Norfolk Southern Railway Company-Abandonment Exemption-in the City of Baltimore, MD., 91869-91870 [2024-27068]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 224 / Wednesday, November 20, 2024 / Notices 2024.3 Formal expressions of intent to file an OFA under 49 CFR 1152.27(c)(2) and interim trail use/railbanking requests under 49 CFR 1152.29 must be filed by December 2, 2024.4 Petitions to reopen and requests for public use conditions under 49 CFR 1152.28 must be filed by December 10, 2024. All pleadings, referring to Docket No. AB 290 (Sub-No. 417X), 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. In addition, a copy of each pleading must be served on NSR’s representative, William A. Mullins, Mullins Law Group PLLC, 2001 L St. NW, Suite 720, Washington, DC 20036. If the verified notice contains false or misleading information, the exemption is void ab initio. NSR 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 25, 2024. 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. If you require an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act, please call (202) 245–0245. 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/railbanking conditions will be imposed, where appropriate, in a subsequent decision. Pursuant to the provisions of 49 CFR 1152.29(e)(2), NSR 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 NSR’s filing of a notice of consummation by November 20, 2025, 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. khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES Decided: November 14, 2024. 3 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. 4 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 18:39 Nov 19, 2024 Jkt 265001 By the Board, Valerie O. Quinn, Acting Director, Office of Proceedings. Aretha Laws-Byrum, Clearance Clerk. [FR Doc. 2024–26975 Filed 11–19–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4915–01–P SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD [Docket No. AB 290 (Sub-No. 412X)] Norfolk Southern Railway Company— Abandonment Exemption—in the City of Baltimore, MD. Norfolk Southern Railway Company (NSR) has filed a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR part 1152 subpart F—Exempt Abandonments to abandon its freight rail easement over an approximately one-mile rail line extending from milepost ±UU 0.00 to milepost ±UU 1.00 in the City of Baltimore, Md. (the Line). The Line traverses U.S. Postal Service Zip Codes 21201 and 21211. According to the verified notice, the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) owns the Line and currently operates passenger rail transit service over it.1 NSR states that MTA’s passenger services will continue after NSR abandons its easement. NSR therefore asserts that the corridor is not available for alternative public use(s). NSR also states that, based on these unique considerations, it does not intend to negotiate for trail use/railbanking. NSR has certified that: (1) no local freight traffic has moved over the Line for at least two years; (2) any overhead traffic on the Line can be rerouted over other lines; (3) no formal complaint filed by a user of rail service on the Line (or by a state or local government on behalf of such user) regarding cessation of service over the Line is pending with either the Surface Transportation Board (Board) or 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 1 The Board previously determined that MTA did not require authorization from the Board’s predecessor when MTA acquired the Line in 1990 and that MTA had not become a common carrier on the Line. See Md. Transit Admin.—Pet. for Declaratory Ord., FD 34975, slip op. at 7–8 (STB served Oct. 9, 2007). PO 00000 Frm 00198 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 91869 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,2 this exemption will be effective on December 20, 2024, unless stayed pending reconsideration. Petitions to stay that do not involve environmental issues 3 must be filed by November 29, 2024. Formal expressions of intent to file an OFA under 49 CFR 1152.27(c)(2) and interim trail use/railbanking requests under 49 CFR 1152.29 must be filed by December 2, 2024.4 Petitions to reopen and requests for public use conditions under 49 CFR 1152.28 must be filed by December 10, 2024. All pleadings, referring to Docket No. AB 290 (Sub-No. 412X), 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 NSR’s representative, William A. Mullins, Mullins Law Group PLLC, 2001 L St. NW, Suite 720, Washington, DC 20036. If the verified notice contains false or misleading information, the exemption is void ab initio. NSR 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 25, 2024. 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. If you require an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act, please call (202) 245–0245. Comments on environmental or historic preservation matters must be 2 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). 3 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. 4 Filing fees for OFAs and trail use requests can be found at 49 CFR 1002.2(f)(25) and (27), respectively. E:\FR\FM\20NON1.SGM 20NON1 91870 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 224 / Wednesday, November 20, 2024 / Notices 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), NSR 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 NSR’s filing of a notice of consummation by November 20, 2025, 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, 2024. By the Board, Valerie O. Quinn, Acting Director, Office of Proceedings. Brendetta Jones, Clearance Clerk. [FR Doc. 2024–27068 Filed 11–19–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4915–01–P SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD [Docket No. AB 1240 (Sub-No. 1X)] khammond on DSK9W7S144PROD with NOTICES Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad Company—Abandonment Exemption— in Fayette County, Pa. Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad Company (SWP), has filed a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR part 1152 subpart F—Exempt Abandonments to abandon approximately 1.87 miles of rail line near Uniontown, Fayette County, Pa., extending (1) approximately 0.66 miles from V.S. 874+34 at Redstone Junction near Washington Street to V.S. 839+30 at the north side of Oliver Road, and (2) approximately 1.21 miles from V.S. 1926+00 on the west side of North Gallatin Avenue Extension to V.S. 1989+93 near Coal Lick Run Junction near the North Union Township/City of Uniontown border (the Line). The Line traverses U.S. Postal Service Zip Code 15401. SWP has certified that: (1) no local traffic has moved over the Line for at least two years; (2) any overhead traffic on the Line can be rerouted over other lines; (3) no formal complaint filed by a user of rail service on the Line (or by a state or local government on behalf of such user) regarding cessation of service over the Line is pending with either the Surface Transportation Board (Board) or 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 VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:39 Nov 19, 2024 Jkt 265001 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 20, 2024, unless stayed pending reconsideration. Petitions to stay that do not involve environmental issues must be filed by November 29, 2024.2 Formal expressions of intent to file an OFA under 49 CFR 1152.27(c)(2) and interim trail use/railbanking requests under 49 CFR 1152.29 must be filed by December 2, 2024.3 Petitions to reopen and requests for public use conditions under 49 CFR 1152.28 must be filed by December 10, 2024. All pleadings, referring to Docket No. AB 1240 (Sub-No. 1X), 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 SWP’s representative, Thomas J. Healey, Fletcher & Sippel LLC, 29 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606–3208. If the verified notice contains false or misleading information, the exemption is void ab initio. SWP 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 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. PO 00000 Frm 00199 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 EA) by November 25, 2024. 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. If you require an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act, please call (202) 245–0245. 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/railbanking conditions will be imposed, where appropriate, in a subsequent decision. Pursuant to the provisions of 49 CFR 1152.29(e)(2), SWP 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 SWP’s filing of a notice of consummation by November 20, 2025, 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, 2024. By the Board, Valerie O. Quinn, Acting Director, Office of Proceedings. Regena Smith-Bernard, Clearance Clerk. [FR Doc. 2024–27105 Filed 11–19–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4915–01–P SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD [Docket No. AB 290 (Sub-No. 415X)] Northern Southern Railway Company—Abandonment Exemption— in Henderson and Polk Counties, NC, and Greenville and Spartanburg Counties, SC Norfolk Southern Railway Company (NSR) has filed a verified notice of exemption pursuant to 49 CFR part 1152, subpart F—Exempt Abandonments to abandon an approximately 31.3-mile rail line extending from approximately milepost W 26.0 +/¥ to approximately milepost W 57.3 +/¥ in Henderson and Polk Counties, N.C., and Greenville and Spartanburg Counties, S.C. (the Line). The Line traverses U.S. Postal Service Zip Codes 28773, 28782, 28790, 29322, 29349, and 29356. NSR has certified that: (1) no local traffic has moved over the Line for at least two years; (2) any overhead traffic on the Line can be rerouted over other lines; (3) no formal complaint filed by a user of rail service on the Line (or by a state or local government on behalf of such user) regarding cessation of service E:\FR\FM\20NON1.SGM 20NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 224 (Wednesday, November 20, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 91869-91870]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-27068]


