Pioneer Valley Railroad Company, Inc.-Abandonment Exemption-in Hampshire County, Mass., 69075-69076 [2022-25068]

Download as PDF 69075 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 221 / Thursday, November 17, 2022 / Notices information to the offeror or applicant: Approximately 25. Frequency: On occasion, as follows: Subjects: In this notice, the Board is requesting comments on the extension of the following information collection: Description of Collection TABLE—NUMBER OF YEARLY RESPONSES—Continued TABLE—NUMBER OF YEARLY RESPONSES Title: Preservation of Rail Service. OMB Control Number: 2140–0022. STB Form Number: None. Type of Review: Extension without change. Respondents: Affected shippers, communities, or other interested persons seeking to preserve rail service over rail lines that are proposed or identified for abandonment, and railroads that are required to provide Type of filing Estimated annual average number of filings (2019–2021) Type of filing Feeder Line Application Trail Use Request (with extensions) ................ Estimated annual average number of filings (2019–2021) 1 17 Total Burden Hours (annually including all respondents): 205 hours 1 (total of estimated hours per response × number of responses for each type of 1 filing). Offer of Financial Assistance (and related filings) ........................ Request for Public Use Condition ................... TABLE—ESTIMATED TOTAL BURDEN HOURS Estimated annual average number of filings (2019–2021) lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 Type of filing Number of hours per response Total estimated burden hours Offer of Financial Assistance (and related filings) ........................................................ Request for Public Use Condition ................................................................................. Feeder Line Application ................................................................................................. Trail Use Request (with extensions) ............................................................................. 1 1 1 17 46 4 70 5 46 4 70 85 Total burden hours ................................................................................................. ................................ ........................ 205 Total ‘‘Non-hour Burden’’ Cost: None identified. Filings may be submitted electronically to the Board. Needs and Uses: The Surface Transportation Board is, by statute, responsible for the economic regulation of common carrier freight railroads and certain other carriers operating in the United States. Under the laws the Board administers, persons seeking to preserve rail service may file pleadings before the Board to acquire or subsidize a rail line for continued service, or to impose a trail use or public use condition. When a line is proposed for abandonment, affected shippers, communities, or other interested persons may seek to preserve rail service by filing with the Board: an offer of financial assistance (OFA) to subsidize or purchase a rail line for which a railroad is seeking abandonment (49 U.S.C. 10904), including a request for the Board to set terms and conditions of the financial assistance; a request for a public use condition (section 10905); or a trail use request (16 U.S.C. 1247(d)). Similarly, when a line is placed on a system diagram map identifying it as an anticipated or potential candidate for abandonment, affected shippers, communities, or other interested persons may seek to preserve rail service by filing with the Board a feeder line application to purchase the identified rail line (§ 10907). Additionally, the railroad owning the VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:26 Nov 16, 2022 Jkt 259001 rail line subject to abandonment must, in some circumstances, provide information to the applicant or offeror. As to trail use, the STB will issue a CITU or NITU to a prospective trail sponsor who seeks an interim trail use agreement with the rail carrier of the rail line that is being abandoned. The CITU/ NITU permits parties to negotiate for an interim trail use agreement. The parties may also agree to an extension of the negotiating period. If parties reach an agreement, then they must jointly notify the Board of that fact and of any modification or vacancy of the agreement. There is a one-year period for any initial interim trail use negotiating period (with potential extensions). The Board makes this submission because, under the PRA, a federal agency that conducts or sponsors a collection of information must display a currently valid OMB control number. A collection of information, which is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 1320.3(c), includes agency requirements that persons submit reports, keep records, or provide information to the agency, third parties, or the public. Under 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A), federal agencies are required to provide, prior to an agency’s submitting a collection to OMB for approval, a 60-day notice and comment period through publication in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, PO 00000 Frm 00080 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information. Dated: November 14, 2022. Jeffrey Herzig, Clearance Clerk. [FR Doc. 2022–25073 Filed 11–16–22; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4915–01–P SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD [Docket No. AB 531 (Sub-No 3X)] Pioneer Valley Railroad Company, Inc.