Notice2022-15977
Alabama Railroad, LLC-Abandonment Exemption-in Escambia, Conecuh, and Monroe Counties, Ala.
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
July 26, 2022
Issuing agencies
Surface Transportation Board
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 142 (Tuesday, July 26, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 142 (Tuesday, July 26, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44485-44486]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[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 <a href="http://www.stb.gov">www.stb.gov</a>.
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
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on July 26, 2022.
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