Notice2022-10909
Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad, L.L.C.-Discontinuance of Service Exemption-in Crowley, Pueblo, Otero, and Kiowa Counties, Colo.
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
May 20, 2022
Issuing agencies
Surface Transportation Board
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 98 (Friday, May 20, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 98 (Friday, May 20, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 31055]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-10909]
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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD
[Docket No. AB 853 (Sub-No. 4X)]
Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad, L.L.C.--Discontinuance of Service
Exemption--in Crowley, Pueblo, Otero, and Kiowa Counties, Colo.
On April 21, 2022, Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad, L.L.C. (K&O), filed
a petition under 49 U.S.C. 10502 for exemption from the prior approval
requirements of 49 U.S.C. 10903 to discontinue service over a 121.9-
mile railroad line (the Towner Line) between milepost 747.5 at Towner
and milepost 869.4 near NA Junction, in Crowley, Pueblo, Otero, and
Kiowa Counties, Colo.\1\ The Towner Line traverses United States Postal
Service Zip Codes 81022, 81025, 81062, 81033, 81063, 81076, 81050,
81021, 81045, 81036, and 81071.
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\1\ K&O originally submitted its petition for exemption on April
8, 2022, but filed a supplement on April 21, 2022. Accordingly,
April 21, 2022, will be considered the official filing date.
Although, due to an inadvertent oversight related to the supplement,
this notice will be published in the Federal Register more than 20
days after the petition was filed (see 49 CFR 1152.60(a)), there
will be no prejudice to any person wishing to submit an expression
of intent to file an offer of financial assistance (OFA), as the due
date for such submissions will still be 10 days from publication.
See 49 CFR 1152.27(c)(1)(i).
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According to K&O, the proposed discontinuance will allow it to end
its common carrier rail service obligation over the Towner Line,
consistent with the plans of the Towner Line's owner, Colorado Pacific
Railroad, LLC (CXR), to commence operations. K&O states that the
proposed discontinuance will therefore leave no Towner Line customer
without access to railroad common carrier service, as any such
customers would have service via CXR.
K&O states that, as a non-owner of the Line, it is unaware whether
the Line contains federally granted rights-of-way. K&O also states that
it will make any documentation that it may have concerning federally-
granted rights-of-way available promptly to those requesting it.
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).
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 August 9, 2022.
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 environmental review during any
subsequent abandonment, this discontinuance does not require an
environmental review. See 49 CFR 1105.6(c)(5), 1105.8(b).
Any offer of financial assistance (OFA) for subsidy 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.\2\
Persons interested in submitting an OFA must first file a formal
expression of intent to file an offer by May 31, 2022, indicating the
intent to file an OFA for subsidy and demonstrating that they are
preliminarily financially responsible. See 49 CFR 1152.27(c)(1)(i).
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\2\ The filing fee for OFAs can be found at 49 CFR
1002.2(f)(25).
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All filings in response to this notice must refer to Docket No. AB
853 (Sub-No. 4X) and 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 K&O's representative, Bradon J.
Smith, Fletcher & Sippel LLC, 29 North Wacker Drive, Suite 800,
Chicago, IL 60606-2832. Replies to the petition are due on or before
June 9, 2022.
Persons seeking further information concerning discontinuance
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 at (202) 245-0294. Assistance
for the hearing impaired is available through the Federal Relay Service
at (800) 877-8339.
Board decisions and notices are available at <a href="http://www.stb.gov">www.stb.gov</a>.
Decided: May 17, 2022.
By the Board, Scott M. Zimmerman, Acting Director, Office of
Proceedings.
Regena Smith-Bernard,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2022-10909 Filed 5-19-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P
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