—Abandonment Exemption—in Hampshire County, Mass. Pioneer Valley Railroad Company, Inc. (PVRR), has filed a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR part 1152 subpart F—Exempt Abandonments to abandon approximately 4.25 miles of rail line from the northern terminus at Coleman Road (approximate milepost 69.70 in PVRR’s original track chart) to the southern terminus at Brickyard Road, near its intersection with Valley Road (approximate milepost 73.95 in PVRR’s original track chart), in the Town of Southampton, Hampshire County, Mass. (the Line). The Line traverses U.S. Postal Service Zip Code 01073. PVRR has certified that: (1) no local traffic has moved over the Line for over two years; (2) there is no overhead traffic on the Line; (3) no formal complaint filed by a user of rail service E:\FR\FM\17NON1.SGM 17NON1 69076 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 221 / Thursday, November 17, 2022 / Notices lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 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 (Board) or with any U.S. District Court, or has been decided in favor of a complainant within the two-year period; and (4) the requirements at 49 CFR 1105.7(b) and 1105.8(c) (notice of environmental and historic reports), 49 CFR 1105.12 (newspaper publication), and 49 CFR 1152.50(d)(1) (notice to government agencies) have been met. As a condition to this exemption, any employee adversely affected by the abandonment 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). 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,1 this exemption will be effective on December 17, 2022, unless stayed pending reconsideration. Petitions to stay that do not involve environmental issues must be filed by November 25, 2022.2 Formal expressions of intent to file an OFA under 49 CFR 1152.27(c)(2) and interim trail use/rail banking requests under 49 CFR 1152.29 must be filed by November 28, 2022.3 Petitions to reopen or requests for public use conditions under 49 CFR 1152.28 must be filed by December 7, 2022. All pleadings, referring to Docket No. AB 531 (Sub-No. 3X), 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 PVRR’s representative, Michael S. Schneider, Doherty, Wallace, Pillsbury, & Murphy, P.C., One Monarch 1 Persons interested in submitting an OFA must first file a formal expression of intent to file an offer, 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)(2)(i). 2 The Board will grant a stay if an informed decision on environmental issues (whether raised by a party or by the Board’s Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA) in its independent investigation) cannot be made before the exemption’s effective date. See Exemption of Out-of-Serv. 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 Filing fees for OFAs and trail use requests can be found at 49 CFR 1002.2(f)(25) and (27), respectively. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:26 Nov 16, 2022 Jkt 259001 Place, 1414 Main Street, Floor 19, Springfield, MA 01144. If the verified notice contains false or misleading information, the exemption is void ab initio. PVRR has filed a combined environmental and historic report that addresses the potential effects, if any, of the abandonment on the environment and historic resources. OEA will issue a Draft Environmental Assessment (Draft EA) by November 22, 2022. The Draft EA will be available to interested persons on the Board’s website, by writing to OEA, or by calling OEA at (202) 245–0294. Assistance for the hearing impaired is available through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877– 8339. Comments on environmental or historic preservation matters must be filed within 15 days after the Draft 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), PVRR 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 PVRR’s filing of a notice of consummation by November 17, 2023, and there are no legal or regulatory barriers to consummation, the authority to abandon will automatically expire. Board decisions and notices are available at www.stb.gov. Decided: November 14, 2022. By the Board, Mai T. Dinh, Director, Office of Proceedings. Brendetta Jones, Clearance Clerk. [FR Doc. 2022–25068 Filed 11–16–22; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4915–01–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions would enable these hard of hearing and deaf individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce. DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 19, 2022. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by the Federal Docket Management System Docket No. FMCSA–2022–0037 using any of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov/, insert the docket number, FMCSA–2022–0037, in the keyword box, and click ‘‘Search.’’ Next, sort the results by ‘‘Posted (NewerOlder),’’ choose the first notice listed, and click on the ‘‘Comment’’ button. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. • Mail: Dockets Operations; U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, Washington, DC 20590–0001. • Hand Delivery: West Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590–0001, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays. • Fax: (202) 493–2251. To avoid duplication, please use only one of these four methods. See the ‘‘Public Participation’’ portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for instructions on submitting comments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Christine A. Hydock, Chief, Medical Programs Division, FMCSA, DOT, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W64–224, Washington, DC 20590–0001, (202) 366– 4001, fmcsamedical@dot.gov. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. If you have questions regarding viewing or submitting material to the docket, contact Dockets Operations, (202) 366–9826. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: [Docket No. FMCSA–2022–0037] I. Public Participation Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Hearing A. Submitting Comments Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Notice of applications for exemption; request for comments. AGENCY: FMCSA announces receipt of applications from nine individuals for an exemption from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00081 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this notice (Docket No. FMCSA–2022–0037), indicate the specific section of this document to which each comment applies, and provide a reason for each suggestion or recommendation. You may submit your comments and material online or by fax, mail, or hand delivery, but please use only one of these means. FMCSA recommends that you include your name and a mailing E:\FR\FM\17NON1.SGM 17NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 221 (Thursday, November 17, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69075-69076]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-25068]


