[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 34 (Friday, February 18, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 9634]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-3661]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[Docket No. AB 6 (Sub-No. 472X)]


BNSF Railway Company--Abandonment Exemption--in Stearns County, 
MN

    On January 31, 2011, BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) filed with the 
Surface Transportation Board (Board) a petition under 49 U.S.C. 10502 
for exemption from the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 10903 to abandon a 7.05-
mile line of railroad located between milepost 9.16 at Rockville and 
milepost 16.21 at Cold Spring, in Stearns County, Minn.\1\ The line 
traverses United States Postal Service Zip Codes 56369 and 56320, and 
includes the station of Cold Spring.
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    \1\ BNSF states that the cities of Rockville, Cold Spring, and 
Richmond have formed ROCORI Trail, a trail association, and they 
wish to railbank and purchase the line to develop a trail to connect 
with other trail networks in the area.
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    The line does not contain Federally granted rights-of-way. Any 
documentation in BNSF'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 May 20, 2011.\2\
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    \2\ In its Environmental Report filed with the Board on January 
7, 2011, BNSF notes that the line is under lease to Northern Lines 
Railroad, which BNSF states will also be filing for discontinuance 
of service over the line.
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    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).
    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, 2011. Each trail 
request must be accompanied by a $250 filing fee. See 49 CFR 
1002.2(f)(27).
    All filings in response to this notice must refer to Docket No. AB 
6 (Sub-No. 472X), and must be sent to: (1) Surface Transportation 
Board, 395 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20423-0001; and (2) Kristy D. 
Clark, General Attorney, BNSF Railway Company, 2500 Lou Menk Drive, 
AOB-3, Fort Worth, TX 76131-2828. Replies to the petition are due on or 
before March 10, 2011.
    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 Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA) 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 OEA 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 OEA 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 generally will 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 14, 2011.

    By the Board.
Rachel D. Campbell,
Director, Office of Proceedings.
Andrea Pope-Matheson,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2011-3661 Filed 2-17-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P