[Federal Register: September 11, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 175)]
[Notices]
[Page 51902-51903]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11se07-134]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Surface Transportation Board
[STB Docket No. AB-1000 (Sub-No. 1X)]
Georgia Southwestern Railroad, Inc.--Abandonment and
Discontinuance Exemption--in Harris and Meriwether Counties, GA
On August 22, 2007, Georgia Southwestern Railroad, Inc. (GSWR)
filed with the Board a petition under 49 U.S.C. 10502 for exemption
from the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 10903 to abandon a 43-mile line of
railroad between milepost R-12.0 at Florida Rock and milepost R-55.0 at
Allie, in Harris and Meriwether Counties, GA, and to discontinue
overhead trackage rights over a line owned by Central of Georgia
Railroad Company (CGR)
[[Page 51903]]
between milepost R-2.0 north of Columbus and milepost R-12.0 at Florida
Rock, in Harris County, GA.\1\ The lines traverse United States Postal
Service Zip Codes 30222, 31804, 31811, and 31822. The line GSWR seeks
to abandon includes no stations.
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\1\ GSWR obtained the line it seeks to abandon and a total of
12.2 miles of incidental overhead trackage rights from CGR in 2005.
See Georgia Southwestern Railroad, Inc.--Acquisition and Operation
Exemption--Central of Georgia Railroad Company, STB Finance Docket
No. 34699 (STB served May 20, 2005). The trackage rights extended
from milepost M-290.3 at South Columbus to milepost M-290.9/P-290.9
at Columbus and from milepost P-291.7/R-1.2 at West Columbus to
milepost R-12.0 at Florida Rock, in Harris and Muscogee Counties,
GA.
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The line sought to be abandoned does not contain federally granted
rights-of-way. Any documentation in GSWR's possession will be made
available promptly to those requesting it.
The interest of railroad employees will be protected by the
conditions set forth in Oregon Short Line R. Co.--Abandonment--Goshen,
360 I.C.C. 91 (1979).
By issuing this notice, the Board is instituting an exemption
proceeding pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 10502(b). A final decision will be
issued by December 10, 2007.
Any offer of financial assistance (OFA) under 49 CFR 1152.27(b)(2)
will be due no later than 10 days after service of a decision granting
the petition for exemption. Each OFA must be accompanied by a $1,300
filing fee. See 49 CFR 1002.2(f)(25).
All interested persons should be aware that, following abandonment
of rail service and salvage of the line, the line may be suitable for
other public use, including interim trail use. Any request for a public
use condition under 49 CFR 1152.28 or for trail use/rail banking under
49 CFR 1152.29 will be due no later than October 1, 2007. Each trail
use request must be accompanied by a $200 filing fee. See 49 CFR
1002.2(f)(27).
All filings in response to this notice must refer to STB Docket No.
AB-1000 (Sub-No. 1X), and must be sent to: (1) Surface Transportation
Board, 395 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20423-0001; and (2) Karl
Morell, Ball Janik LLP, 1455 F Street, NW., Suite 225, Washington, DC
20005. Replies to the petition are due on or before October 1, 2007.
Persons seeking further information concerning abandonment
procedures may contact the Board's Office of Public Services at (202)
245-0230 or refer to the full abandonment or discontinuance regulations
at 49 CFR part 1152. Questions concerning environmental issues may be
directed to the Board's Section of Environmental Analysis (SEA) at
(202) 245-0305. [Assistance for the hearing impaired is available
through the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-
8339.]
An environmental assessment (EA) (or environmental impact statement
(EIS), if necessary) prepared by SEA will be served upon all parties of
record and upon any agencies or other persons who commented during its
preparation. Other interested persons may contact SEA to obtain a copy
of the EA (or EIS). EAs in these abandonment proceedings normally will
be made available within 60 days of the filing of the petition. The
deadline for submission of comments on the EA will generally be within
30 days of its service.
Board decisions and notices are available on our Web site at http://www.stb.dot.gov
.
Decided: August 31, 2007.
By the Board, David M. Konschnik, Director, Office of
Proceedings.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E7-17733 Filed 9-10-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P