[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 18, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51159-51160]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-20400]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[Docket No. AB 1066 (Sub-No. 2X)]


Central Illinois Railroad Company--Discontinuance of Service 
Exemption--in Cook County, IL

    On July 29, 2010, Central Illinois Railroad Company (CIRY) filed 
with the Board a petition under 49 U.S.C. 10502 for exemption from the 
provisions of 49 U.S.C. 10903 to discontinue service over approximately 
5.9 miles of main line track and approximately 12.47 miles of sidetrack 
owned by BNSF Railway Company (BNSF).\1\ The lines are referred to as 
the Lumber District and the Illinois Northern Line and are located in 
the vicinity of BNSF's Western Avenue Yard in Chicago, Cook County, 
IL.\2\ The lines traverse U.S. Postal Service Zip Codes 60608 and 
60616, and include no stations. The lease agreement between BNSF and 
CIRY was scheduled to expire in November 2010, but the parties recently 
reached an agreement whereby the lease would terminate at the close of 
business on August 9, 2010. CIRY states that, on August 10, 2010, BNSF 
would resume providing rail service on the lines.
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    \1\ CIRY was authorized to lease from BNSF and operate the lines 
in the year 2000. See The Cent. Ill. R.R.--Lease and Operation 
Exemption--Lines of The Burlington N. and Santa Fe Ry. at Chicago, 
Cook County, Ill., FD 33960 (STB served Dec. 5, 2000).
    \2\ The Lumber District is located between a point 300 feet 
south of the point of the frog on BNSF's crossover to the main line 
of the Norfolk Southern Railway Company, which point is south of the 
wye track that enters the west end of BNSF's Western Avenue Yard, 
and the end of BNSF's ownership at Lumber Street approximately 500 
feet east of Canal Street, including trackage that extends north 
from Cermak Road parallel to Sangamon Street to the point of the 
frog at Track No. 7 even with milepost 2.0 on BNSF's main line east 
of Western Avenue Yard. The Illinois Northern Line is located 
between a point 10 feet north of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal 
and a point 100 feet west of the westernmost railroad diamond near 
26th and Western Avenue.
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    According to CIRY, the lines do not contain any federally granted 
rights-of-way. Any documentation in 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 Railroad--Abandonment Portion 
Goshen Branch Between Firth & Ammon, in Bingham & Bonneville Counties, 
Idaho, 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 will be 
issued by November 16, 2010.
    Any offer of financial assistance (OFA) under 49 CFR 1152.27(b)(2) 
to subsidize continued rail service 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).\3\
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    \3\ 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.
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    All filings in response to this notice must refer to Docket No. AB 
1066 (Sub-No. 2X) and must be sent to: (1) Surface Transportation 
Board, 395 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20423-0001, and (2) Karl 
Morell, Ball Janik LLP, 1455 F Street, NW., Suite 225, Washington, DC 
20005. Replies to the petition are due on or before September 7, 2010.
    Persons seeking further information concerning discontinuance 
procedures may contact the Board's Office of Public Assistance, 
Governmental Affairs, and Compliance at (202) 245-0238 or refer to the 
full abandonment and discontinuance regulations at 49 CFR

[[Page 51160]]

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: August 12, 2010.

    By the Board, Rachel D. Campbell, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Kulunie L. Cannon,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2010-20400 Filed 8-17-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P