**35998 SERVICE DATE -- AUGUST 23, 2005**

**SEA**

**SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD**

WASHINGTON, DC 20423

**ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT**

**STB Docket No. AB-490 (Sub-No. 1X)**

**Greenville County Economic Development Corporation -- Abandonment and
Discontinuance Exemption -- in Greenville County, SC**

**[BACKGROUND]{.underline}**

In this proceeding, the Greenville County Economic Development
Corporation (GCEDC) has filed a petition under 49 U.S.C. 10502 seeking
exemption from the requirements of 49 U.S.C. 10903 in connection with
the abandonment of approximately 11.8 miles of line between milepost 0.0
in Greenville, South Carolina, and milepost 11.8 in Travelers Rest,
South Carolina ("the Northern Segment"), and discontinuance of service
over 3.29 miles of line, between milepost AJK 585.34 in East Greenville,
South Carolina and milepost AJK 588.63 in Greenville, South Carolina
("the Southern Segment"). Both segments lie within Greenville County,
South Carolina, and together, comprise all of the rail line owned by
GCEDC. GCEDC indicates that the Northern and Southern Segments were
formerly owned by the Carolina Piedmont Division of the South Carolina
Central Railroad (SCCR). In May 1999, GCEDC filed a notice of exemption
with the Surface Transportation Board (the Board) to acquire the
Northern and Southern Segments.

The Northern Segment has been under an embargo since 1997 due to poor
track and bridge conditions, and no service has occurred since February
1998. GCEDC states that the Southern Segment provided service to only
one shipper who used motor carriers for 95 percent of its service needs.
This Segment is now used for rail car storage, and no rail traffic
exists on either the Northern or Southern Segments. A map depicting the
rail line in relationship to the area served is appended to the report.
If the exemption becomes effective, GCEDC will be able to salvage track,
ties and other railroad appurtenances from the Northern Segment, while
retaining the Southern Segment in place. Upstate Forever, a non-profit,
tax exempt organization, chartered to "protect special places and
promote sensible growth" in the Upstate region of South Carolina,
commented that since their formation in 1998, they have been advocating
public acquisition of the Northern Segment for interim trail use. They
have requested that all bridges, culverts, trestles, and other
trail-related structures be kept in place. GCEDC has indicated that they
anticipate entering into an agreement with a willing trail user to
preserve the rail corridor of the Northern Segment for possible future
reactivation as a rail freight and commuter or high speed passenger
line.

**[DESCRIPTION OF THE LINE]{.underline}**

According to the information available to GCEDC, the Carolina,
Knoxville, & Western Railway was built from Greenville, South Carolina
to Marietta, South Carolina in 1888, and was subsequently extended to
River Falls, South Carolina but the operation was abandoned in 1899. The
Greenville & Knoxville Railroad was formed to revive the line in 1907,
and operated it until 1914. The Company was reorganized as the
Greenville & Western, and then renamed the Greenville & Northern in
1920. The rail operation was scaled back to Travelers Rest in the
mid-1950s, but was not officially abandoned until 1970. The Carolina
Piedmont Division of the South Carolina Railroad bought the Greenville &
Northern line from Pinsly Railroad in April 1997, and the last train ran
on the Northern Segment in February 1998. GCEDC acquired the line in
June 1999.

The right-of-way of both segments varies in width from 15 to 200 feet.
Both segments lie in the uplands of South Carolina, with a slight
decline in elevation moving southeast from the Travelers Rest end of the
Northern Segment to the southeast side of Greenville where the Southern
Segment lies. The Southern Segment traverses an urban/suburban area. The
Northern Segment extends from downtown Greenville through suburban and
rural areas to the small community of Travelers Rest, a town of
approximately 4,000 to 4,500 people.

There are four railroad trestles located on the segments that span
creeks, culverts, and drainage ditches. These trestles are significantly
deteriorated and would need to be replaced, should the abandonment not
be authorized. A steel truss bridge exists in the in the Southern
Segment along Woodruff Road. GCEDC indicates that it will be removed by
the South Carolina Department of Transportation as part of a road
improvement project. Both segments do not cross any significant water
bodies. GCEDC is not certain of the exact ages of the four railroad
trestles and the bridge, or when major alterations (if any) occurred,
but believes that all five structures are over fifty years old.

**[ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW]{.underline}**

The railroad has submitted an environmental report that concludes the
quality of the human environment will not be affected significantly as a
result of the abandonment or any post-abandonment activities, including
salvage and disposition of the right-of-way. The railroad has served the
environmental and historical reports on a number of appropriate Federal,
state, and local agencies as required by the Board's environmental rules
at 49 CFR 1105.7(b). We have investigated and reviewed the record in
this proceeding.

GCEDC is a corporation created by the government of Greenville County to
acquire and preserve the rights-of-way of land, and if feasible, provide
for operation of the Northern and Southern Segments. Thus, preservation
of the rights-of-ways through trail use and retention of the Southern
Segment intact, after GCEDC has determined that no financial feasible
alternative exists for operating these segments, is consistent with
local land use plans.

