North Central Railway Association, Inc.-Abandonment Exemption-in Hardin County, IA, 19235-19236 [E6-5487]
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HSRObinson on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 71 / Thursday, April 13, 2006 / Notices
motor carriers, seeks authority to amend
Released Rates Decision No. MC–999 by
changing the index used for annual
adjustments to the minimum per-pound
valuation and to the charges for
protecting the full value of shipments of
household goods.
DATES: Comments are due May 15, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Send an original and 10
copies of any comments, referring to
Amendment No. 4 to Released Rates
Decision No. MC–999, to: Surface
Transportation Board, 1925 K Street,
NW., Washington, DC 20423–0001. In
addition, send one copy of any
comments to the Committee’s
representative, Thomas M. Auchincloss,
Jr., 1707 L Street, NW., Washington, DC
20036.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lawrence C. Herzig, (202) 565–1578.
[Federal Information Relay Service
(FIRS) for the hearing impaired: 1–800–
877–8339].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under 49
U.S.C. 14706(a)(1), motor carriers of
household goods ordinarily are liable
for the actual loss or injury that they
cause to the property they transport.
However, under 49 U.S.C. 14706(f), a
household goods carrier may establish,
with the Board’s permission, ‘‘released
rates,’’ under which the carrier’s
liability is limited to a value established
by written declaration of the shipper or
by written agreement between the
carrier and shipper.
In a decision in this proceeding
served on December 21, 2001 (December
2001 Decision), the Board authorized
the Household Goods Carriers’ Bureau
Committee (the Committee), which is
composed of motor carriers of
household goods, to change the terms
under which its member motor carriers
may limit their liability for damage to,
or loss of, household goods in their
care.1 The December 2001 Decision
authorized carriers to provide
household goods shippers with two
options concerning the level of cargo
liability to be assumed by the carrier,
depending upon the level of the rate
that the shipper wishes to pay for the
transportation of its goods. Under one
option, the carrier’s cargo liability
would be limited to 60 cents per pound,
per article, and the shipper would pay
only a base rate for the shipment.
Alternatively, for an additional charge,
the shipper could obtain ‘‘full value
protection’’ (FVP) for the shipped goods,
meaning that the carrier would be liable
1 In a subsequent decision served April 22, 2002,
the Board clarified that the approach authorized in
the December 2001 Decision may be used by
carriers that are not members of the Committee, as
well as those that are.
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14:20 Apr 12, 2006
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for the replacement value of lost or
damaged goods (up to the pre-declared
value of the shipment) or, at the carrier’s
option, for restoring damaged goods to
their prior condition.
The second, or FVP, option
established charges that would apply to
various levels of valuations. It also
provided for a minimum declared value
of $4.00 per pound (or a lump sum of
$5,000, whichever is greater). That
means that, if a shipper does not write
in a valuation, or writes in a declared
valuation lower than $4.00 per pound,
the minimum declared value that would
be deemed to apply to that shipment is
the value derived by multiplying the
weight of the shipment in pounds by
$4.00, and the shipper would pay a
charge based on that valuation.
The December 2001 Decision also
authorized the Committee to make
annual adjustments, without prior
Board approval, to this minimum perpound valuation and also to the charges
that would apply when a shipper selects
FVP. The annual adjustments that the
agency approved were based on changes
in the household furnishings and
operations index, a subgroup within the
Consumer Price Index (CPI), U.S. City
Average, published by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics (BLS) of the United
States Department of Labor.
The Committee has now asked us to
modify the December 2001 Decision, so
that, instead of using the household
furnishings and operations index to
benchmark the annual adjustments to
the minimum per-pound valuation and
FVP charges, its members would now
use data from BLS’s Consumer Price
Index—All Urban Consumers (All
Items) (CPI-U). The Committee states
that the household furnishings and
operations index (which has recorded
insignificant movement since the base
year 1999 and has not resulted in any
valuation or charges adjustments since
the Board authorized its use in the
December 2001 Decision) is
inappropriate for calculating annual
adjustments because several
components of the former household
furnishings index subgroup were moved
to other major groups. In addition, the
Committee cites a BLS publication
indicating that CPI subgroup indexes are
subject to a substantially greater
sampling error than the national CPI,
and for that reason, it strongly urges
users to consider the CPI-U for use in
escalator clauses.2
The Committee indicates that
approval of the proposed amendment
2 BLS Handbook of Methods, Chapter 17 at 4,
available at https://www.bls.gov/opub/
proghome.htm.
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19235
would permit household goods carriers
immediately to take an increase of
16.7% in the minimum per-pound
valuation and in their charges for FVP
coverage for shipments of household
goods.
We invite comments on the proposed
amendment from interested members of
the public. We will also serve this
decision on the parties that provided
comments concerning the December
2001 Decision and invite their
comments on the proposed amendment.
Board decisions and notices are
available on our Web site at https://
www.stb.dot.gov.
Decided: April 6, 2006.
By the Board, Chairman Buttrey and Vice
Chairman Mulvey.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6–5503 Filed 4–12–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Surface Transportation Board
[STB Docket No. AB–586 (Sub-No. 2X)]
North Central Railway Association,
Inc.—Abandonment Exemption—in
Hardin County, IA
North Central Railway Association,
Inc. (NCRA), has filed a notice of
exemption under 49 CFR 1152 subpart
F—Exempt Abandonments to abandon
and discontinue service over a 10.54mile line of railroad between milepost
201.46, near Ackley, IA, and milepost
212.00, near Steamboat Rock, IA, in
Hardin County, IA.1 The line traverses
United States Postal Service Zip Codes
50672, 50671, and 50601.
NCRA has certified that: (1) No local
traffic has moved over the line for at
least 2 years; (2) there is no overhead
traffic on the line that would have to be
rerouted; (3) no formal complaint filed
by a user of rail service on the line (or
by a state or local government entity
acting on behalf of such user) regarding
cessation of service over the line either
is pending with the Surface
Transportation Board or with any U.S.
District Court or has been decided in
favor of complainant within the 2-year
period; and (4) the requirements at 49
CFR 1105.7 (environmental reports), 49
1 NCRA’s notice of exemption identified the issue
line as an 11.70-mile rail line, from milepost 200.30
to milepost 212.00. Subsequently, NCRA was
advised of an ongoing need for car interchange and
switch moves over a portion of the line between
mileposts 200.36 and 201.46. Therefore, by letter
filed on March 31, 2006, NCRA amended its notice
to pertain to the line segment from milepost 201.46
to milepost 212.00.
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13APN1
19236
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 71 / Thursday, April 13, 2006 / Notices
HSRObinson on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES
CFR 1105.8 (historic reports), 49 CFR
1105.11 (transmittal letter), 49 CFR
1105.12 (newspaper publication), and
49 CFR 1152.50(d)(1) (notice to
governmental agencies) have been met.
As a condition to this exemption, any
employee adversely affected by the
abandonment shall be protected under
Oregon Short Line R. Co.—
Abandonment—Goshen, 360 I.C.C. 91
(1979). To address whether this
condition adequately protects affected
employees, a petition for partial
revocation under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d)
must be filed.
Provided no formal expression of
intent to file an offer of financial
assistance (OFA) has been received, this
exemption will be effective on May 13,
2006, unless stayed pending
reconsideration. Petitions to stay that do
not involve environmental issues,2
formal expressions of intent to file an
OFA under 49 CFR 1152.27(c)(2),3 and
trail use/rail banking requests under 49
CFR 1152.29 must be filed by April 24,
2006. Petitions to reopen or requests for
public use conditions under 49 CFR
1152.28 must be filed by May 3, 2006,
with the Surface Transportation Board,
1925 K Street, NW., Washington, DC
20423–0001.
A copy of any petition filed with the
Board should be sent to NCRA’s
representative: T. Scott Bannister,
Attorney for North Central Railway
Association, Inc., 111 Fifty-Sixth Street,
Des Moines, IA 50312.
If the verified notice contains false or
misleading information, the exemption
is void ab initio.
NCRA has filed environmental and
historic reports that address the effects,
if any, of the abandonment on the
environment and historic resources.
SEA will issue an environmental
assessment (EA) by April 18, 2006.
Interested persons may obtain a copy of
the EA by writing to SEA (Room 500,
Surface Transportation Board,
Washington, DC 20423–0001) or by
calling SEA, at (202) 565–1539.
[Assistance for the hearing impaired is
2 The Board will grant a stay if an informed
decision on environmental issues (whether raised
by a party or by the Board’s Section of
Environmental Analysis (SEA) in its independent
investigation) cannot be made before the
exemption’s effective date. See Exemption of Outof-Service Rail Lines, 5 I.C.C.2d 377 (1989). Any
request for a stay should be filed as soon as possible
so that the Board may take appropriate action before
the exemption’s effective date.
3 Each OFA must be accompanied by the
appropriate filing fee, which is currently set at
$1,200, see 49 CFR 1002.2(f)(25), but is scheduled
to increase to $1,300, effective April 19, 2006. See
Regulations Governing Fees for Services Performed
in Connection with Licensing and Related
Services—2006 Update, STB Ex Parte No. 542 (SubNo. 13) (STB served Mar. 20, 2006).
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14:20 Apr 12, 2006
Jkt 208001
available through the Federal
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–
800–877–8339.] Comments on
environmental and historic preservation
matters must be filed within 15 days
after the EA becomes available to the
public.
Environmental, historic preservation,
public use, or trail use/rail banking
conditions will be imposed, where
appropriate, in a subsequent decision.
Pursuant to the provisions of 49 CFR
1152.29(e)(2), NCRA shall file a notice
of consummation with the Board to
signify that it has exercised the
authority granted and fully abandoned
the line. If consummation has not been
effected by NCRA’s filing of a notice of
consummation by April 13, 2007, and
there are no legal or regulatory barriers
to consummation, the authority to
abandon will automatically expire.
Board decisions and notices are
available on our Web site at https://
www.stb.dot.gov.
Decided: April 7, 2006.
By the Board, David M. Konschnik,
Director, Office of Proceedings.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6–5487 Filed 4–12–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request
April 7, 2006.
The Department of Treasury has
submitted the following public
information collection requirement(s) to
OMB for review and clearance under the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
Public Law 104–13. Copies of the
submission(s) may be obtained by
calling the Treasury Bureau Clearance
Officer listed. Comments regarding this
information collection should be
addressed to the OMB reviewer listed
and to the Treasury Department
Clearance Officer, Department of the
Treasury, Room 11000, 1750
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20220.
DATES: Written comments should be
received on or before May 15, 2006 to
be assured of consideration.
Bureau of Public Debt
OMB Number: 1535–0136.
Type of Review: Extension.
Title: Application for Refund of
Purchase Price of United States Savings
Bonds for Organizations.
Form: PDF 5410.
PO 00000
Frm 00077
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Description: Used by an organization
to request refund of purchase price of
United States Savings Bonds.
Respondents: Business or other forprofit and Not-for-profit institutions.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 300
hour.
Clearance Officer: Vicki S. Thorpe,
(304) 480–8150, Bureau of the Public
Debt, 200 Third Street, Parkersburg,
West Virginia 26106.
OMB Reviewer: Alexander T. Hunt,
(202) 395–7316, Office of Management
and Budget, Room 10235, New
Executive Office Building Washington,
DC 20503.
Michael A. Robinson,
Treasury PRA Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E6–5510 Filed 4–12–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810–39–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request
April 7, 2006.
The Department of Treasury has
submitted the following public
information collection requirement(s) to
OMB for review and clearance under the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
Public Law 104–13. Copies of the
submission(s) may be obtained by
calling the Treasury Bureau Clearance
Officer listed. Comments regarding this
information collection should be
addressed to the OMB reviewer listed
and to the Treasury Department
Clearance Officer, Department of the
Treasury, Room 11000, 1750
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20220.
DATES: Written comments should be
received on or before May 15, 2006 to
be assured of consideration.
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
OMB Number: 1545–0064.
Type of Review: Extension.
Title: Application for Exemption from
Social Security and Medicare Taxes and
Waiver of Benefits.
Form: IRS Form 4029.
Description: Form 4029 is used by
members of recognized religious groups
to apply for exemption from social
security and Medicare taxes under IRC
sections 1402(g) and 3127. The
information is used to approve or deny
exemption from social security and
Medicare taxes.
Respondents: Individuals or
households.
Estimated Total Burden Hours: 3,154
hours.
OMB Number: 1545–0817.
E:\FR\FM\13APN1.SGM
13APN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 71 (Thursday, April 13, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19235-19236]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-5487]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Surface Transportation Board
[STB Docket No. AB-586 (Sub-No. 2X)]
North Central Railway Association, Inc.--Abandonment Exemption--
in Hardin County, IA
North Central Railway Association, Inc. (NCRA), has filed a notice
of exemption under 49 CFR 1152 subpart F--Exempt Abandonments to
abandon and discontinue service over a 10.54-mile line of railroad
between milepost 201.46, near Ackley, IA, and milepost 212.00, near
Steamboat Rock, IA, in Hardin County, IA.\1\ The line traverses United
States Postal Service Zip Codes 50672, 50671, and 50601.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ NCRA's notice of exemption identified the issue line as an
11.70-mile rail line, from milepost 200.30 to milepost 212.00.
