59890 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 195 / Friday, October 6, 2000 / Notices

1On September 6, 2000, BNSF filed a notice of

exemption under the Board’s class exemption

procedures at 49 CFR 1180.2(d)(7). The notice

covered the agreement by UP to grant temporary

overhead trackage rights to BNSF over

approximately 245 miles of UP’s lines as follows:

(1) Between East Portland, OR, in the vicinity of

UP’s milepost 770.34, and Oakridge, OR, in the

vicinity of UP’s milepost 580.5 (UP’s Brooklyn

Subdivision); and (2) between Oakridge, in the

vicinity of UP’s milepost 580.5 and Chemult, OR,

in the vicinity of UP’s milepost 502.9 (UP’s Cascade

Subdivision). See The Burlington Northern and

Santa Fe Railway Company—Trackage Rights

Exemption—Union Pacific Railroad Company, STB

Finance Docket No. 33926 (STB served Sept. 15,

2000). The trackage rights agreement is scheduled

to expire on November 11, 2000. The trackage rights

operations under the exemption were scheduled to

be consummated on September 15, 2000.

counterparts, or are capable of being

readily altered to conform to those

standards.

Specifically, the petitioner claims that

non-U.S. certified 1999–2000 Porsche

911 GT3 passenger cars are identical to

their U.S. certified counterparts with

respect to compliance with Standard

Nos. 102 Transmission Shift Lever

Sequence * * *, 103 Defrosting and

Defogging Systems, 104 Windshield

Wiping and Washing Systems, 105

Hydraulic Brake Systems, 106 Brake

Hoses, 109 New Pneumatic Tires, 113

Hood Latch Systems, 116 Brake Fluid,

118 Power Window Systems, 124

Accelerator Control Systems, 201

Occupant Protection in Interior Impact,

202 Head Restraints, 204 Steering

Control Rearward Displacement, 205

Glazing Materials, 206 Door Locks and

Door Retention Components, 207

Seating Systems, 209 Seat Belt

Assemblies, 210 Seat Belt Assembly

Anchorages, 212 Windshield Retention,

216 Roof Crush Resistance, 219

Windshield Zone Intrusion, and 302

Flammability of Interior Materials.

Petitioner also contends that the

vehicles are capable of being readily

altered to meet the following standards,

in the manner indicated:

Standard No. 101 Controls and

Displays: installation of a brake warning

indicator if the vehicles are not already

so equipped. The petitioner states that

the vehicles are equipped with a digital

speedometer which is capable of

providing readings in kilometers or

miles per hours. Although this unit is

not identical to the one installed on

U.S.-certified models, the petitioner

contends that it meets the requirements

of the standard.

Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective

Devices and Associated Equipment: (a)

Replacement of the taillight lenses with

lenses that conform to the standard; (b)

installation of left and right sidemarker

lights. The petitioner states that the

vehicles are equipped with headlight

assemblies which bear DOT markings

certifying that they meet the standard,

even thought those assemblies are not

identical to the ones installed on U.S.

certified models. The petitioner also

states that the vehicles are equipped at

the factory with a high mounted stop

lamp.

Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and

Rims: installation of a tire information

placard.

Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirror:

replacement of the passenger side

rearview mirror with a U.S.-model

component on vehicles that are not

already so equipped.

Standard No. 114 Theft Protection:

installation of a warning buzzer and a

warning buzzer microswitch in the

steering lock assembly.

Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash

Protection: (a) Replacement of the

driver’s seat belt latch and installation

of a safety belt warning buzzer; (b)

replacement of the driver’s and

passenger’s side air bag system and knee

bolsters with U.S.-model components

on vehicles that are not already so

equipped. The petitioner states that the

vehicles are equipped at the front

outboard seating positions with Type II

seat belts.

Standard No. 214 Side Impact

Protection: The petitioner states that the

vehicles have a lower ride height than

U.S. certified models, with the

approximate front bumper clearance

height being 4 9⁄16 inches, as opposed to

8 inches on U.S. certified models, and

the rear bumper clearance height being

9 inches, as opposed to 10 inches on

U.S. certified models. The petitioner

states that either the vehicles’ coil

springs will be replaced with ones

identical to those found on U.S.

certified models, or spring spacers will

be added so that the vehicles have the

same ride height as their U.S. certified

counterparts.

Standard No. 301 Fuel System

Integrity: installation of a rollover valve

in the fuel tank vent line between the

fuel tank and the evaporative emissions

collection canister on vehicles that are

not already so equipped.

