[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 56 (Wednesday, March 23, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16474-16475]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6649]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[Docket No. AB 33 (Sub-No. 296X)]


Union Pacific Railroad Company--Abandonment Exemption--in 
Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, CA

    On March 3, 2011, Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP) filed with 
the Surface Transportation Board (Board) a petition under 49 U.S.C. 
10502 for exemption from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 
10903 to abandon 2 segments, totaling 5.0 miles, of the Riverside 
Industrial Lead in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, Cal. The 
northern segment begins at milepost 540.15 near Colton and ends at 
milepost 543.88 near Riverside (North Segment), a distance of 3.73 
miles, of which 2.27 miles are in San Bernardino County and 1.46 miles 
are in Riverside County. The southern segment begins at milepost 544.56 
and extends to the end of the line at milepost 545.83 (South Segment), 
a distance of 1.27 miles in Riverside County (both segments 
collectively referred to as the Line). The Line traverses United States 
Postal Service Zip Codes 92324, 92313, 92507, and 92506.
    In addition to an exemption from the prior approval requirements of 
49 U.S.C. 10903, UP seeks exemption from 49 U.S.C. 10904 (offer of 
financial assistance (OFA) procedures) and 49 U.S.C. 10905 (public use 
conditions). In support, UP contends that exemption from these 
provisions is necessary to ensure that a portion of the underlying 
right-of-way will be available for conveyance to the California State 
Road Authority for its Interstate 215 Project. Further, UP states that 
exemption from these provisions will allow the Interstate 215 Project 
to avoid costs associated with building a replacement bridge on the 
North Segment of the Line. These requests will be addressed in the 
final decision.
    UP is not seeking authority to abandon the portion of the Riverside 
Industrial Lead between the North Segment and the South Segment (from 
milepost 543.88 to milepost 544.56), a distance of .68 miles (the 
Remaining Segment). UP states that the Remaining Segment will still be 
part of the UP railroad system and will continue to serve the shippers 
on the Remaining Segment with BNSF Railway (BNSF) providing service via 
a haulage agreement and trackage rights, over a connection to be 
constructed between the Remaining Segment and a line of railroad owned 
by the Riverside County Transportation Commission. UP will remain the 
primary railroad obligated to serve the Remaining Segment.
    The Line does not contain Federally granted rights-of-way. Any 
documentation in UP'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--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 June 21, 2011.
    Any 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 April 12, 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 
33 (Sub-No. 296X), and must be sent to: (1) Surface

[[Page 16475]]

Transportation Board, 395 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20423-0001; and 
(2) Mack H. Shumate, Jr., Senior General Attorney, Union Pacific 
Railroad Company, 101 N. Wacker Drive, 1920, Chicago, IL 
60606-1718. Replies to the petition are due on or before April 12, 
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: March 16, 2011.

    By the Board, Rachel D. Campbell, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Jeffrey Herzig,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2011-6649 Filed 3-22-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P