[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 123 (Thursday, June 25, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 38237]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-13687]


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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

[Docket No. AB 303 (Sub-No. 55X)]


Wisconsin Central Ltd.--Discontinuance of Service Exemption--in 
Manitowoc County, Wis.

    Wisconsin Central Ltd. (WCL) has filed a verified notice of 
exemption under 49 CFR part 1152 subpart F--Exempt Abandonments and 
Discontinuances of Service to discontinue service over approximately 
five miles of rail line between milepost 74.00 at Manitowoc and 
milepost 69.00 at Newton, all of which is in Manitowoc County, Wis. 
(the Line). The Line traverses U.S. Postal Service Zip Codes 54220 and 
53063.
    WCL has certified that: (1) No local traffic has moved over the 
Line for at least two years; (2) overhead traffic (to the extent any 
exists) can be rerouted over other lines; (3) no formal complaint filed 
by a user of rail service on the Line (or a state or local government 
entity acting on behalf of such user) regarding cessation of service 
over the Line either is pending with the Surface Transportation Board 
(Board) or any U.S. District Court or has been decided in favor of a 
complainant within the two-year period; and (4) the requirements at 49 
CFR 1105.12 (newspaper publication) and 49 CFR 1152.50(d)(1) (notice to 
governmental agencies) have been met.
    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). To 
address whether this condition adequately protects affected employees, 
a petition for partial revocation under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d) must be 
filed.
    Provided no formal expression of intent to file an offer of 
financial assistance (OFA) \1\ to subsidize continued rail service has 
been received, this exemption will be effective on July 25, 2020, 
unless stayed pending reconsideration. Petitions to stay that do not 
involve environmental issues must be filed by July 2, 2020, and formal 
expressions of intent to file an OFA to subsidize continued rail 
service under 49 CFR 1152.27(c)(2) \2\ must be filed by July 6, 
2020.\3\ Petitions for reconsideration must be filed by July 15, 2020, 
with the Surface Transportation Board, 395 E Street SW, Washington, DC 
20423-0001.
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    \1\ Persons interested in submitting an OFA to subsidize 
continued rail service must first file a formal expression of intent 
to file an offer, indicating the intent to file an OFA for subsidy 
and demonstrating that they are preliminarily financially 
responsible. See 49 CFR 1152.27(c)(2)(i).
    \2\ The filing fee for OFAs can be found at 49 CFR 
1002.2(f)(25).
    \3\ Because this is a discontinuance proceeding and not an 
abandonment, interim trail use/rail banking and public use 
conditions are not appropriate. Because there will be an 
environmental review during abandonment, this discontinuance does 
not require environmental review.
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    A copy of any petition filed with Board should be sent to WCL's 
representative, Bradon J. Smith, Fletcher & Sippel LLC, 29 N Wacker 
Drive, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606.
    If the verified notice contains false or misleading information, 
the exemption is void ab initio.
    Board decisions and notices are available at www.stb.gov.

    Decided: June 22, 2020.

    By the Board, Allison C. Davis, Director, Office of Proceedings.
Kenyatta Clay,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2020-13687 Filed 6-24-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P