[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 177 (Thursday, September 11, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52897-52898]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-21081]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Finance Docket No. 34992]


Itasca County Regional Rail Authority--Petition for Exemption--
Construction of a Line of Railroad in Itasca County, MN

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.

ACTION: Issuance of a decision granting an exemption under 49 U.S.C. 
10502 from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 10901 to 
construct a 9-mile rail line in Itasca County, MN.

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SUMMARY: By petition filed on March 9, 2007, the Itasca County Regional 
Rail Authority, a noncarrier, seeks an exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502 
from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 10901 to construct a 
9-mile rail line from a connection with an existing rail line at 
Taconite, MN, to the site of a new steel mill to be built by Minnesota 
Steel Industries LLC at Nashwauk, MN, all located in Itasca County. The 
Board's decision served in this proceeding on September 8, 2008, grants 
the requested exemption and authorizes the construction, subject to 
environmental mitigation measures recommended in the Post Environmental 
Assessment (Post EA).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph H. Dettmar, (202) 245-0395. 
[Assistance for the hearing impaired is available through the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at: 1-800-877-8339].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a decision served on May 14, 2007, the 
Board instituted a proceeding under 49 U.S.C. 10502(b). The Board's 
Section of Environmental Analysis (SEA) conducted an environmental 
review of the proposed construction and alternatives to the proposal. 
An Environmental Assessment (EA), prepared by SEA, was issued for 
public review and comment on March 28, 2008. SEA then prepared a Post 
EA dated June 30, 2008. The Post EA considers all of the comments 
received on the EA, reflects SEA's further independent analysis, and 
sets forth SEA's final recommendations on alternatives and 
environmental mitigation.
    After considering the entire record, including both the 
transportation aspects of the petition and the potential environmental 
issues, the Board is granting the requested exemption and authorizing 
the construction of the route designated as Alternative 2, subject to 
the environmental mitigation measures

[[Page 52898]]

recommended in the Post EA, which are set forth in the Appendix to the 
Board's decision served on September 8, 2008.
    For additional information regarding this decision, including 
additional background information, a discussion of the Board's rail 
transportation analysis and environmental analysis, and the mitigation 
measures imposed in this proceeding, see the Board's decision served 
September 8, 2008, in Itasca County Regional Rail Authority--Petition 
for Exemption--Construction of a line of Railroad in Itasca County, MN, 
STB Finance Docket No. 34992.
    Board decisions, notices, and filings in this and other Board 
proceedings are available on the Board's Web site at http://www.stb.dot.gov.

    Decided: September 5, 2008.

    By the Board, Chairman Nottingham, Vice Chairman Mulvey, and 
Commissioner Buttrey.
Anne K. Quinlan,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8-21081 Filed 9-10-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P