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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

[Docket No. AB 531 (Sub-No 3X)]


Pioneer Valley Railroad Company, Inc.--Abandonment Exemption--in 
Hampshire County, Mass.

    Pioneer Valley Railroad Company, Inc. (PVRR), has filed a verified 
notice of exemption under 49 CFR part 1152 subpart F--Exempt 
Abandonments to abandon approximately 4.25 miles of rail line from the 
northern terminus at Coleman Road (approximate milepost 69.70 in PVRR's 
original track chart) to the southern terminus at Brickyard Road, near 
its intersection with Valley Road (approximate milepost 73.95 in PVRR's 
original track chart), in the Town of Southampton, Hampshire County, 
Mass. (the Line). The Line traverses U.S. Postal Service Zip Code 
01073.
    PVRR has certified that: (1) no local traffic has moved over the 
Line for over two years; (2) there is no overhead traffic on the Line; 
(3) no formal complaint filed by a user of rail service

[[Page 69076]]

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 (Board) or with any U.S. 
District Court, or has been decided in favor of a complainant within 
the two-year period; and (4) the requirements at 49 CFR 1105.7(b) and 
1105.8(c) (notice of environmental and historic reports), 49 CFR 
1105.12 (newspaper publication), and 49 CFR 1152.50(d)(1) (notice to 
government agencies) have been met.
    As a condition to this exemption, any employee adversely affected 
by the abandonment 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). 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,\1\ this exemption will be 
effective on December 17, 2022, unless stayed pending reconsideration. 
Petitions to stay that do not involve environmental issues must be 
filed by November 25, 2022.\2\ Formal expressions of intent to file an 
OFA under 49 CFR 1152.27(c)(2) and interim trail use/rail banking 
requests under 49 CFR 1152.29 must be filed by November 28, 2022.\3\ 
Petitions to reopen or requests for public use conditions under 49 CFR 
1152.28 must be filed by December 7, 2022.
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    \1\ Persons interested in submitting an OFA must first file a 
formal expression of intent to file an offer, 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)(2)(i).
    \2\ The Board will grant a stay if an informed decision on 
environmental issues (whether raised by a party or by the Board's 
Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA) in its independent 
investigation) cannot be made before the exemption's effective date. 
See Exemption of Out-of-Serv. 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\ Filing fees for OFAs and trail use requests can be found at 
49 CFR 1002.2(f)(25) and (27), respectively.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    All pleadings, referring to Docket No. AB 531 (Sub-No. 3X), 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 
PVRR's representative, Michael S. Schneider, Doherty, Wallace, 
Pillsbury, & Murphy, P.C., One Monarch Place, 1414 Main Street, Floor 
19, Springfield, MA 01144.
    If the verified notice contains false or misleading information, 
the exemption is void ab initio.
    PVRR has filed a combined environmental and historic report that 
addresses the potential effects, if any, of the abandonment on the 
environment and historic resources. OEA will issue a Draft 
Environmental Assessment (Draft EA) by November 22, 2022. The Draft EA 
will be available to interested persons on the Board's website, by 
writing to OEA, or by calling OEA at (202) 245-0294. Assistance for the 
hearing impaired is available through the Federal Relay Service at 
(800) 877-8339. Comments on environmental or historic preservation 
matters must be filed within 15 days after the Draft 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), PVRR 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 PVRR's filing of a notice of 
consummation by November 17, 2023, and there are no legal or regulatory 
barriers to consummation, the authority to abandon will automatically 
expire.
    Board decisions and notices are available at www.stb.gov.

    Decided: November 14, 2022.

    By the Board, Mai T. Dinh, Director, Office of Proceedings.
Brendetta Jones,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2022-25068 Filed 11-16-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P
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