Thursday, April 1, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16550-16551]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-7284]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Docket No. AB-6 (Sub-No. 471X)]


BNSF Railway Company--Discontinuance of Trackage Rights 
Exemption--in Alameda County, CA

    BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) has filed a verified notice of 
exemption under 49 CFR 1152 Subpart F--Exempt

[[Page 16551]]

Abandonments and Discontinuances of Service to discontinue trackage 
rights over approximately 2.04 miles of rail line owned by the Alameda 
Beltline Railroad (ABL), running between milepost 0.00 and 2.04, in 
Alameda County, CA, (the Line).\1\ The Line traverses United States 
Postal Service Zip Code 94501.
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    \1\ One of BNSF's predecessors, The Atchison, Topeka and Santa 
Fe Railway Company acquired the trackage in 1982. See The Atchison, 
Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company--Trackage Rights Exemption--Over 
Southern Pacific Transportation Company and Alameda Belt Line, 
Finance Docket No. 30073 (ICC served Dec. 28, 1982). BNSF states 
that ABL is in the process of selling the Line, as well as the 
remainder of its rail lines to the City of Alameda. See City of 
Alameda--Acquisition Exemption--Alameda Beltline Railroad, STB 
Finance Docket No. 34798 (STB served Jan. 11, 2006).
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    BNSF has certified that: (1) No local traffic has moved over the 
line for at least 2 years; (2) no overhead traffic has moved over the 
line for at least 2 years; (3) no formal complaint filed by a user of 
BNSF rail service on the line (or by a state or local government entity 
acting on behalf of such user) regarding cessation of service over the 
line either is pending with the Board or with any U.S. District Court 
or has been decided in favor of complainant within the 2-year period; 
and (4) the requirements at 49 CFR 1105.12 (newspaper publication), and 
49 CFR 1152.50(d)(1) (notice to governmental agencies) have been met.
    As a condition to this exemption, any employee adversely affected 
by the discontinuance of service shall be protected under Oregon Short 
Line R. Co.--Abandonment--Goshen, 360 I.C.C. 91 (1979). To address 
whether this condition adequately protects affected employees, a 
petition for partial revocation under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d) must be filed.
    Provided no formal expression of intent to file an offer of 
financial assistance (OFA) has been received, this exemption will be 
effective on May 1, 2010, unless stayed pending reconsideration.\2\ 
Petitions to stay that do not involve environmental issues and formal 
expressions of intent to file an OFA for continued rail service under 
49 CFR 1152.27(c)(2) \3\ must be filed by April 12, 2010.\4\ Petitions 
to reopen must be filed by April 21, 2010, with: Surface Transportation 
Board, 395 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20423-0001.
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    \2\ Pursuant to 49 CFR 1152.50(d)(2), the railroad must file a 
verified notice with the Board at least 50 days before the 
abandonment or discontinuance is to be consummated. BNSF has 
indicated a proposed consummation date of April 27, 2010, but, 
because the verified notice was filed on March 12, 2010, counsel for 
BNSF has been notified that the earliest this transaction may be 
consummated is May 1, 2010.
    \3\ Each OFA must be accompanied by the filing fee, which 
currently is set at $1,500. See 49 CFR 1002.2(f)(25).
    \4\ 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 historical 
documentation is required here under 49 CFR 1105.6(c) and 1105.8(b), 
respectively.
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    A copy of any petition filed with the Board should be sent to 
BNSF's representative: Karl Morell, Ball Janik LLP, 1455 F St., NW., 
Suite 225, Washington, DC 20005.
    If the verified notice contains false or misleading information, 
the exemption is void ab initio.
    Board decisions and notices are available on our Web site at http://www.stb.dot.gov.

    Decided: March 29, 2010.

    By the Board, Rachel D. Campbell, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Kulunie L. Cannon,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2010-7284 Filed 3-31-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P