82 FR 22603 - BNSF Railway Company-Abandonment Exemption-in Flathead County, Montana

SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 93 (May 16, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 93 (Tuesday, May 16, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 22603]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-09882]


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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

[Docket No. AB 6 (Sub-No. 495X)]


BNSF Railway Company--Abandonment Exemption--in Flathead County, 
Montana

    On April 26, 2017, BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) filed with the 
Surface Transportation Board (Board) a petition under 49 U.S.C. 10502 
for exemption from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 10903 
to abandon a 2.7-mile rail line extending from milepost 1225.19 to the 
south end of the line at milepost 1227.58 and to the west end of the 
line at Engineering Station 189+36 (milepost 1227.10) in Kalispell, 
Flathead County, Minn. (the Line). The Line traverses U.S. Postal Zip 
Code 55901.
    According to BNSF, the leaseholder and local rail service operator 
on the Line, Mission Mountain Railroad, L.L.C., will seek authority to 
discontinue its service over the Line. BNSF represents that the two 
customers on the Line, Northwest Drywall & Building Supply and CHS 
Inc., will be relocated and do not oppose the abandonment.
    BNSF states that the Line does not contain any federally granted 
rights-of-way. Any documentation in BNSF'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 Railroad--Abandonment Portion 
Goshen Branch Between Firth & Ammon, in Bingham & Bonneville Counties, 
Idaho, 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 August 14, 2017.
    Any offer of financial assistance (OFA) under 49 CFR 1152.27(b)(2) 
for continued rail service will be due by August 24, 2017, or 10 days 
after service of a decision granting the petition for exemption, 
whichever occurs first. Each OFA must be accompanied by a $1,700 filing 
fee. See 49 CFR 1002.2(f)(25).
    All interested persons should be aware that, following abandonment, 
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 
interim trail use/rail banking under 49 CFR 1152.29 will be due no 
later than June 5, 2017. Each interim trail use request must be 
accompanied by a $300 filing fee. See 49 CFR 1002.2(f)(27).
    All filings in response to this notice must refer to Docket No. AB 
6 (Sub-No. 495X) and must be sent to: (1) Surface Transportation Board, 
395 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20423-0001; and (2) Karl Morell, Karl 
Morell & Associates, 655 Fifteenth St. NW., Suite 225, Washington, DC 
20005. Replies to the petition are due on or before June 5, 2017.
    Persons seeking further information concerning abandonment 
procedures may contact the Board's Office of Public Assistance, 
Governmental Affairs, and Compliance at (202) 245-0238 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 Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA) 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 OEA 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 OEA to obtain a copy 
of the EA (or EIS). EAs in 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 generally will be within 
30 days of its service.
    Board decisions and notices are available on our Web site at 
``WWW.STB.GOV.''

    Decided: May 11, 2017.

    By the Board, Rachel D. Campbell, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Brendetta S. Jones,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2017-09882 Filed 5-15-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P