[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 67 (Monday, April 8, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13986-13987]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-06825]


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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

[Docket No. AB 254 (Sub-No. 11X)]


Providence and Worcester Railroad Company--Discontinuance of 
Service Exemption--in Middlesex County, Conn.

    On March 19, 2019, Providence and Worcester Railroad Company (P&W) 
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 
common carrier rail service over an approximately 0.74-mile rail line 
that extends between milepost 0.22 +/- and the end of the line segment 
at milepost 0.96 in Portland, Middlesex County, Conn. (the Line). The 
Line traverses U.S. Postal Service Zip Code 06480.
    According to P&W, the Line is the stub end of a line of railroad 
known as the Portland Industrial Track that is owned by the Connecticut 
Department of Transportation (CDOT) and is subject to a lease 
originally entered between CDOT and P&W's predecessor, the Connecticut 
Central Railroad Company. See Conn. Cent. R.R.--Exemption Operation--
Certain Lines of the State of Conn., FD 31045 (ICC served June 3, 
1987). P&W explains that, since 2009, there has been one active rail 
customer on the Line, RED Technologies, LLC (REDTECH). P&W states that 
it seeks an exemption to discontinue service over the Line in order to 
facilitate the expansion of REDTECH's business. According to P&W, 
REDTECH shipped/received 402 carloads of freight in 2018, and REDTECH 
anticipates that its traffic will increase if it can obtain additional 
track for its plant switching operations and would like to use the Line 
for that purpose.\1\ Because there are no other customers on the Line, 
P&W states that it is willing to sublease the Line to REDTECH if P&W is 
permitted to discontinue its common carrier service over the Line. P&W 
further explains that

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it would continue to provide common carrier service over the remainder 
of the Portland Industrial Track, including common carrier service to 
REDTECH.\2\
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    \1\ The petition indicates that REDTECH also would build a side 
track on its property alongside the Line.
    \2\ Letters from REDTECH and CDOT, the Line's owner, supporting 
the proposed discontinuance are attached as exhibits to the 
petition.
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    P&W states that, based on information in P&W's possession, the Line 
does not contain any federally granted rights-of-way. P&W states that 
any documentation in its possession will be made available to those 
requesting it.
    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).
    Because this is a discontinuance proceeding and not an abandonment 
proceeding, trail use/rail banking and public use conditions are not 
appropriate. Because there will be environmental review during any 
subsequent abandonment proceeding, this discontinuance does not require 
an environmental review. See 49 CFR 1105.8(b).
    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 July 5, 2019.
    Any offer of financial assistance (OFA) under 49 CFR 1152.27(b)(2) 
to subsidize continued rail service will be due no later than July 15, 
2019, or 10 days after service of a decision granting the petition for 
exemption, whichever occurs sooner.\3\ Each OFA must be accompanied by 
a $1,800 filing fee. See 49 CFR 1002.2(f)(25).
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    \3\ The Board modified its OFA procedures effective July 29, 
2017. Among other things, the OFA process now requires potential 
offerors, in their formal expression of intent, to make a 
preliminary financial responsibility showing based on a calculation 
using information contained in the carrier's filing and publicly 
available information. See Offers of Financial Assistance, EP 729 
(STB served June 29, 2017); 82 FR 30997 (July 5, 2017).
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    All filings in response to this notice must refer to Docket No. AB 
254 (Sub-No. 11X) and must be sent to: (1) Surface Transportation 
Board, 395 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20423-0001; and (2) P&W's 
representative, Eric M. Hocky, Clark Hill PLC, 2005 Market Street, 
Suite 1000, Philadelphia, PA 19103. Replies to the petition are due on 
or before April 29, 2019.
    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 or discontinuance regulations at 49 CFR part 1152. 
Questions concerning environmental issues may be directed to the 
Board's Office of Environmental Analysis at (202) 245-0305. Assistance 
for the hearing impaired is available through the Federal Relay Service 
at 1-800-877-8339.
    Board decisions and notices are available at www.stb.gov.

    Decided: April 2, 2019.

    By the Board, Allison C. Davis, Acting Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Jeffrey Herzig,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2019-06825 Filed 4-5-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P