Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 52 / Thursday, March 19, 2009 / Notices 11809 

1 In addition to the 19.57 miles of branch line, the 

line includes approximately 4.4 miles of sidings 

and industrial track. 

Comments are Invited On: Whether 

the proposed collection of information 

is necessary for the proper performance 

of the functions of the Department, 

including whether the information will 

have practical utility; the accuracy of 

the Department’s estimate of the burden 

of the proposed information collection; 

ways to enhance the quality, utility, and 

clarity of the information to be 

collected; and ways to minimize the 

burden of the collection of information 

on respondents, including the use of 

automated collection techniques or 

other forms of information technology. 

Issued on: March 13, 2009. 

Ann M. Linnertz, 

Associate Administrator for Administration. 

[FR Doc. E9–5973 Filed 3–18–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–57–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Surface Transportation Board 

[STB Docket No. AB–33 (Sub-No. 261)] 

Union Pacific Railroad Company— 

Abandonment—in New Madrid, Scott, 

and Stoddard Counties, MO 

On February 27, 2009, Union Pacific 

Railroad Company (UP) filed with the 

Board an application for permission to 

abandon its Essex to Miner Line, 

extending from milepost 196.7, near 

Essex, to milepost 216.27, near Miner, a 

distance of 19.57 miles, in New Madrid, 

Scott, and Stoddard Counties, MO (the 

line).1 The line includes the stations of 

Hunterville (milepost 198.7), Morehouse 

(milepost 205.4), Sikeston (milepost 

211.4), and Miner (milepost 214.5), and 

traverses United States Postal Service 

ZIP Codes 63846, 63801, and 63868. 

The line does not contain Federally 

granted rights-of-way. Any 

documentation in UP’s possession will 

be made available promptly to those 

requesting it. UP’s entire case for 

abandonment was filed with the 

application. 

This line of railroad has appeared on 

UP’s system diagram map or has been 

included in its narrative in category 1 

since January 16, 2008. 

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). 

Any interested person may file with 

the Surface Transportation Board 

written comments concerning the 

proposed abandonment or protests 

(including the protestant’s entire 

opposition case), by April 13, 2009. 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) and any 

request for a trail use condition under 

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

must be filed by April 13, 2009. Each 

trail use request must be accompanied 

by a $200 filing fee. See 49 CFR 

1002.2(f)(27). Applicant’s reply to any 

opposition statements and its response 

to trail use requests must be filed by 

April 28, 2009. See 49 CFR 1152.26(a). 

A final decision will be issued by June 

17, 2009. 

Persons opposing the proposed 

abandonment who wish to participate 

actively and fully in the process should 

file a protest. Persons who may oppose 

the abandonment but who do not wish 

to participate fully in the process by 

submitting verified statements of 

witnesses containing detailed evidence 

should file comments. Persons seeking 

information concerning the filing of 

protests should refer to 49 CFR 1152.25. 

Persons interested only in seeking 

public use or trail use conditions should 

also file comments. 

In addition, a commenting party or 

protestant may provide: (i) An offer of 

financial assistance (OFA) for continued 

rail service, 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. 

Written comments and protests, 

including all requests for public use and 

trail use conditions, must indicate the 

proceeding designation STB Docket No. 

AB–33 (Sub-No. 261) and must be sent 

to: (1) Surface Transportation Board, 

395 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 

20423–0001, and (2) Gabriel S. Meyer, 

Assistant General Attorney, 1400 

Douglas Street, STOP 1580, Omaha, NE 

68179. 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 49 CFR 

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 will 

be available for subsidy or sale for 

continued rail use, if the Board decides 

to permit the abandonment, in 

accordance with applicable laws and 

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

1152.27). Each OFA must be 

accompanied by a $1,500 filing fee. See 

49 CFR 1002.2(f)(25). 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. UP’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’s Office of Public 

Assistance, Governmental Affairs, and 

Compliance at (866) 254–1792 or refer 

to the full abandonment regulations at 

49 CFR 1152. Questions concerning 

environmental issues may be directed to 

the Board’s Section of Environmental 

Analysis (SEA) at (202) 245–0305. 

[Assistance for the hearing impaired is 

available through the Federal 

Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1– 

800–877–9339.] 

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 this type of abandonment 

proceeding 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. 

Board decisions and notices are 

available on our Web site at ‘‘http:// 

www.stb.dot.gov.’’ 

Decided: March 13, 2009. 

By the Board, Joseph H. Dettmar, Acting 

Director, Office of Proceedings. 

Jeffrey Herzig, 

Clearance Clerk. 

[FR Doc. E9–5940 Filed 3–18–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4915–01–P 


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