Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 237 / Friday, December 8, 2000 / Notices 77071

1OSRR’s purchase of the track from CSXT was

the subject of a notice of exemption in Ohio

Southern Railroad, Incorporated—Acquisition and

Operation Exemption—CSX Transportation, Inc.,

STB Finance Docket No. 33955.

2Under 49 CFR 1180.4(g)(1), a trackage rights

exemption is effective 7 days after the notice is

filed. Although the applicant indicated that the

proposed transaction would be consummated on

November 27, 2000, the notice was not filed until

November 22, 2000, and thus the proposed

transaction could not be consummated before the

November 29, 2000 effective date. CSXT’s

representative has been informed by telephone that

the transaction may not be consummated prior to

November 29, 2000.

1The petition is related to two abandonment

applications filed on November 14, 2000, by Conrail

under section 308 of the Regional Rail

Reorganization Act of 1973 (3–R Act), 45 U.S.C.

748, a provision added to the 3–R Act by the

Northeast Rail Service Act of 1981 (Pub. L. No. 97–

35). See Conrail-Abandonment of the Weehawken

Branch—in Hudson County, NJ, STB Docket No.

AB–167 (Sub-No. 766N); and Conrail—

Abandonment of the River Line—in Hudson

County, NJ, STB Docket No. AB–167 (Sub-No.

1067N). Conrail has requested that the applications

be considered together because the Weehawken

Branch and the River Line are operated as a single

line due to changes made to track alignment and

operations. Where appropriate, the two lines will be

referenced as the River Line.

Notices of Insufficient Revenues were timely filed

on October 31, 1983, and October 31, 1985,

respectively. The Board must grant the applications

within 90 days after their filing date (i.e., by

February 12, 2001) unless offers of financial

assistance (OFA) are filed within the 90-day period.

See sections 308(c) and (d).

2The 3.84-mile segment extends from the point

of switch in Jersey City (approximately MP 0.00),

to the southerly R.O.W. line of Baldwin Avenue, in

Weehawken (approximately MP 2.84), and includes

the former DL&W Railroad Lead to the Hoboken

Freight Yard in Jersey City.

3The 6.95-mile segment is divided into in two

parts: (1) from the connection to the Passaic and

Continued

issued. This chart is intended to provide

more up-to-date information on the

status of preemption applications than a

single notice in the Federal Register

whenever a decision has not been

issued within 180 days after publication

of the notice of the application.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Edward H. Bonekemper, III, Assistant

Chief Counsel for Hazardous Materials

Safety and Research and Technology

Law, Research and Special Programs

Administration, U.S. Department of

Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW,

Washington, DC 20590–0001 (Tel. No.

202–366–4400).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Federal

hazardous material transportation law,

49 U.S.C. 5101 et seq. (the law),

provides an administrative procedure in

§ 5125(d)(1) for DOT to issue

determinations whether a State, local, or

Indian tribe requirement on the

transportation of hazardous materials is

preempted under the criteria set forth in

§ 5125(a), (b)(1), and (c). RSPA’s Office

of the Chief Counsel tracks the status of

each preemption determination

proceeding (both already decided and

still pending) on a chart that is kept

current on its internet website (http://

rspa-atty.dot.gov) and in paper form.

Interested parties may access the

current chart at any time by going to the

website and clicking on ‘‘Preemption.’’

A printed version of the current chart

may also be obtained at any time by

contacting Mr. Bonekemper at the

address and telephone number set forth

in ‘‘For Further Information Contact’’

above.

RSPA also uses this chart to meet the

statutory requirement in 49 U.S.C.

5125(d)(1) to advise the public of the

reasons for delay, and an estimate of the

time when a decision will be made,

whenever a decision is not issued

within 180 days after the date of

publication in the Federal Register of a

notice of having received an application

for a preemption determination.

Because this chart will be kept current,

RSPA does not intend to publish a new

notice in the Federal Register each time

the 180-day period is exceeded in a

preemption proceeding. By keeping this

chart up-to-date, RSPA will be

providing interested parties with more

current and complete information than

they would have if RSPA published

only a single notice in each proceeding

advising that a decision would not be

issued within 180 days.

Issued in Washington, DC on December 1,

2000.

Elaine E. Joost,

Acting Chief Counsel, Research and Special

Programs Administration.

