[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 139 (Tuesday, July 21, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 39118]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-19402]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board
[STB Docket No. AB-554X]


Perry County Port Authority d/b/a Hoosier Southern Railroad; 
Discontinuance Exemption; in Spencer County, IN

    On July 1, 1998, Perry County Port Authority d/b/a Hoosier Southern 
Railroad (HSR) filed with the Surface Transportation Board (Board) a 
petition under 49 U.S.C. 10502 for exemption from the provisions of 49 
U.S.C. 10903-10905 <SUP>1</SUP> to discontinue service on a line of 
railroad known as the Rockport Line extending from milepost 0.0 at 
Rockport Junction to milepost 16.2 at Rockport, a distance of 16.2 
miles in Spencer County, IN. As part of the exemption, HSR also seeks 
to discontinue incidental trackage rights over approximately 1.1 miles 
of Norfolk Southern Railway Company's (NSR) main line extending from 
milepost 32.1-EB at Rockport Junction to milepost 33.2-EB at Lincoln 
City, also in Spencer County, IN.<SUP>2</SUP> The lines traverse U.S. 
Postal Service Zip Codes 47552, 47611 and 47635. The Rockport Line 
includes the stations of Rockport, Chrisney, Rock Hill and Rockport 
Junction.
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    \1\ HSR seeks exemption from the offer of financial assistance 
(OFA) subsidy provision of 49 U.S.C. 10904. This exemption request 
will be addressed in the final decision. HSR also seeks exemption 
from the public use provisions of 49 U.S.C. 10905. However, because 
this is a discontinuance proceeding and not an abandonment, trail 
use/rail banking and public use conditions are not applicable.
    \2\ HSR desires to terminate service because NSR has terminated 
its lease with HSR effective May 31, 1998. NSR resumed providing all 
rail service on the Rockport Line as of June 1, 1998.
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    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 October 19, 1998.
    Unless an exemption is granted from the OFA provisions of 49 U.S.C. 
10904, any OFA to subsidize continued rail service 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 OFA must be 
accompanied by a $1,000 filing fee. See 49 CFR 1002.2(f)(25).
    This proceeding is exempt from environmental reporting requirements 
under 49 CFR 1105.6(c) and from historic reporting requirements under 
1105.8(b).
    All filings in response to this notice must refer to STB Docket No. 
AB-554X and must be sent to: (1) Surface Transportation Board, Office 
of the Secretary, Case Control Unit, 1925 K Street, N.W., Washington, 
DC 20423-0001; and (2) John D. Heffner, Rea, Cross & Auchincloss, Suite 
570, 1707 L Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20036.
    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. Questions concerning 
environmental issues may be directed to the Board's Section of 
Environmental Analysis (SEA) at (202) 565-1545. [TDD for the hearing 
impaired is available at (202) 565-1695.]
    Board decisions and notices are available on our website at 
``WWW.STB.DOT.GOV.''

    Decided: July 14, 1998.

    By the Board, Joseph H. Dettmar, Acting Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-19402 Filed 7-20-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P