[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 171 (Wednesday, September 4, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46601-46602]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-19015]


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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

[Docket No. AB 1261]


New York State Department of Environmental Conservation--Adverse 
Abandonment--Saratoga and North Creek Railway in Town of Johnsburg, 
N.Y.

    On September 10, 2018, the New York State Department of 
Environmental Conservation (the Department) filed an application under 
49 U.S.C. 10903 requesting a third-party, or ``adverse,'' abandonment 
by the Saratoga and North Creek Railway (SNCR) of approximately 29.71 
miles of rail line between milepost NC 0.0 at North Creek, N.Y., and 
its terminus at milepost NC 29.71 near the former Tahawus Mine (the 
Line). Notice of the exemption was served and published in the Federal 
Register on September 28, 2018 (83 FR 49,151).
    On October 16, 2018, the Department requested that the proceeding 
be held in abeyance for 90 days because OmniTRAX, Inc. (OmniTRAX) was 
negotiating with SNCR for the purchase of the Line and with the 
Department regarding storage of rail cars. In a decision served October 
23, 2018, the request was granted and the comment deadlines on the 
application and the environmental assessment (EA) postponed pending 
further order of the Board. In a series of decisions, the abeyance 
period was extended, most recently until July 19, 2019.
    By letter dated June 14, 2019, OmniTRAX informed the Board that it 
had discontinued its negotiations with SNCR and the Department. Shortly 
thereafter, on July 11, 2019, United Rail, Inc. (United Rail), 
submitted a letter stating that it had initiated preliminary 
discussions with SNCR regarding the purchase of the Line and requesting 
the Board continue to hold the proceeding in abeyance so that 
discussions regarding purchase of the Line could continue.
    On July 12, 2019, the Department filed a letter requesting that the 
Board set a briefing schedule, and on July 31, 2019, the Department 
filed a letter opposing United Rail's request to continue to hold the 
proceeding in abeyance. On August 19, 2019, the Adirondack Council 
filed a letter supporting the Department's position opposing United 
Rail's request and asks the Board to allow the adverse abandonment 
application to move forward.
    Because the negotiations involving OmniTRAX have terminated and the 
Department, the applicant here, opposes United Rail's request to 
continue to hold the proceeding in abeyance, the proceeding will be 
removed from abeyance and a procedural schedule set.
    Any interested person may file written comments concerning the 
proposed adverse abandonment or protests (including protestant's entire 
opposition case) by September 30, 2019. Persons who may oppose the 
proposed adverse abandonment but who do not wish to participate fully 
in the process by submitting verified statements of witnesses 
containing detailed evidence should file comments. Persons opposing the 
proposed adverse abandonment who wish to participate actively and fully 
in the process should file a protest, observing the filing, service, 
and content requirements of 49 CFR. 1152.25. The Department's reply 
will be due by October 18, 2019.
    All filings in response to this notice must refer to Docket No. AB 
1261 and must be sent to: (1) Surface Transportation Board, 395 E 
Street SW, Washington, DC 20423-0001; and (2) Joshua M. Tallent, New 
York State Office of the Attorney General, Environmental Protection 
Bureau, The Capitol, Albany, NY 12224-0341.
    Any request for an interim trail use/railbanking condition under 16 
U.S.C. 1247(d) and 49 CFR 1152.29 must be

[[Page 46602]]

filed by September 30, 2019, and should address whether the issuance of 
a certificate of interim trail use in this case would be consistent 
with the grant of an adverse abandonment application.\1\ Each trail use 
request must be accompanied by the appropriate filing fee. See 49 CFR 
1002.2(f)(27).\2\
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    \1\ In a letter submitted on July 18, 2019, the Town of Newcomb 
asserted, among other things, that the time to file a request for 
interim trail use had expired. Although the Board's notice served on 
September 28, 2018, stated that any request for an interim trail 
use/railbanking condition would be due by October 25, 2018, the 
proceeding was held in abeyance on October 23, 2018, before the 
deadline for such requests.
    \2\ The Board recently updated its user fees, which will become 
effective on September 6, 2019. Regulations Governing Fees for 
Servs. Performed in Connection with Licensing & Related Servs.-2019 
Update, EP 542 (Sub-No. 27) (STB served July 31, 2019).
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    Comments on the EA will be due by September 30, 2019.
    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 regulations at 49 CFR pt. 1152.
    Board decisions and notices are available at www.stb.gov.


    Decided: August 28, 2019.

    By the Board,
Allison C. Davis,
Director, Office of Proceedings.
Aretha Laws-Byrum,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2019-19015 Filed 9-3-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4915-01-P