[FR Doc. 00–31250 Filed 12–7–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–60–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Finance Docket No. 33962]

CSX Transportation, Inc.—Trackage

Rights Exemption—Ohio Southern

Railroad, Incorporated

Ohio Southern Railroad, Incorporated

(OSRR) has agreed to grant overhead

and local trackage rights to CSX

Transportation, Inc. (CSXT), over

approximately 1.5 miles of rail line and

appended trackage formerly known as

CSXT’s Zanesville Industrial Track,

located between milepost 16.7 and

milepost 18.2 in Zanesville, Muskingum

County, OH, as part of the sale of

CSXT’s interest in the line to OSRR.1

The transaction was scheduled to be

consummated on November 29, 2000, or

as soon thereafter as the parties may

agree and/or the time required for any

necessary labor notice is given.2

The purpose of the trackage rights is

to allow CSXT to continue to serve the

line’s existing and future rail customers

after the sale of the line to OSRR.

As a condition to this exemption, any

employees affected by the trackage

rights will be protected by the

conditions imposed in Norfolk and

Western Ry. Co.—Trackage Rights—BN,

354 I.C.C. 605 (1978), as modified in

Mendocino Coast Ry., Inc.—Lease and

Operate, 360 I.C.C. 653 (1980).

This notice is filed under 49 CFR

1180.2(d)(7). If it contains false or

misleading information, the exemption

is void ab initio. Petitions to revoke the

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

may be filed at any time. The filing of

a petition to revoke will not

automatically stay the transaction.

An original and 10 copies of all

pleadings, referring to STB Finance

Docket No. 33962, must be filed with

the Surface Transportation Board, Office

of the Secretary, Case Control Unit, 1925

K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20423–

0001. In addition, one copy of each

pleading must be served on Natalie S.

Rosenberg, CSX Transportation, Inc.,

500 Water Street (J150), Jacksonville, FL

32202.

Board decisions and notices are

available on our website at http://

www.stb.dot.gov.

Decided: December 1, 2000.

By the Board, David M. Konschnik,

Director, Office of Proceedings.

Vernon A. Williams,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 00–31231 Filed 12–7–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4915–00–P

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Docket No. AB–55 (Sub–No. 584X)]

CSX Transportation, Inc.—

Discontinuance Exemption—in

Hudson County, NJ 1

On November 20, 2000, CSX

Transportation, Inc. (CSXT), filed with

the Surface Transportation Board

(Board) a petition under 49 U.S.C. 10502

for exemption from 49 U.S.C. 10903 to

discontinue service over approximately

3.84 miles of the Weehawken Branch 2

and approximately 6.95 miles of the

River Line 3 in Hudson County, NJ. The

77072 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 237 / Friday, December 8, 2000 / Notices

Harismus Branch at CP ‘‘Waldo’’ in Jersey City

(approximately MP 0.00) to the south side of Clifton

Road in Weehawken (approximately MP 4.7),

including the River Yard; and (2) from (a) the south

side of Clifton Road in Weehawken (approximately

MP 0.00) to the northwest side of Tonnelle Avenue

(excluding the portion of line, associated track, and

underlying right-of-way necessary to retain access

and continue service to Durkee Foods) in North

Bergen (approximately MP 1.53); (b) the National

Docks Secondary in Jersey City from its connection

with the River Line at CP ‘‘Nave’’ to the east side

of Newark Avenue (approximately 1,350 feet); and

(c) the Weehawken Branch (Chicken Yard) in

Weehawken, from its connection with the River

Line on the east side of Willow Avenue to the end

of the track (approximately 2,450 feet).

4Norfolk Southern Railway Company also

acquired the same rights with respect to the River

Line and filed a similar petition for exemption on

November 14, 2000. See Norfolk Southern Railway

Company—Discontinuance Exemption—in Hudson

County, NJ, STB Docket No. AB–290 (Sub-No.

212X).

5Two shippers, Cognis Chemical Company and

Dykes Lumber Company, are being served.

6The River Line’s real estate and track was

transferred to NJT on or about October 24, 1995,

pursuant to the Freight Relocation and River Line

Acquisition Agreement that Conrail and NJT

entered into on June 8, 1989. Conrail retained a free

and exclusive easement for the operation and

maintenance of rail freight service.

NJT will reconstruct the River Line and dedicate

it to light rail commuter passenger service. The

River Line’s freight operations will be transferred to

Conrail’s Northern Branch, which will be

reconstructed to accommodate through train service

and to remove ‘‘at-grade’’ highway and street

crossings. Conrail will not terminate freight

operations or consummate the abandonment of the

River Line, and CSXT will not exercise the

discontinuance authority, until the Northern

Branch has been reconstructed.

