[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 250 (Monday, December 31, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77183-77184]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-31386]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[Docket No. AB 33 (Sub-No. 309X);
Docket No. AB 980 (Sub-No. 2X)]


Union Pacific Railroad Company--Abandonment of Freight Easement 
Exemption--in Alameda County, Cal. (San Jose Industrial Lead); Santa 
Clara Valley Transportation Authority--Abandonment of Residual Common 
Carrier Obligation Exemption--in Alameda County, Cal. (San Jose 
Industrial Lead)

    On December 12, 2012, Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP) and Santa 
Clara Valley Transportation Authority (SCVTA) jointly 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 for UP to abandon 
its freight operating easement on, and for SCVTA, the owner of the 
line, to abandon its residual common carrier obligation for, a portion 
of the San Jose Industrial Lead between mileposts 5.38 and 7.35 near 
the Warm Springs freight rail station in the City of Fremont, a 
distance of 1.97 miles, in Alameda County, Cal. Petitioners state that 
the involved segment of rail line is contiguous to the segment between 
mileposts 7.35 and 16.30 in Alameda and Santa Clara Counties, Cal., for 
which the Board granted abandonment authority in July 2012.\1\ The line 
traverses United States Postal Service Zip Codes 94538 and 94539.
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    \1\ See Union Pac. R.R.--Aban. of Freight Easement--in Alameda 
and Santa Clara Cntys. Cal., AB 33 (Sub-No. 303X) and Santa Clara 
Valley Transp. Auth.--Aban. of Common Carrier Service--in Alameda 
and Santa Clara Counties, Cal., AB 980 (Sub-No. 1X) (STB served July 
23, 2012).
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    In addition to an exemption from the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 10903, 
petitioners seek an exemption from 49 U.S.C. 10904 (offer of financial 
assistance (OFA) provisions) and 49 U.S.C. 10905 (public use 
provisions). In support, petitioners state that the line is to be 
abandoned for freight rail service, but will be retained and rebuilt 
for future inclusion in the Bay Area Rapid Transit System. Petitioners 
assert that the right-of-way is thus needed for a valid public purpose 
and that there is no overriding public need for continued freight rail 
service. These requests will be addressed in the final decision.
    According to petitioners, the line does not contain Federally 
granted rights-of-way. Any documentation in petitioners' 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 April 1, 2013.
    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 $1,600 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 January 22, 2013. Each trail 
use 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 Nos. AB 
33 (Sub-No. 309X) and AB 980 (Sub-No. 2X) and must be sent to: (1) 
Surface Transportation Board, 395 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20423-
0001; and (2) petitioners' representatives, Mack H. Shumate, Jr., 101 
North Wacker Drive, Suite 1920, Chicago, IL 60606 (UP), and Allison I. 
Fultz, 1001 Connecticut Ave. NW., Suite 800, Washington, DC 20036 
(SCVTA). Replies to the petition are due on or before January 22, 2013.

[[Page 77184]]

    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 
``www.stb.dot.gov.''

    Decided: December 21, 2012.
    By the Board, Rachel D. Campbell, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Jeffrey Herzig,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2012-31386 Filed 12-28-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P