31630 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 97 / Thursday, May 18, 2000 / Notices

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Docket No. AB–32 (Sub-No. 89)]

Boston and Maine Corporation—

Abandonment—In Middlesex County,

MA

On April 28, 2000, the Boston and

Maine Corporation (B&M) filed with the

Surface Transportation Board (Board),

Washington, DC 20423, an application

for permission to abandon and

discontinue service on a line of railroad

known as the Bemis Branch in Waltham

and Watertown, MA, extending from

milepost 8.83 to milepost 10.94, a

distance of 2.11 miles, in Middlesex

County, MA. The line traverses U.S.

Postal Service Zip Codes 02451 and

02472. Applicant indicated that there

are no agency stations located on the

line.

The line does not contain federally

granted rights-of-way. Any

documentation in B&M’s possession

will be made available promptly to

those requesting it. The applicants’

entire case for abandonment and

discontinuance was filed with the

application.

The line of railroad has appeared on

B&M’s system diagram map or has been

included in its narrative in category 1

since January 26, 1999.

The interest of railroad employees

will be protected by Oregon Short Line

Railroad Co.—Abandonment—Goshen,

360 I.C.C. 91 (1979).

Any interested person may file with

the Board written comments concerning

the proposed abandonment and

discontinuance or protests (including

the protestant’s entire opposition case),

by June 12, 2000. All interested persons

should be aware that following any

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 U.S.C. 10905 (49

CFR 1152.28 of the Board’s rules) and

any request for a trail use condition

under 16 U.S.C. 1247(d) (49 CFR

1152.29 of the Board’s rules) must be

filed by June 12, 2000. Persons who may

oppose the abandonment or

discontinuance but who do not wish to

participate fully in the process by

appearing at any oral hearings or by

submitting verified statements of

witnesses containing detailed evidence

should file comments. Persons

interested only in seeking public use or

trail use conditions should also file

comments. Persons opposing the

proposed abandonment or

discontinuance that do wish to

participate actively and fully in the

process should file a protest.

In addition, a commenting party or

protestant may provide:

(i) An offer of financial assistance,

pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 10904 (due 120

days after the application is filed or 10

days after the application is granted by

the Board, whichever occurs sooner);

(ii) Recommended provisions for

protection of the interests of employees;

(iii) A request for a public use

condition under 49 U.S.C. 10905; and

(iv) A statement pertaining to

prospective use of the right-of-way for

interim trail use and rail banking under

16 U.S.C. 1247(d) and 49 CFR 1152.29.

Parties seeking information

concerning the filing of protests should

refer to 49 CFR 1152.25.

Written comments and protests,

including all requests for public use and

trail use conditions, must indicate the

proceeding designation STB No. AB–32

(Sub-No. 89) and should be filed with

the Secretary, Surface Transportation

Board, Washington, DC 20423, no later

than June 12, 2000. Interested persons

may file a written comment or protest

with the Board to become a party to this

proceeding. A copy of each written

comment or protest shall be served

upon the applicant’s representative,

Robert B. Culliford, Boston and Maine

Corporation, Iron Horse Park, North

Billerica, MA 10862. The original and

10 copies of all comments or protests

shall be filed with the Board with a

certificate of service. Except as

otherwise set forth in part 1152, every

document filed with the Board must be

served on all parties to the

abandonment proceeding. 49 CFR

1104.12(a).

The line sought to be abandoned and

discontinued will be available for

subsidy or sale for continued rail use, if

the Board decides to permit the

abandonment and discontinuance, in

accordance with applicable laws and

regulations (49 U.S.C. 10904 and 49 CFR

1152.27). No subsidy arrangement

approved under 49 U.S.C. 10904 shall

remain in effect for more than 1 year

unless otherwise mutually agreed by the

parties (49 U.S.C. 10904(f)(4)(B)).

Applicant will promptly provide upon

request to each interested party an

estimate of the subsidy and minimum

purchase price required to keep the line

in operation. The carrier’s

representative to whom inquiries may

be made concerning sale or subsidy

terms is set forth above.

Persons seeking further information

concerning abandonment procedures

may contact the Board 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).

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. Any

other persons who would like to obtain

a copy of the EA (or EIS) may contact

SEA. EAs in abandonment proceedings

normally will be made available within

33 days of the filing of the application.

The deadline for submission of

comments on the EA will generally be

within 30 days of its service. The

comments received will be addressed in

the Board’s decision. A supplemental

EA or EIS may be issued where

appropriate.

Decided: May 15, 2000.

By the Board, David M. Konschnik,

Director, Office of Proceedings.

Vernon A. Williams,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 00–12587 Filed 5–17–00; 8:45 am]

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