Additionally, the petitioner states that

front and rear bumper shocks and rear

bumper pads will be installed on nonU.S. certified 1999–2000 Porsche 911

GT3 passenger cars so that they comply

with the Bumper Standard found in 49

CFR part 581. The petitioner states that

ride height issues will be resolved

through modifications made to conform

the vehicles to Standard No. 214.

The petitioner also states that a

vehicle identification number plate

must be affixed to the vehicle to meet

the requirements of 49 CFR part 565.

Additionally, the petitioner states that

all vehicles will be inspected prior to

importation to ensure that they are

equipped with U.S.-model anti-theft

devices, and that all vehicles that are

not so equipped will be modified to

comply with the Theft Prevention

Standard at 49 CFR part 541.

Interested persons are invited to

submit comments on the petition

described above. Comments should refer

to the docket number and be submitted

to: Docket Management, Room PL–401,

400 Seventh St., SW, Washington, DC

20590. [Docket hours are from 9 am to

5 pm]. It is requested but not required

that 10 copies be submitted.

All comments received before the

close of business on the closing date

indicated above will be considered, and

will be available for examination in the

docket at the above address both before

and after that date. To the extent

possible, comments filed after the

closing date will also be considered.

Notice of final action on the petition

will be published in the Federal

Register pursuant to the authority

indicated below.

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(A) and

(b)(1); 49 CFR 593.8; delegations of authority

at 49 CFR 1.50 and 501.8.

Issued on: October 2, 2000.

Marilynne Jacobs,

Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.

[FR Doc. 00–25696 Filed 10–5–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–59–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Finance Docket No. 33926 (Sub-No.

1)]

The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe

Railway Co.—Trackage Rights

Exemption—Union Pacific Railroad Co.

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.

ACTION: Notice of exemption.

SUMMARY: The Board, under 49 U.S.C.

10502, exempts the trackage rights

described in STB Finance Docket No.

33926 1 to permit the trackage rights to

expire, as they relate to the operations

between East Portland, OR, and

Chemult, OR, on November 11, 2000.

DATES: This exemption is effective on

November 5, 2000. Petitions to reopen

must be filed by October 26, 2000.

ADDRESSES: An original and 10 copies of

all pleadings referring to STB Finance

Docket No. 33926 (Sub-No. 1) must be

filed with the Surface Transportation

Board, Office of the Secretary, Case

Control Unit, 1925 K Street, NW.,

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 195 / Friday, October 6, 2000 / Notices 59891

1The Board will grant a stay if an informed

decision on environmental issues (whether raised

by a party or by the Board’s Section of

Environmental Analysis in its independent

investigation) cannot be made before the

exemption’s effective date. See Exemption of Outof-Service Rail Lines, 5 I.C.C.2d 377 (1989). Any

request for a stay should be filed as soon as possible

so that the Board may take appropriate action before

the exemption’s effective date.

2Each offer of financial assistance must be

accompanied by the filing fee, which currently is

set at $1000. See 49 CFR 1002.2(f)(25).

Washington, DC 20423–0001. In

addition, a copy of all pleadings must be

served on petitioners’ representatives,

Yolanda Grimes Brown, Esq., The

Burlington Northern and Santa Fe

Railway Company, P.O. Box 961039,

Fort Worth, TX 76161–0039, and Robert

Opal, Esq., Union Pacific Railroad

Company 1416 Dodge Street, Room 830,

Omaha, NE 68179.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Joseph H. Dettmar, (202) 565–1600.

[TDD for the hearing impaired: 1 (800)

877–8339.]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Additional information is contained in

the Board’s decision. To purchase a

copy of the full decision, write to, call,

or pick up in person from: Da to Da

Office Solutions, Suite 405, 1925 K

Street, NW., Washington, DC 20006.

Telephone: (202) 466–5530. [Assistance

for the hearing impaired is available

through TDD services 1 (800) 877–

8339.]

Board decisions and notices are

available on our website at

‘‘WWW.STB.DOT.GOV.’’

Decided: September 27, 2000.

By the Board, Chairman Morgan, Vice

Chairman Burkes, and Commissioner

Clyburn.

Vernon A. Williams,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 00–25475 Filed 10–5–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4915–00–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Docket No. AB–570 (Sub-No. 1X)]

Palouse River & Coulee City Railroad,

Inc.—Abandonment Exemption—in

Latah County, ID

Palouse River & Coulee City Railroad

Inc. (PRCC) has filed a notice of

exemption under 49 CFR 1152 Subpart

F—Exempt Abandonments to abandon a

26-mile portion of its rail line between

milepost 21.0 at Harvard and milepost

47.0 at Bovill, in Latah County, ID. The

line traverses United States Postal

Service Zip Codes 83834, 83823, and

83806.

