Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 6 / Friday, January 9, 2004 / Notices 1615

1 In CSX Corp. et al.—Control—Conrail Inc. et al., 

3 S.T.B. 196 (1998), the Board approved both the 

acquisition, by CSX Corporation (CSXC) and 

Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC), of control of 

Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail), and the 

division of the assets of Conrail by and between 

CSXC and NSC. Acquisition of control of Conrail 

was effected by CSXC and NSC on August 22, 1998. 

The division of the assets of Conrail by and between 

CSXC and NSC was effected on June 1, 1999, with 

the transfer of most of Conrail’s assets to Conrail’s 

wholly owned subsidiaries, New York Central Lines 

LLC (NYC) and Pennsylvania Lines LLC (PRR). The 

Continued

acceptable percentages of specified 

minimum yield strength (SMYS). 

In January 2002, Columbia confirmed 

that a section of its Line MC pipeline 

had changed from a Class 2 to a Class 

3 location. To maintain the current 

MAOP of 899 psig, Columbia elected to 

replace 9,500 feet of this pipeline with 

new, heavier wall pipe. Two segments 

of the replacement project, totaling 

approximately 1,700 feet, involve 

stream crossings or wetland areas. The 

two segments are 1,506 feet and 200 feet 

in length, respectively. Columbia must 

receive joint Maryland/Federal 

environmental permits prior to 

replacing these two segments of pipe. 

Columbia anticipated that 7,800 feet 

of its replacement project would be 

complete by October 31, 2003. However, 

due to unforeseen delays in obtaining 

permits for pipe replacement in the 

stream crossings and wetland areas, 

Columbia was unable to complete the 

replacement of the remaining 1,700 feet 

of pipe prior to expiration of the 18-

month period allowed by § 192.611(d). 

Because Line MC must be in service 

at its MAOP to maintain gas supplies to 

downstream customers, Columbia plans 

to discontinue its pipeline replacement 

project at the start of the winter heating 

season. Columbia proposes to resume 

the replacement project in May 2004 

and expects all 9,500 feet of its Line MC 

to be replaced not later than July 1, 

2004. For this reason, Columbia requests 

a time extension to July 1, 2004 to 

comply with § 192.611(d). 

As justification for the waiver, 

Columbia has submitted the following 

information on the integrity of its 30-

inch Line MC pipeline: 

• In 1999 Columbia internally 

inspected its 30-inch pipeline using 

both geometry and high resolution 

magnetic flux leakage tools; no 

anomalies or dents were identified on 

the two streams and wetland crossing 

segments on Columbia’s Line MC. 

• Cathodic protection test stations on 

these two segments of Line MC are 

above the minimum criteria. 

• There have been no leaks on these 

two segments of Line MC. 

• The existing pipe and coating on 

these two segments appear to be in 

satisfactory condition. 

• The existing pipe was 

manufactured using the double 

submerged arc welding process. 

• The existing pipeline was pressure 

tested twice; in1962 during construction 

and again in 1974. The pipeline was 

tested above 100% SMYS during both 

hydrostatic tests.

Authority: 49 App. U.S.C. 60118(c) and 

2015; and 49 CFR 1.53.

Issued in Washington, DC on January 5, 

2004. 

Stacey L. Gerard, 

Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.

[FR Doc. 04–391 Filed 1–8–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–60–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board 

[STB Docket No. AB–55 (Sub-No. 625X)] 

CSX Transportation, Inc.—

Abandonment Exemption—in Preston 

County, WV 

On December 22, 2003, CSX 

Transportation, Inc. (CSXT), filed with 

the Surface Transportation Board a 

petition under 49 U.S.C. 10502 for 

exemption from the provisions of 49 

U.S.C. 10903 to abandon a line of 

railroad. The 14.3-mile line extends 

from milepost BAJ 0.0 at Rowlesburg to 

milepost BAJ 14.3 near Albright in 

Preston County, WV. The line traverses 

United States Postal Service Zip Codes 

26764, 26425, 26444, 26537, and 26519, 

and includes the stations of Manheim, 

Stoer, Patriot Presentation Plant, 

Preston, Morgans Run, Caddell, and 

Albright. 

The line does not contain federally 

granted rights-of-way. Any 

documentation in CSXT’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 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 April 9, 2004. 

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 January 29, 2004. 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–55 

(Sub-No. 625X) and must be sent to: (1) 

Surface Transportation Board, 1925 K 

Street NW., Washington, DC 20423–

0001; and (2) Natalie S. Rosenberg, 500 

Water Street, J150, Jacksonville, FL 

32202. Replies to the CSXT petition are 

due on or before January 29, 2004. 

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 

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 the Board’s Web site at 

http://www.stb.dot.gov.

Decided: December 31, 2003.

By the Board, David M. Konschnik, 

Director, Office of Proceedings. 

Vernon A. Williams, 

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 04–280 Filed 1–8–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4915–00–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board 

[STB Docket No. AB–859X] 

Pennsylvania Lines LLC—

Abandonment Exemption—in Chester 

County, PA 

Pennsylvania Lines LLC (PRR),1 has 

filed a notice of exemption under 49