Notice2025-13493
West Belt Railway, LLC-Discontinuance of Service Exemption-in the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County, Mo
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 18, 2025
Issuing agencies
Surface Transportation Board
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 136 (Friday, July 18, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 136 (Friday, July 18, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Page 34068]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-13493]
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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD
[Docket No. AB 1346X]
West Belt Railway, LLC--Discontinuance of Service Exemption--in
the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County, Mo
On June 30, 2025, West Belt Railway, LLC (WBRY), a Class III rail
carrier, 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: (1) the West Belt Industry Lead (the WBIL) from approximately
milepost 1.07 at Adelaide Avenue to the end of track at approximately
milepost 9.54; and (2) the Central Belt Industrial Lead from its point
of connection to the WBIL at approximately milepost 9.54 to the end of
track, all located in the City of St. Louis, and St. Louis County, Mo.
(the Lines). The Lines traverse U.S. Postal Service Zip Codes 63147,
63155, 63120, 63121, 63133, 63130, and 63132.
WBRY has operated over the Lines under the terms of a lease with
the Lines' owner, Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis (TRRA).
(Pet. 2); see W. Belt Ry.--Lease & Operation Exemption Including
Interchange Commitment--Terminal R.R. Ass'n of St. Louis, FD 35972 (STB
served Dec. 1, 2015). WBRY and TRRA have recently agreed to terminate
the lease and arrange for TRRA to resume service over the Lines in
place of WBRY. (Pet. 2.) In accordance with its obligations under the
lease agreement, WBRY seeks authorization through its petition to
discontinue its common carrier status and attendant obligations on the
Lines. (Id.) WBRY asserts that no customer on the Lines will be
deprived of common carrier service as a consequence of WBRY's proposed
discontinuance. (Id.)
WBRY states that it does not believe that the Lines contain
federally granted rights-of-way and that any documentation in its
possession regarding federally granted rights-of-way will be made
available promptly to those requesting it. (Id. at 4.)
Citing Manufacturers Railway Company--Discontinuance Exemption--in
St. Louis County, Mo., AB 1075X (STB served Feb. 5, 2013) and Central
Texas & Colorado River Railway, LLC--Discontinuance Exemption--in
McCulloch, San Saba, Mills, & Lampasas Counties, Tex., AB 1272X (STB
served Apr. 27, 2022), WBRY asserts that it is entitled to relief from
labor protective conditions because WBRY is seeking discontinuance of
service over the entirety of its system and will have no residual
interest in railroad assets or any other regulated operations.
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 17, 2025.
Because this is a discontinuance proceeding and not an abandonment,
interim trail use/railbanking 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.\1\
Persons interested in submitting an OFA must first file a formal
expression of intent to file an offer by July 28, 2025, 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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\1\ 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
1346X 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 WBRY'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 7, 2025.
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. If you
require an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act,
please call (202) 245-0245.
Board decisions and notices are available at <a href="http://www.stb.gov">www.stb.gov</a>.
Decided: July 15, 2025.
By the Board, Scott M. Zimmerman, Acting Director, Office of
Proceedings.
Aretha Laws-Byrum,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2025-13493 Filed 7-17-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on July 18, 2025.
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