[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 120 (Friday, June 23, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28731-28732]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-13132]


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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

[Docket No. AB 1009 (Sub-No. 1X)]


Mission Mountain Railroad, L.L.C.--Discontinuance of Service 
Exemption--in Flathead County, Mont.

    On June 5, 2017, Mission Mountain Railroad, L.L.C. (MMT), filed 
with the Board a petition under 49 U.S.C. 10502 for exemption from the 
prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 10903 to discontinue its lease 
operations over approximately 2.7 miles of rail line owned by BNSF 
Railway Company (BNSF) in Flathead County, Mont. (the Line). The Line 
is located from milepost 1225.19 to milepost 1227.58 and from milepost 
1226.91 to Engineering Station 189+36 (milepost 1227.10) in Kalispell, 
Mont. and traverses United States Postal Service Zip Code 59901.\1\
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    \1\ BNSF is seeking to abandon the Line in BNSF Railway--
Abandonment Exemption--in Flathead County, Mont., Docket No. AB 6 
(Sub-No. 495X). According to MMT, the customers do not oppose the 
abandonment.
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    MMT states that based on information in BNSF's possession, the Line 
does not contain any federally granted rights-of-way. It states that 
any documentation in MMT's possession will be made available to those 
requesting it.
    MMT states that it began operating over the Line in December 2004 
\2\ and since that time has provided service to two customers located 
on the Line. MMT represents that the two customers on the Line do not 
oppose the discontinuance of service because they will be relocated to 
Glacier Rail Park.
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    \2\ MMT states that it acquired authority to lease a line of 
rail including the Line in January 2005. See Mission Mountain R.R.--
Acquis. & Lease Exemption--Burlington N. & Santa Fe Ry., FD 34634 
(STB served Jan. 19, 2005).
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    As a condition to this exemption, any employee adversely affected 
by the discontinuance of service shall be protected under 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 September 22, 2017.
    Because this is a discontinuance proceeding and not an abandonment 
proceeding, trail use/rail banking and

[[Page 28732]]

public use conditions are not appropriate. Because environmental review 
is being conducted in the BNSF abandonment proceeding in Docket No. AB 
6 (Sub-No. 495X), this discontinuance does not require an environmental 
review.
    Any offer of financial assistance (OFA) under 49 CFR 1152.27(b)(2) 
to subsidize continued rail service will be due no later than October 
2, 2017, or 10 days after service of a decision granting the petition 
for exemption, whichever occurs sooner. Each OFA must be accompanied by 
a $1,700 filing fee. See 49 CFR 1002.2(f)(25).
    All filings in response to this notice must refer to Docket No. AB 
1009 (Sub-No. 1X) and must be sent to: (1) Surface Transportation 
Board, 395 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20423-0001; and (2) Karl 
Morell, 440 1st Street NW., Suite 400, Washington, DC 20001. Replies to 
this petition are due on or before July 13, 2017.
    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 pt. 1152. 
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 
WWW.STB.GOV.

    Decided: June 16, 2017.

    By the Board, Rachel D. Campbell, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Brendetta S. Jones,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2017-13132 Filed 6-22-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4915-01-P