Federal Register, Volume 62 Issue 246 (Tuesday, December 23, 1997)

[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 23, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67115-67116]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-33336]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board
[STB Docket No. AB-55 (Sub-No. 552X); STB Docket No. AB-290 (Sub-No. 
201X)]


CSX Transportation, Inc.--Abandonment Exemption--in Raleigh 
County, WV; Norfolk and Western Railway Company--Discontinuance of 
Trackage Rights Exemption--in Raleigh County, WV

    On December 3, 1997, CSX Transportation, Inc. (CSXT), and Norfolk 
and Western Railway Company (N&W) ¹ filed with the Surface 
Transportation Board (Board) a petition under 49 U.S.C. 10502 for 
exemption from the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 10903 for CSXT to abandon 
and N&W to discontinue trackage rights over approximately 6.24 miles of 
line between milepost CAR-0.58 at Beckley Junction, WV, and milepost 
CAR-6.82 at the end of the track at Cranberry, WV, which traverses U.S. 
Postal Service ZIP Codes 25801, 25813, 25827, 25832, 25919, and 25920, 
in Raleigh County, WV. The line includes the stations of Beckley, 
located at milepost CAR-1, Sprague, located at milepost CAR-4, Skelton, 
located at milepost CAR-5, and Cranberry, located at milepost CAR-6.
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    \1\ N&W is a wholly owned subsidiary of Norfolk Southern Railway 
Company.
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    The line does not contain federally granted rights-of-way. Any 
documentation in CSXT's possession will be made available promptly to 
those requesting it.

[[Page 67116]]

    The interest of railroad employees will be protected by Oregon 
Short Line R. Co.-- Abandonment--Goshen, 360 I.C.C. 91 (1979).
    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 March 23, 1998.
    Any offer of financial assistance (OFA) under 49 CFR 1152.27(b)(2) 
will be due no later than 10 days after service of a decision granting 
the petition for exemption. Each OFA must be accompanied by the filing 
fee, which currently is set at $900. See 49 CFR 1002.2(f)(25).
    All interested persons should be aware that, following abandonment 
of rail service and salvage of the line, 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 trail use/rail banking under 
49 CFR 1152.29 will be due no later than January 12, 1998. Each trail 
use request must be accompanied by a $150 filing fee. See 49 CFR 
1002.2(f)(27).
    All filings in response to this notice must refer to STB Docket 
Nos. AB-55 (Sub-No. 552X) and AB-290 (Sub-No. 201X) and must be sent 
to: (1) Surface Transportation Board, Office of the Secretary, Case 
Control Unit, 1925 K Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20423-0001; and (2) 
Charles M. Rosenberger, CSX Transportation, Inc., 500 Water Street--
J150, Jacksonville, FL 32202; and James R. Paschall, Norfolk Southern 
Corporation, Three Commercial Place, Norfolk, VA 23510-2191.
    Persons seeking further information concerning abandonment 
procedures may contact the Board's Office of Public Services at (202) 
565-1592 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 Section of Environmental Analysis (SEA) at 
(202) 565-1545. [TDD for the hearing impaired is available at (202) 
565-1695.]
    An environmental assessment (EA) (or environmental impact statement 
(EIS), if necessary) prepared by SEA will be served upon all parties of 
record and upon any agencies or other persons who commented during its 
preparation. Other interested persons may contact SEA to obtain a copy 
of the EA (or EIS). EAs in these 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 will generally be within 
30 days of its service.

    Decided: December 12, 1997.

    By the Board, David M. Konschnik, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-33336 Filed 12-22-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P