Port of Moses Lake-Construction Exemption-Moses Lake, WA [STB Finance Docket No. 34936 (Sub-No. 1)]; Port of Moses Lake-Acquisition Exemption-Moses Lake, WA, 66290 [E8-26552]

Download as PDF 66290 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 217 / Friday, November 7, 2008 / Notices Issued in Washington, DC on November 3, 2008. Grady C. Cothen, Jr., Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety Standards and Program Development. [FR Doc. E8–26665 Filed 11–6–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–06–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Surface Transportation Board [STB Finance Docket No. 34936] Port of Moses Lake—Construction Exemption—Moses Lake, WA [STB Finance Docket No. 34936 (Sub-No. 1)]; Port of Moses Lake—Acquisition Exemption—Moses Lake, WA Surface Transportation Board and Washington State Department of Transportation. ACTION: Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment and Request for Public Review and Comment. ebenthall on PROD1PC60 with NOTICES AGENCY: SUMMARY: By petition filed on August 28, 2008, the Port of Moses Lake (Port) seeks an exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502 from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 10901 to construct rail lines in Grant County, Washington. In the same petition, the Port also seeks an exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502 from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 10901 to acquire an existing segment of rail line from Columbia Basin Railroad Company, Inc. (CBRW). The Board, through its Section of Environmental Analysis (SEA), and the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) are co-lead agencies responsible for the environmental review of the proposed rail project and the preparation of the Environmental Assessment (EA). The proposed project, known as the Northern Columbia Basin Railroad Project, includes the construction of two new rail line segments and the acquisition and refurbishment of an existing rail segment to provide rail access to land designated and zoned for industrial uses along Wheeler Road (Road 3 NE) and at the Grant County International Airport (GCIA). The entire proposed route would extend approximately 11.5 miles. For Segment 1, the Port proposes to construct a rail line that would allow trains to bypass downtown Moses Lake and would provide access to the industrial areas along Wheeler Road (Road 3 NE), including one of two alternatives for a bridge crossing at Parker Horn or Crab Creek. For Segment 2, the Port proposes to extend the VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:04 Nov 06, 2008 Jkt 217001 existing track (Segment 3), which currently terminates just south of the GCIA, to the industrial lands located east of the GCIA. For Segment 3, the Port proposes to acquire and rehabilitate an existing rail line that is currently owned by CBRW. Goods to be shipped would vary depending on the specific industries that may locate along the route, but would likely consist of steel, manufactured parts, and specialty chemicals. The proposed rail route would accommodate a maximum of two trains (one round trip) per day for the foreseeable future. Copies of the EA have been served on all interested parties and will be made available to additional parties upon request. The entire EA is also available for review on the Board’s Web site (https://www.stb.dot.gov) by going to ‘‘ELIBRARY,’’ clicking on the ‘‘Decisions and Notices’’ link, and then searching by the Service Date (November 7, 2008) or Docket Number (FD 34936). SEA, working with WSDOT, will consider all comments received in making its final recommendations to the Board. The Board will then consider SEA’s final recommendations and the complete environmental record in making its final decision in this proceeding. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christa Dean, Attorney and Project Manager, at (202) 245–0299; e-mail: christa.dean@stb.dot.gov, or Elizabeth Phinney, WSDOT Rail Environmental Manager, at (360) 705–7902; e-mail: phinnee@wsdot.wa.gov. Federal Information Relay Service for the hearing impaired: 1–800–877–8339. The EA is available for public review and comment. All comments must be submitted or post-marked by December 8, 2008. DATES: Send written comments to: Christa Dean, Surface Transportation Board, 395 E Street, SW., Room 1108, Washington, DC 20423. Please reference STB Docket No. 34992 in all correspondence. Comments on the EA may also be filed electronically on the Board’s Web site, https://www.stb.dot.gov, by clicking on the ‘‘E-FILING’’ link. ADDRESSES: Decided: November 7, 2008. By the Board, Victoria Rutson, Chief, Section of Environmental Analysis. Kulunie L. Cannon, Clearance Clerk. [FR Doc. E8–26552 Filed 11–6–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4915–01–P PO 00000 Frm 00079 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Surface Transportation Board [STB Finance Docket No. 35190] Union Pacific Railroad Company— Temporary Trackage Rights Exemption—Orange County Transportation Authority Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), pursuant to a written trackage rights agreement entered into between OCTA and Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP), has agreed to grant to UP temporary overhead trackage rights between milepost 165.25 at Fullerton Jct., CA, and milepost 171.00 at CP College, CA, a total distance of approximately 5.75 miles. The transaction is scheduled to be consummated on January 5, 2009.1 The temporary trackage rights will expire on or about January 26, 2009. The purpose of the temporary trackage rights is to facilitate maintenance work on UP lines. As a condition to this exemption, any employee affected by the acquisition of the temporary trackage rights will be protected by the conditions imposed in Norfolk and Western Ry. Co.—Trackage Rights—BN, 354 I.C.C. 605 (1978), as modified in Mendocino Coast Ry., Inc.— Lease and Operate, 360 I.C.C. 653 (1980), and any employee affected by the discontinuance of those trackage rights will be protected by the conditions set out in Oregon Short Line R. Co.—Abandonment—Goshen, 360 I.C.C. 91 (1979). This notice is filed under 49 CFR 1180.2(d)(8). If it contains false or misleading information, the exemption is void ab initio. Petitions to revoke the exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d) may be filed at any time. The filing of a petition to revoke will not automatically stay the transaction. Any stay petition must be filed on or before November 14, 2008 (at least 7 days before the exemption becomes effective). Pursuant to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, Public Law 110–161, section 193, 121 Stat. 1844 (2007), nothing in this decision authorizes the following activities at any solid waste rail transfer facility: collecting, storing, or transferring solid waste outside of its original shipping container; or separating or processing solid waste (including baling, crushing, compacting, and shredding). The term ‘‘solid waste’’ is defined in section 1004 of the Solid Waste Disposal Act, 42 U.S.C. 6903. 1 The exemption is scheduled to become effective on November 22, 2008 (30 days after the exemption was filed). E:\FR\FM\07NON1.SGM 07NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 217 (Friday, November 7, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 66290]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-26552]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Finance Docket No. 34936]


Port of Moses Lake--Construction Exemption--Moses Lake, WA [STB 
Finance Docket No. 34936 (Sub-No. 1)]; Port of Moses Lake--Acquisition 
Exemption--Moses Lake, WA

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board and Washington State Department of 
Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment and Request 
for Public Review and Comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: By petition filed on August 28, 2008, the Port of Moses Lake 
(Port) seeks an exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502 from the prior approval 
requirements of 49 U.S.C. 10901 to construct rail lines in Grant 
County, Washington. In the same petition, the Port also seeks an 
exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502 from the prior approval requirements of 
49 U.S.C. 10901 to acquire an existing segment of rail line from 
Columbia Basin Railroad Company, Inc. (CBRW). The Board, through its 
Section of Environmental Analysis (SEA), and the Washington State 
Department of Transportation (WSDOT) are co-lead agencies responsible 
for the environmental review of the proposed rail project and the 
preparation of the Environmental Assessment (EA).
    The proposed project, known as the Northern Columbia Basin Railroad 
Project, includes the construction of two new rail line segments and 
the acquisition and refurbishment of an existing rail segment to 
provide rail access to land designated and zoned for industrial uses 
along Wheeler Road (Road 3 NE) and at the Grant County International 
Airport (GCIA). The entire proposed route would extend approximately 
11.5 miles.
    For Segment 1, the Port proposes to construct a rail line that 
would allow trains to bypass downtown Moses Lake and would provide 
access to the industrial areas along Wheeler Road (Road 3 NE), 
including one of two alternatives for a bridge crossing at Parker Horn 
or Crab Creek. For Segment 2, the Port proposes to extend the existing 
track (Segment 3), which currently terminates just south of the GCIA, 
to the industrial lands located east of the GCIA. For Segment 3, the 
Port proposes to acquire and rehabilitate an existing rail line that is 
currently owned by CBRW. Goods to be shipped would vary depending on 
the specific industries that may locate along the route, but would 
likely consist of steel, manufactured parts, and specialty chemicals. 
The proposed rail route would accommodate a maximum of two trains (one 
round trip) per day for the foreseeable future.
    Copies of the EA have been served on all interested parties and 
will be made available to additional parties upon request. The entire 
EA is also available for review on the Board's Web site (https://
www.stb.dot.gov) by going to ``E-LIBRARY,'' clicking on the ``Decisions 
and Notices'' link, and then searching by the Service Date (November 7, 
2008) or Docket Number (FD 34936). SEA, working with WSDOT, will 
consider all comments received in making its final recommendations to 
the Board. The Board will then consider SEA's final recommendations and 
the complete environmental record in making its final decision in this 
proceeding.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christa Dean, Attorney and Project 
Manager, at (202) 245-0299; e-mail: christa.dean@stb.dot.gov, or 
Elizabeth Phinney, WSDOT Rail Environmental Manager, at (360) 705-7902; 
e-mail: phinnee@wsdot.wa.gov. Federal Information Relay Service for the 
hearing impaired: 1-800-877-8339.

DATES: The EA is available for public review and comment. All comments 
must be submitted or post-marked by December 8, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Christa Dean, Surface 
Transportation Board, 395 E Street, SW., Room 1108, Washington, DC 
20423.
    Please reference STB Docket No. 34992 in all correspondence.
    Comments on the EA may also be filed electronically on the Board's 
Web site, https://www.stb.dot.gov, by clicking on the ``E-FILING'' link.

    Decided: November 7, 2008.

    By the Board, Victoria Rutson, Chief, Section of Environmental 
Analysis.
Kulunie L. Cannon,
Clearance Clerk.
 [FR Doc. E8-26552 Filed 11-6-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P
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