Subsequently, NCRA was advised of an ongoing need for car
interchange and switch moves over a portion of the line between
mileposts 200.36 and 201.46. Therefore, by letter filed on March 31,
2006, NCRA amended its notice to pertain to the line segment from
milepost 201.46 to milepost 212.00.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
NCRA has certified that: (1) No local traffic has moved over the
line for at least 2 years; (2) there is no overhead traffic on the line
that would have to be rerouted; (3) no formal complaint filed by a user
of rail service on the line (or by a state or local government entity
acting on behalf of such user) regarding cessation of service over the
line either is pending with the Surface Transportation Board or with
any U.S. District Court or has been decided in favor of complainant
within the 2-year period; and (4) the requirements at 49 CFR 1105.7
(environmental reports), 49
[[Page 19236]]
CFR 1105.8 (historic reports), 49 CFR 1105.11 (transmittal letter), 49
CFR 1105.12 (newspaper publication), and 49 CFR 1152.50(d)(1) (notice
to governmental agencies) have been met.
As a condition to this exemption, any employee adversely affected
by the abandonment shall be protected under Oregon Short Line R. Co.--
Abandonment--Goshen, 360 I.C.C. 91 (1979). To address whether this
condition adequately protects affected employees, a petition for
partial revocation under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d) must be filed.
Provided no formal expression of intent to file an offer of
financial assistance (OFA) has been received, this exemption will be
effective on May 13, 2006, unless stayed pending reconsideration.
Petitions to stay that do not involve environmental issues,\2\ formal
expressions of intent to file an OFA under 49 CFR 1152.27(c)(2),\3\ and
trail use/rail banking requests under 49 CFR 1152.29 must be filed by
April 24, 2006. Petitions to reopen or requests for public use
conditions under 49 CFR 1152.28 must be filed by May 3, 2006, with the
Surface Transportation Board, 1925 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20423-
0001.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ The Board will grant a stay if an informed decision on
environmental issues (whether raised by a party or by the Board's
Section of Environmental Analysis (SEA) in its independent
investigation) cannot be made before the exemption's effective date.
See Exemption of Out-of-Service Rail Lines, 5 I.C.C.2d 377 (1989).
Any request for a stay should be filed as soon as possible so that
the Board may take appropriate action before the exemption's
effective date.
\3\ Each OFA must be accompanied by the appropriate filing fee,
which is currently set at $1,200, see 49 CFR 1002.2(f)(25), but is
scheduled to increase to $1,300, effective April 19, 2006. See
Regulations Governing Fees for Services Performed in Connection with
Licensing and Related Services--2006 Update, STB Ex Parte No. 542
(Sub-No. 13) (STB served Mar. 20, 2006).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
A copy of any petition filed with the Board should be sent to
NCRA's representative: T. Scott Bannister, Attorney for North Central
Railway Association, Inc., 111 Fifty-Sixth Street, Des Moines, IA
50312.
If the verified notice contains false or misleading information,
the exemption is void ab initio.
NCRA has filed environmental and historic reports that address the
effects, if any, of the abandonment on the environment and historic
resources. SEA will issue an environmental assessment (EA) by April 18,
2006. Interested persons may obtain a copy of the EA by writing to SEA
(Room 500, Surface Transportation Board, Washington, DC 20423-0001) or
by calling SEA, at (202) 565-1539. [Assistance for the hearing impaired
is available through the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-
800-877-8339.] Comments on environmental and historic preservation
matters must be filed within 15 days after the EA becomes available to
the public.
Environmental, historic preservation, public use, or trail use/rail
banking conditions will be imposed, where appropriate, in a subsequent
decision.
Pursuant to the provisions of 49 CFR 1152.29(e)(2), NCRA shall file
a notice of consummation with the Board to signify that it has
exercised the authority granted and fully abandoned the line. If
consummation has not been effected by NCRA's filing of a notice of
consummation by April 13, 2007, and there are no legal or regulatory
barriers to consummation, the authority to abandon will automatically
expire.
Board decisions and notices are available on our Web site at http:/
/www.stb.dot.gov.
Decided: April 7, 2006.
By the Board, David M. Konschnik, Director, Office of
Proceedings.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6-5487 Filed 4-12-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P