[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 132 (Thursday, July 9, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41266-41267]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-14803]


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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

[Docket No. AB 290 (Sub-No. 408X)]


Norfolk Southern Railway Company--Abandonment Exemption--in 
Hudson and Essex Counties, NJ

    On June 19, 2020, Norfolk Southern Railway Company (NSR) filed with 
the Surface Transportation Board (Board) a petition under 49 U.S.C. 
10502 for exemption from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 
10903 to abandon an approximately 8.6-mile rail line, extending from 
milepost WD 2.9 in the City of Jersey City, to milepost WD 11.5 in the 
Township of Montclair, in Hudson and Essex Counties, NJ (the Line). The 
Line traverses U.S. Postal Service Zip Codes 07306, 07094, 07032, 
07104, 07109, 07003, 07028, and 07042.
    NSR states that it is seeking to abandon the Line because the Line 
has been dormant for more than a decade.\1\

[[Page 41267]]

(Pet. 5.) According to NSR, it plans to convey the Line's right-of-way, 
pursuant to an interim trail use/rail banking agreement, to Open Space 
Institute Land Trust, Inc. (OSI) so that the Line may be used for a 
public redevelopment project. (Id. at 3, 5.) NSR states that OSI, in 
partnership with Hudson and Essex Counties, plans to redevelop the 
Line, create greenways, and provide for alternative modal access to 
various sites located along the Line, which would promote economic 
growth in the region. (Id. at 3, 5, 15.)
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    \1\ NSR states that it has served no customers on the Line since 
it acquired the property from the Consolidated Rail Corporation in 
1999. (Pet. 4, 11.) According to NSR, in 2005, it discontinued 
service over a 6.2-mile segment between milepost WD 2.2 in Jersey 
City and milepost WD 8.4 in Newark. (Id.) See Norfolk S. Ry.--
Discontinuance of Serv. Exemption--Between Newark & Kearney, NJ, in 
Essex & Hudson Ctys., NJ, AB 290 (Sub-No. 242X) (STB served Jan. 18, 
2005). NSR states that New Jersey Transit operated commuter rail 
passenger service over the Line until 2002, (pet. 10-11), and the 
6.2-mile segment served as an overhead route to serve one customer 
located on the Newark Industrial Track, (id. at 4-5). NSR states 
that no freight traffic has moved over the remaining segment of the 
Line from milepost WD 8.4 to milepost WD 11.5 since 2009, before 
which the segment served as an overhead route to access one customer 
located on the Orange Industrial Track. (Id. at 4, 11.)
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    In addition to an exemption from 49 U.S.C. 10903, NSR also seeks an 
exemption from the offer of financial assistance procedures of 49 
U.S.C. 10904. In support, NSR states that the Line is needed for a 
valid public purpose, i.e., the redevelopment project, and there is no 
overriding public need for continued freight rail service along the 
Line. (Pet. 17-18.) According to NSR, the reinstitution of freight rail 
service under 10904 would be incompatible with the intended use of the 
Line by OSI and Hudson and Essex Counties. (Id. at 17.) This request 
will be addressed in the final decision.
    According to NSR, the Line does not contain any federally granted 
rights-of-way. Any documentation in NSR's 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 issuing this notice, the Board is instituting an exemption 
proceeding pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 10502(b). A final decision will be 
issued by October 7, 2020.
    Any offer of financial assistance (OFA) under 49 CFR 1152.27(b)(2) 
for continued rail service will be due no later than 120 days after the 
filing of the petition for exemption, or 10 days after service of a 
decision granting the petition for exemption, whichever occurs sooner. 
Persons interested in submitting an OFA must first file a formal 
expression of intent to file an offer by July 20, 2020, indicating the 
type of financial assistance they wish to provide (i.e., subsidy or 
purchase) and demonstrating that they are preliminarily financially 
responsible. See 49 CFR 1152.27(c)(1)(i).
    Following authorization for abandonment, 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 interim trail use/rail 
banking under 49 CFR 1152.29 will be due no later than July 29, 
2020.\2\
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    \2\ The filing fees for OFAs and trail use requests can be found 
at 49 CFR 1002.2(f)(25) and (27), respectively.
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    All pleadings, referring to Docket No. AB 290 (Sub-No. 408X), must 
be filed with the Surface Transportation Board either via e-filing or 
in writing addressed to 395 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20423-0001. In 
addition, a copy of each pleading must be served on NSR's 
representative, William A. Mullins, Baker & Miller PLLC, 2401 
Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20037. Replies to the 
petition are due on or before July 29, 2020.
    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 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 Relay Service at 
(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 comment during its 
preparation. Other interested persons may contact OEA to obtain a copy 
of the EA (or EIS). EAs in 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 at www.stb.gov.

    Decided: July 6, 2020.

    By the Board, Allison C. Davis, Director, Office of Proceedings.
Andrea Pope-Matheson,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2020-14803 Filed 7-8-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P