Surface Transportation Board April 6, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On August 4, 2006, the Arizona Eastern Railway (AZER) filed a petition with the Surface Transportation Board (Board) seeking an exemption under 49 United States Code (U.S.C.) 10502 from prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 10901 for authority to construct and operate 12 miles of new rail line in Graham County, Arizona (AZ). The Board, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 10901, is the agency responsible for granting authority for the construction and operation of new rail line facilities. On February 25, 2008, the Board's Section of Environmental Analysis (SEA) and the Federal Railroad Administration, a cooperating agency, issued an Environmental Assessment (EA) in this proceeding. The EA was made available to agencies, the public, and interested parties for a 36-day public comment period. The Board extended the comment period by another 30 days to May 1, 2008 in response to stakeholders' requests. SEA received 25 comments on the EA. The Post EA responds to those comments and makes final environmental recommendations to the Board.