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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

[Docket No. AB 290 (Sub-No. 412X)]


Norfolk Southern Railway Company--Abandonment Exemption--in the 
City of Baltimore, MD.

    Norfolk Southern Railway Company (NSR) has filed a verified notice 
of exemption under 49 CFR part 1152 subpart F--Exempt Abandonments to 
abandon its freight rail easement over an approximately one-mile rail 
line extending from milepost UU 0.00 to milepost UU 1.00 in the City of Baltimore, Md. (the Line). The Line 
traverses U.S. Postal Service Zip Codes 21201 and 21211.
    According to the verified notice, the Maryland Transit 
Administration (MTA) owns the Line and currently operates passenger 
rail transit service over it.\1\ NSR states that MTA's passenger 
services will continue after NSR abandons its easement. NSR therefore 
asserts that the corridor is not available for alternative public 
use(s). NSR also states that, based on these unique considerations, it 
does not intend to negotiate for trail use/railbanking.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The Board previously determined that MTA did not require 
authorization from the Board's predecessor when MTA acquired the 
Line in 1990 and that MTA had not become a common carrier on the 
Line. See Md. Transit Admin.--Pet. for Declaratory Ord., FD 34975, 
slip op. at 7-8 (STB served Oct. 9, 2007).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    NSR has certified that: (1) no local freight traffic has moved over 
the Line for at least two years; (2) any overhead traffic on the Line 
can be rerouted over other lines; (3) no formal complaint filed by a 
user of rail service on the Line (or by a state or local government on 
behalf of such user) regarding cessation of service over the Line is 
pending with either the Surface Transportation Board (Board) or 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,\2\ this exemption will be 
effective on December 20, 2024, unless stayed pending reconsideration. 
Petitions to stay that do not involve environmental issues \3\ must be 
filed by November 29, 2024. Formal expressions of intent to file an OFA 
under 49 CFR 1152.27(c)(2) and interim trail use/railbanking requests 
under 49 CFR 1152.29 must be filed by December 2, 2024.\4\ Petitions to 
reopen and requests for public use conditions under 49 CFR 1152.28 must 
be filed by December 10, 2024.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ 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).
    \3\ 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.
    \4\ 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 290 (Sub-No. 412X), 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 NSR's representative, William A. Mullins, Mullins Law Group 
PLLC, 2001 L St. NW, Suite 720, Washington, DC 20036.
    If the verified notice contains false or misleading information, 
the exemption is void ab initio.
    NSR 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 25, 2024. 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. If you require an 
accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act, please call 
(202) 245-0245. Comments on environmental or historic preservation 
matters must be

[[Page 91870]]

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), NSR 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 NSR's filing of a notice of 
consummation by November 20, 2025, 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, 2024.

    By the Board, Valerie O. Quinn, Acting Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Brendetta Jones,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2024-27068 Filed 11-19-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P
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