PRCC has certified that: (1) No local

traffic has moved over the line for at

least 2 years; (2) any overhead traffic

can be rerouted over other lines; (3) no

formal complaint filed by a user of rail

service on the line (or by a state or local

government entity acting on behalf of

such user) regarding cessation of service

over the line either is pending with the

Surface Transportation Board (Board) or

with any U.S. District Court or has been

decided in favor of complainant within

the 2-year period; and (4) the

requirements at 49 CFR 1105.7

(environmental reports), 49 CFR 1105.8

(historic reports), 49 CFR 1105.11

(transmittal letter), 49 CFR 1105.12

(newspaper publication), and 49 CFR

1152.50(d)(1) (notice to governmental

agencies) have been met.

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). To address whether this

condition adequately protects affected

employees, a petition for partial

revocation under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d)

must be filed. Provided no formal

expression of intent to file an offer of

financial assistance (OFA) has been

received, this exemption will be

effective on November 7, 2000, unless

stayed pending reconsideration.

Petitions to stay that do not involve

environmental issues,1 formal

expressions of intent to file an OFA

under 49 CFR 1152.27(c)(2),2 and trail

use/rail banking requests under 49 CFR

1152.29 must be filed by October 16,

2000. Petitions to reopen or requests for

public use conditions under 49 CFR

1152.28 must be filed by October 26,

2000, with: Surface Transportation

Board, Office of the Secretary, Case

Control Unit, 1925 K Street, NW.,

Washington, DC 20423.

A copy of any petition filed with the

Board should be sent to applicant’s

representative: Karl Morell, Ball Janik

LLP, 1455 F St., NW., Suite 225,

Washington, DC 20005.

If the verified notice contains false or

misleading information, the exemption

is void ab initio.

PRCC has filed an environmental

report which addresses the

abandonment’s effects, if any, on the

environment and historic resources. The

Section of Environmental Analysis

(SEA) will issue an environmental

assessment (EA) by October 11, 2000.

Interested persons may obtain a copy of

the EA by writing to SEA (Room 500,

Surface Transportation Board,

Washington, DC 20423) or by calling

SEA, at (202) 565–1545. Comments on

environmental and historic preservation

matters must be filed within 15 days

after the EA becomes available to the

public.

Environmental, historic preservation,

public use, or trail use/rail banking

conditions will be imposed, where

appropriate, in a subsequent decision.

Pursuant to the provisions of 49 CFR

1152.29(e)(2), PRCC shall file a notice of

consummation with the Board to signify

that it has exercised the authority

granted and fully abandoned the line. If

consummation has not been effected by

PRCC’s filing of a notice of

consummation by October 6, 2001, and

there are no legal or regulatory barriers

to consummation, the authority to

abandon will automatically expire.

Decided: September 27, 2000.

By the Board, David M. Konschnik, Director,

Office of Proceedings.

Vernon A. Williams,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 00–25474 Filed 10–5–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4915–00–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Docket No. AB–471 (Sub–No. 4X)]

South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad

Co.—Abandonment Exemption—in

Crawford, Wilson, Elk and Greenwood

Counties, KS, and Osage and Tulsa

Counties, OK

South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad

Company (SKO) has filed a notice of

exemption under 49 CFR Part 1152

Subpart F—Exempt Abandonments to

abandon: (1) a 35-mile line of railroad

between milepost 153.0 near Tulsa and

milepost 188.0 near Barnsdall, in Osage

and Tulsa Counties, OK; (2) a 6-mile

line of railroad between milepost 359.0

at Pittsburg and milepost 365.0 at

Cherokee, in Crawford County, KS; and

(3) a 23.5-mile line of railroad between

milepost 438.5 at Severy and milepost

415.0 at Fredonia, in Wilson, Elk and

Greenwood Counties, KS. The line

traverses United States Postal Service

Zip Codes 74126, 74073, 74070, 74001,

74002, 66762, 66724, 67137, 67047,

66759 and 66736.

SKO has certified that: (1) No local

traffic has moved over the line for at

least 2 years; (2) any overhead traffic

can be rerouted over other lines; (3) no

formal complaint filed by a user of rail

service on the line (or by a state or local

government entity acting on behalf of

such user) regarding cessation of service

over the line either is pending with the

Surface Transportation Board (Board) or