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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 98 (Friday, May 20, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 31055]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-10909]

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SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

[Docket No. AB 853 (Sub-No. 4X)]

Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad, L.L.C.--Discontinuance of Service 
Exemption--in Crowley, Pueblo, Otero, and Kiowa Counties, Colo.

    On April 21, 2022, Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad, L.L.C. (K&O), filed 
a petition under 49 U.S.C. 10502 for exemption from the prior approval 
requirements of 49 U.S.C. 10903 to discontinue service over a 121.9-
mile railroad line (the Towner Line) between milepost 747.5 at Towner 
and milepost 869.4 near NA Junction, in Crowley, Pueblo, Otero, and 
Kiowa Counties, Colo.\1\ The Towner Line traverses United States Postal 
Service Zip Codes 81022, 81025, 81062, 81033, 81063, 81076, 81050, 
81021, 81045, 81036, and 81071.
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    \1\ K&O originally submitted its petition for exemption on April 
8, 2022, but filed a supplement on April 21, 2022. Accordingly, 
April 21, 2022, will be considered the official filing date. 
Although, due to an inadvertent oversight related to the supplement, 
this notice will be published in the Federal Register more than 20 
days after the petition was filed (see 49 CFR 1152.60(a)), there 
will be no prejudice to any person wishing to submit an expression 
of intent to file an offer of financial assistance (OFA), as the due 
date for such submissions will still be 10 days from publication. 
See 49 CFR 1152.27(c)(1)(i).
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    According to K&O, the proposed discontinuance will allow it to end 
its common carrier rail service obligation over the Towner Line, 
consistent with the plans of the Towner Line's owner, Colorado Pacific 
Railroad, LLC (CXR), to commence operations. K&O states that the 
proposed discontinuance will therefore leave no Towner Line customer 
without access to railroad common carrier service, as any such 
customers would have service via CXR.
    K&O states that, as a non-owner of the Line, it is unaware whether 
the Line contains federally granted rights-of-way. K&O also states that 
it will make any documentation that it may have concerning federally-
granted rights-of-way available promptly to those requesting it.
    As a condition to this exemption, any employee adversely affected 
by the discontinuance of service shall be protected under Oregon Short 
Line Railroad--Abandonment Portion Goshen Branch Between Firth & Ammon, 
in Bingham & Bonneville Counties, Idaho, 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 August 9, 2022.
    Because this is a discontinuance proceeding and not an abandonment, 
interim trail use/rail banking and public use conditions are not 
appropriate. Because there will be environmental review during any 
subsequent abandonment, this discontinuance does not require an 
environmental review. See 49 CFR 1105.6(c)(5), 1105.8(b).
    Any offer of financial assistance (OFA) for subsidy under 49 CFR 
1152.27(b)(2) will be due no later than 120 days after the filing of 
the petition for exemption, or 10 days after service of a decision 
granting the petition for exemption, whichever occurs sooner.\2\ 
Persons interested in submitting an OFA must first file a formal 
expression of intent to file an offer by May 31, 2022, indicating the 
intent to file an OFA for subsidy and demonstrating that they are 
preliminarily financially responsible. See 49 CFR 1152.27(c)(1)(i).
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    \2\ The filing fee for OFAs can be found at 49 CFR 
1002.2(f)(25).
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    All filings in response to this notice must refer to Docket No. AB 
853 (Sub-No. 4X) and must be filed with the Surface Transportation 
Board either via e-filing on the Board's website or in writing 
addressed to 395 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20423-0001. In addition, a 
copy of each pleading must be served on K&O's representative, Bradon J. 
Smith, Fletcher & Sippel LLC, 29 North Wacker Drive, Suite 800, 
Chicago, IL 60606-2832. Replies to the petition are due on or before 
June 9, 2022.
    Persons seeking further information concerning discontinuance 
procedures may contact the Board's Office of Public Assistance, 
Governmental Affairs, and Compliance at (202) 245-0238 or refer to the 
full abandonment and discontinuance regulations at 49 CFR part 1152. 
Questions concerning environmental issues may be directed to the 
Board's Office of Environmental Analysis at (202) 245-0294. Assistance 
for the hearing impaired is available through the Federal Relay Service 
at (800) 877-8339.
    Board decisions and notices are available at www.stb.gov.

    Decided: May 17, 2022.

    By the Board, Scott M. Zimmerman, Acting Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Regena Smith-Bernard,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2022-10909 Filed 5-19-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P
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