GCDEC contacted the Columbia, South Carolina office of the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, who
determined that additional information would be needed with regard to
impacts on prime agricultural land. To date, the U.S. Department of
Agriculture has not advised SEA of any adverse impacts to prime
agricultural land.

Greenville County does not lie within a designated coastal zone,
therefore coastal zone consistency is not required.

0

GCEDC contacted the National Geodetic Survey regarding impacts to
geodetic station markers. To date, the National Geodetic Survey has not
responded. However, to prevent the destruction of any markers, SEA is
recommending a condition requiring GCEDC to contact the National
Geodetic Survey 90 days prior to the onset of salvage activities in
order to plan for possible relocation.

Traffic has not moved on either segment for five or more years.
Accordingly, the proposed abandonment and discontinuance of service will
not adversely impact the development, use and transportation of energy
resources or recyclable commodities; transportation of ozone-depleting
materials; or result in the diversion of rail traffic to truck traffic
that could cause significant impacts to air quality.

The proposed action would improve public safety by allowing existing
grade crossings on the Northern Segment to be permanently repaired for
motor vehicle traffic. There will be no change in vehicle delay time at
railroad grade crossings because no traffic has moved on either segment
for several years. There are no known hazardous waste sites or known
hazardous material spills on either segment, and hazardous materials are
not currently transported. Short- term impacts on noise levels
associated with any salvaging activities would not be significant.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service confirmed the presence of two
federally-listed plant species, the Dwarf-flowered Heartleaf
(*Hexastylis naniflora*) and Bunched Arrowhead (*Sagittaria
fasciculate*), in wetland and spring habitats near the railroad
right-of-way in Travelers Rest. They subsequently instructed GCEDC to
conduct a field survey along the rail right-of-way in Travelers Rest. On
July 20, 2005, a team of biologists, consisting of Dr. Gill Newberry,
Dr. Joe Pollard, and Carlton Owen and working on behalf of GCEDC,
conducted a field review of the species and habitats in question. The
biologists found no evidence of Dwarf-flowered Heartleaf, or its
habitat, but did locate healthy populations of Bunched Arrowhead in two
areas along the west side of the railroad right-of-way, just south of
Watkins Bridge Road. The first population was observed approximately 850
feet south of Watkins Bridge Road where the width of the railroad
right-of-way spans approximately 100 feet across (50 feet on either
side).

Based on the field survey, most of the population likely exists on
adjacent private land within a sewer right-of-way. The second population
was found 1000 feet south of Watkins Bridge Road, along the western side
of the corridor. Accordingly, this population likely exists within the
rail right-of-way and on adjacent private property, within a sewer
right-of-way. The biologists believe that the areas in question can be
managed safely through a series of vegetation control strategies, which
have been included in a July 25, 2005 letter to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service. In an August 11, 2005 response, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service commented that the proposed action will have no significant
effect on resources under their jurisdiction. Providing no additional
information is revealed that could affect the listed species in a
manner, or to an extent not previously considered, the U.S. Fish &
Wildlife Service believes that the requirements of Section 7 of the
Endangered Species Act have been fulfilled relative to the proposed
action, and that no further consultation is necessary at this time. They
further recommended that all rail line improvements be contained to the
current railroad bed; that herbicide use be restricted within 50 feet of
all bunched arrowhead populations; and that herbicide application
instructions be followed and retained onsite. GDEDC may be required to
conduct additional coordination with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
for any post-abandonment activities.

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
commented on impacts to waters of the State in accordance with Sections
401, 402, and 404 of the Clean Water Act. Any non-point discharges into
a stream or river for construction areas of two (2) acres or more will
require a Stormwater Management and Sediment Control Permit.
Construction areas of one (1) acre or more are subject to NPDES
regulations. They further recommend that any debris should be
transported away from the rail line and not be discarded within the
right-of-way. Based on preliminary discussions with the South Carolina
Department of Health and Environmental Control, GCEDC believes the
proposed action will be consistent with water quality standards, but is
unclear as to whether the proposed action will require a Section 402
permit.

GCDEC contacted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and based on
preliminary discussion, believes that a permit for Section 404 of the
Clean Water Act will not be required as the proposed action will not
result in filling, dredging, or disturbing any floodplain, wetlands or
waterways.

**Traffic**

Traffic has not moved on either segment during GCEDC's ownership. Prior
to February 1998, some carloads of waste paper and scrap metal were
transported on the Northern Segment. Since that time, no traffic has
moved. Using the truck traffic figure from 1998, and the conversion
factor of four trucks per railcar,[^1] SEA calculated that the proposed
abandonment will not result in the diversions of traffic from rail to
truck. Therefore, this action will not add any truck traffic to area
roadways per year.

