[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 142 (Tuesday, July 26, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44485-44486]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-15977]


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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

[Docket No. AB 1324X]


Alabama Railroad, LLC--Abandonment Exemption--in Escambia, 
Conecuh, and Monroe Counties, Ala.

    On July 6, 2022, Alabama Railroad, LLC (ARL), filed a petition 
under 49 U.S.C. 10502 for exemption from the prior approval 
requirements of 49 U.S.C. 10903 to abandon approximately 47.5 miles of 
rail line, extending from milepost 607.73 at Flomaton, Ala., to 
milepost 655.2 near Tunnel Springs, Ala., including all sidings and the 
MR Junction Spur between valuation stations 0+00 and 90+81 in Escambia, 
Conecuh, and Monroe Counties, Ala. (the Line). The Line traverses U.S. 
Postal Service Zip Codes 36426, 36441, 36460, 36471, and 36475.
    According to ARL, it purchased the Line from Alabama Railroad Co. 
(ALAB) in 2020. See Ala. R.R.--Acquis. & Operation Exemption--Line of 
Ala. R.R., FD 36450 (STB served Nov. 6, 2020). The petition states that 
prior to ALAB's sale of the Line, ALAB obtained Board authority to 
abandon the Line but never consummated the abandonment. See Ala. R.R.--
Aban. Exemption--in Escambia, Conecuh, & Monroe Cntys., Ala., AB 463 
(Sub-No. 2X) (STB served Apr. 18, 2019). ARL states that since it 
purchased the Line, it has not moved any local traffic over the Line, 
and, because the Line is stub-ended, there is no overhead traffic. ARL 
states that it doubts that future demand for service will materialize, 
particularly at volumes that would warrant restoring operations, and 
therefore seeks to abandon the Line to facilitate future disposition of 
the

[[Page 44486]]

Line's track assets and underlying right-of-way.
    ARL states that, based on the information in its possession, the 
Line does not contain federally granted rights-of-way and any relevant 
documentation in ARL's possession related to that statement will be 
made available promptly to those requesting it.
    Citing Knox & Kane Railroad--Abandonment Exemption--McKean County, 
Pa., AB 551 (Sub-No. 2X) (STB served July 24, 2015), ARL asserts that, 
because it proposes to abandon its entire railroad system, it is 
appropriate for the Board to refrain from imposing labor protective 
conditions because there will be no remaining entity subject to the 
Board's jurisdiction.
    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 October 24, 2022.
    Any offer of financial assistance (OFA) under 49 CFR 1152.27(b)(2) 
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 August 5, 2022, 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 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 August 15, 2022.\1\
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    \1\ 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 1324X, must be filed with 
the Surface Transportation Board either via e-filing on the Board's 
website or in writing addressed to 395 E Street SW, Washington, DC 
20423-0001. In addition, a copy of each pleading must be served on 
ARL's representative, Robert A. Wimbish, Fletcher & Sippel LLC, 29 
North Wacker Drive, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606. Replies to the 
petition are due on or before August 15, 2022.
    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 and discontinuance regulations at 49 CFR part 1152. 
Questions concerning environmental issues may be directed to the 
Board's Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA) at (202) 245-0294. 
Assistance for the hearing impaired is available through the Federal 
Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
    A Draft Environmental Assessment (Draft EA) (or Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (Draft EIS), if necessary) prepared by OEA will be 
served upon all parties of record and upon any other agencies or 
persons who comment during its preparation. Other interested persons 
may contact OEA to obtain a copy of the Draft EA (or Draft EIS). Draft 
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 Draft EA generally will be within 30 days of its 
service.
    Board decisions and notices are available at www.stb.gov.

    Decided: July 21, 2022.

    By the Board, Mai T. Dinh, Director, Office of Proceedings.
Eden Besera,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2022-15977 Filed 7-25-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P