Surface Transportation Board May 25, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Surface Transportation Board's (Board) Section of Environmental Analysis (SEA) has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) in response to a petition filed by the Ameren Energy Generating Company. The petition seeks an exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502 from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 10901 for authority to construct and operate one of two rail lines: An approximately 13.5-mile line in Montgomery County, Illinois, or an approximately 4.6-mile line in Montgomery and Bond Counties, Illinois. The EA identifies the natural and man-made resources in the area of the proposed rail lines and analyzes the potential impacts of the proposal and alternatives to the proposal on these resources. Based on the information provided from all sources to date and its independent analysis, SEA preliminarily concludes that construction and operation of either of the proposed rail lines would have no significant environmental impacts if the Board imposes and the Ameren Electric Generating Company implements the recommended measures set forth in the EA. 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 on the Board's Web site (https://www.stb.dot.gov) by clicking on the ``Decisions & Notices'' button that appears in the drop down menu for ``E-LIBRARY,'' and searching by Service Date (May 25, 2005) or Docket Number (FD 34435). SEA will consider all comments received when making its final environmental 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.