**[HISTORIC REVIEW]{.underline}**

GCEDC submitted an historic report as required by the Board's
environmental rules \[49 CFR 1105.8(a)\] and served the report on the
South Carolina Department of Archives and History (SHPO) pursuant to 49
CFR 1105.8(c). The SHPO submitted comments stating that there are no
properties included in or eligible for inclusion in the National
Register of Historic Places along the Northern Segment. However, two
properties listed or eligible for listing in the National Register of
Historic Places are adjacent to the Southern Segment, the Monaghan Mill
and the Woodside Mill Village. The SHPO states that railroad lines
provided transportation of goods and services to the mills and this
railroad could be a contributing factor to the historic integrity of the
mills. As the Southern Segment is proposed for discontinuance of service
only, the SHPO believes that the proposed undertaking will have no
adverse effect on the Monaghan Mill and the Woodside Village. We have
reviewed the report and the information provided by the SHPO and concur
with the SHPO's comments.

Pursuant to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's regulations
for implementing the section 106 process of the National Historic
Preservation Act at 36 CFR 800.4(d)(1) and 36 CFR 800.8, we have
determined that the proposed abandonment will not affect historic
properties listed in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register.
The documentation for this finding, as specified at 36 CFR 800.11(d),
consists of the railroad's historic report, all relevant correspondence,
and this EA, which have been provided to the SHPO and made available to
the public.

**[CONDITIONS]{.underline}**

We recommend that the following environmental conditions be placed on
any decision granting abandonment authority:

1.  The Greenville County Economic Development Corporation (GCEDC) shall
    provide the Geodetic Survey (NGS) at least 90 days notice prior to
    disturbing or destroying any geodetic markers. GCEDC shall report
    the results of this notice in writing to the Board's Section of
    Environmental Analysis prior to the onset of salvage operations.

2.  During salvage operations, GCEDC shall ensure that any herbicide use
    is restricted within 50 feet of the federally-listed and field
    surveyed Bunched Arrowhead (*Sagittaria fasciculata*) in accordance
    with the findings and recommendations of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife
    Service. Any herbicide application shall be in accordance with the
    manufacturer's instructions.

3.  Prior to commencement of any salvage activities, GCEDC shall consult
    with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental
    Control to ensure that any concerns regarding potential
    contamination of the right-of-way and the need for a Section 402
    stormwater construction permit are addressed. GCEDC shall report the
    results of these consultations in writing to the Board's Section of
    Environmental Analysis prior to the onset of salvage operations.

**[CONCLUSIONS]{.underline}**

Based on the information provided from all sources to date, we conclude
that, as currently proposed, and if the recommended conditions are
imposed, abandonment of the line will not significantly affect the
quality of the human environment. Therefore, the environmental impact
statement process is unnecessary.

Alternatives to the proposed abandonment would include denial (and
therefore no change in operations), discontinuance of service without
abandonment, and continued operation by another operator. In any of
these cases, the existing quality of the human environment and energy
consumption should not be affected.

**[PUBLIC USE]{.underline}**

Following abandonment and salvage of the rail line, the right-of-way may
be suitable for other public use. A request containing the requisite
four-part showing for imposition of a public use condition (49 CFR
1152.28) must be filed with the Board and served on the railroad within
the time specified in the [Federal Register]{.underline} notice.

**[TRAILS USE]{.underline}**

A request for a notice of interim trail use (NITU) is due to the Board,
with a copy to the railroad, within the time specified in the [Federal
Register]{.underline} notice. Nevertheless, the Board will accept
late-filed requests as long as it retains jurisdiction to do so in a
particular case. This request must comply with the Board\'s rules for
use of rights-of-way as trails (49 CFR 1152.29).

**[PUBLIC ASSISTANCE]{.underline}**

The Board\'s Office of Public Services responds to questions regarding
interim trail use, public use, and other reuse alternatives. You may
contact the Office of Public Services directly at (202) 565-1592, or
mail inquiries to Surface Transportation Board, Office of Public
Services, Washington, DC 20423.

**[COMMENTS]{.underline}**

If you wish to file comments regarding this environmental assessment,
send an **original and two copies** to Surface Transportation Board,
Case Control Unit, Washington, DC 20423, to the attention of Diana Wood,
who prepared this environmental assessment. Environmental comments may
also be filed electronically on the Board's web site, www.stb.dot.gov by
clicking on the "E-FILING" link. **Please refer to Docket No. AB-490
(Sub No. 1X) in all correspondence, including e-filings, addressed to
the Board.** If you have any questions regarding this environmental
assessment, please contact Diana Wood, the environmental contact for
this case, by phone at (202) 565-1552, fax at (202) 565-9000, or e-mail
at woodd[\@stb.dot.gov.]{.underline}

Date made available to the public**:** August 23, 2005.

Comment due date: **September 22, 2005 (30 days).**

By the Board, Victoria Rutson, Chief, Section of Environmental Analysis.

Vernon A. Williams

Secretary

Attachment

[^1]: The conversion factor is an estimate used to calculate the rail to
    truck conversion of varied commodities.