Norfolk Southern Railway Company--Abandonment Exemption--in Gaston County, NC
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[Federal Register: September 10, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 175)]
[Notices]
[Page 53427-53428]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10se03-126]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Surface Transportation Board
[STB Docket No. AB-290 (Sub-No. 240X)]
Norfolk Southern Railway Company--Abandonment Exemption--in
Gaston County, NC
On August 21, 2003, Norfolk Southern Railway Company (NSR) filed
with the Surface Transportation Board (Board) a petition under 49
U.S.C. 10502 to abandon a 5-mile portion of rail line extending between
milepost HG-47.0 at Gastonia and milepost HG-52.0 at Dallas (Gebo), in
Gaston County, NC. The line traverses U.S. Postal Service Zip Codes
28052, 28053, 28054 and 28034 and includes stations at Gastonia and
Dallas (Gebo).
The line does not contain federally granted rights-of-way. Any
documentation in NSR's possession will be made available promptly to
those requesting it.
As a condition to this exemption, any employee adversely affected
by the abandonment shall be protected under Oregon Short Line R. Co.--
Abandonment--Goshen, 360 I.C.C. 91 (1979).
By issuance of 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 9, 2003.
Any offer of financial assistance 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 offer must be accompanied by a $1,100
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 September 30, 2003. Each trail
use request must be accompanied by a $150 filing fee. See 49 CFR
1002.2(f)(27).
All filings in response to this notice must refer to STB Docket No.
AB-290 (Sub-No. 240X) and must be sent to: (1) Surface Transportation
Board, 1925 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20423-0001; and (2) James R.
Paschall, Norfolk Southern Railway Company, Three Commercial Place,
Norfolk, VA 23510. Replies to the NSR petition are due on or before
September 30, 2003.
Persons seeking further information concerning abandonment
procedures may contact the Board's Office of Public Services at (202)
565-1592 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) 565-1539. [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
[[Page 53428]]
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: September 3, 2003.
By the Board, David M. Konschnik, Director, Office of
Proceedings.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-22907 Filed 9-9-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P
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