7CSXT has requested that its petition for

exemption be granted with an effective date of

February 12, 2001, to coincide with the anticipated

effectiveness of the two related Conrail

abandonment applications. This request will be

considered by the Board when the petition for

exemption is addressed.

lines traverse U.S. Postal Zip Codes

07302, 07303, 07306, 07407, and 07087.

CSXT acquired the right to operate

over these lines under the North Jersey

Shared Assets Areas Operating

Agreement approved by the Board in

CSX Corp.—Control and Operating

Leases/Agreements—Conrail Inc., STB

Finance Docket No. 33388 (Decision No.

89) (STB served July 23, 1998), clarified

and modified (Decision No. 96) (STB

served Oct. 19, 1998), petitions for

review pending sub nom. Erie Niagara

Rail Steering Committee v. STB, Nos.

98–4285, et al. (2d Cir. filed July 31,

1998).4 Pursuant to that agreement,

CSXT does not conduct freight

operations over the River Line. CSXT

publishes rates and maintains stations

for the River Line’s shippers,5 and

Conrail conducts the actual train

operations in CSXT’s name.

The lines do not contain federally

granted rights-of-way. A large part of the

real estate and track is owned by the

New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJT),

and the remainder is owned by Conrail.6

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 issuing this notice, the Board is

instituting an exemption proceeding

pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 10502(b). A final

decision will be issued by March 9,

2001.7

Any OFA with respect to the lines

should be filed in the pertinent Conrail

application proceeding under section

308(d) of the 3–R Act and 49 CFR

1152.27. Each OFA must be

accompanied by a $1,000 filing fee. See

49 CFR 1002.2(f)(25).

All filings in response to this notice

must refer to STB Docket No. AB–55

(Sub-No. 584X) and must be sent to: (1)

Surface Transportation Board, Office of

the Secretary, Case Control Unit, 1925 K

Street, NW., Washington, DC 20423–

0001; and (2) Natalie Rosenberg, CSX

Transportation, Inc., 500 Water Street,

Jacksonville, FL 32202. Replies to the

CSXT petition are due on or before

December 28, 2000.

Persons seeking further information

concerning abandonment and

discontinuance 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.

An environmental assessment (or

impact statement) is normally made

available in abandonment or

discontinuance proceedings, but under

49 CFR 1105.6(d), the Board may

modify the environmental requirements

in appropriate circumstances. The

requirements are being modified here.

CSXT has never conducted operations

over the line apart from those Conrail

conducted on CSXT’s behalf. Granting a

carrier authority to discontinue service

it has never provided appears to have no

environmental impact. The requirement

that the carrier submit a report and that

the Board prepare an analysis are

therefore superfluous.

Board decisions and notices are

available on our website at http://

www.stb.dot.gov.

Decided: November 28, 2000.

By the Board, David M. Konschnik,

Director, Office of Proceedings.

Vernon A. Williams,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 00–30944 Filed 12–7–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4915–00–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Bureau of the Public Debt

Proposed Collection: Comment

Request

ACTION: Notice and request for

comments.

SUMMARY: The Department of the

Treasury, as part of its continuing effort

to reduce paperwork and respondent

burden, invites the general public and

other Federal agencies to take this

opportunity to comment on proposed

and/or continuing information

collections, as required by the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,

Public Law 104–13 (44 U.S.C.

3506(c)(2)(A). Currently the Bureau of

the Public Debt within the Department

of the Treasury is soliciting comments

concerning the Reinvestment

Application.

DATES: Written comments should be

received on or before February 7, 2001,

to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments

to Bureau of the Public Debt, Vicki S.

Thorpe, 200 Third Street, Parkersburg,

WV 26106–1328.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or

copies of the form and instructions

should be directed to Vicki S. Thorpe,

Bureau of the Public Debt, 200 Third

Street, Parkersburg, WV 26106–1328,

(304) 480–6553.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Title: Reinvestment Application.

OMB Number: 1535–0096.

Form Number: PD F 1993.

Abstract: The information is

requested to support a request that

proceeds of matured Series H savings

bonds be reinvested in Series HH bonds.

Current Actions: None.

Type of Review: Extension.

Affected Public: Individuals.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

20,000.

Estimated Time Per Respondent: 15

minutes.

Estimated Total Annual Burden

Hours: 5,000.

Request for Comments: Comments

submitted in response to this notice will

be summarized and/or included in the

request for OMB approval. All

comments will become a matter of

public record. Comments are invited on:

(a) Whether the collection of

information is necessary for the proper

performance of the functions of the

agency, including whether the

information shall have practical utility;

(b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate