[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 243 (Tuesday, December 19, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 65357]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-30769]



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INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION

[Docket No. AB-167 (Sub-No. 1155X)]


Consolidated Rail Corporation--Abandonment Exemption--In 
Middlesex County, NJ

    Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail) has filed a notice of 
exemption under 49 CFR 1152 Subpart F--Exempt Abandonments to abandon 
approximately 1.4 miles of rail line extending between approximately 
milepost 25.00 and milepost 267.40 in Middlesex County, NJ.
    Conrail has certified that: (1) no local traffic has moved over the 
line for at least 2 years; (2) there is no overhead traffic on the 
line; (3) no formal compliant 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 Commission or with any U.S. District Court or has been decided 
in favor of the complainant within the 2-year period; and (4) the 
requirements at 49 CFR 1105.7 (environmental report), 49 CFR 1105.8 
(historic report), 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 use of 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. 10505(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 January 18, 1996, 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 \3\ must be filed 
by December 29, 1995. Petitions to reopen or requests for public use 
conditions under CFR 1152.28 must be filed by January 8, 1996, with: 
Office of the Secretary, Case Control Branch, Interstate Commerce 
Commission,\4\ Washington, DC 20423-2191.

    \1\ The Commission will grant a stay if an informed decision on 
environmental issues (whether raised by a party or by the Commission 
in its independent investigation) cannot be made before the 
exemption's effective date. See Exemption of Out-of-Service Rail 
Lines, 5 I.C.C.2d 377 (1989). Any request for stay should be filed 
as soon as possible so that the Commission may take appropriate 
action before the exemption's effective date.
    \2\ See Exempt. of Rail Abandonment--Offers of Finan. Assist., 4 
I.C.C.2d 164 (1987).
    \3\ The Commission will accept a late-filed trail use request so 
long as the abandonment has not been consummated and the abandoning 
railroad is willing to negotiate an agreement.
    \4\ Legislation to sunset the Commission on December 31, 1995, 
and transfer remaining functions is now under consideration in 
Congress. Until further notice, parties submitting pleadings should 
continue to use the current name and address.
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    A copy of any pleading filed with the Commission should be sent to 
applicant's representative: John J. Paylor, Associate General Counsel, 
Consolidated Rail Corporation, Two Commerce Square, 2001 Market Street, 
P.O. Box 41416, Philadelphia, PA 19101-1416.
    If the notice of exemption contains false or misleading 
information, the exemption is void ab initio.
    Conrail 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 December 22, 1995. Interested persons 
may obtain a copy of the EA by writing to SEA (Room 3219, Interstate 
Commerce Commission, Washington, DC 20423) or by calling Elaine Kaiser, 
Chief of SEA, at (202) 927-6248. 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.

    Decided: December 12, 1995.

    By the Commission, David M. Konschnik, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-30769 Filed 12-18-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7035-01-M