[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 6 (Monday, January 11, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 1447]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-217]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Finance Docket No. 34658]


Alaska Railroad Corporation--Construction and Operation 
Exemption--Rail Line Between North Pole and Delta Junction, AK

    By petition filed on July 6, 2007, Alaska Railroad Corporation 
(ARRC), a Class III rail carrier incorporated in, and owned by, the 
State of Alaska, seeks an exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502 from the 
prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 10901 for authority to 
construct and operate approximately 80 miles of new main line track, 
referred to as the Northern Rail Extension (NRE), in the State of 
Alaska. The proposed NRE would extend southeasterly from Mile 20 on 
ARRC's existing Eielson Branch near the community of North Pole 
(located just south of Fairbanks) to the southern side of the community 
of Delta Junction.
    In a decision served on October 4, 2007, the Board instituted a 
proceeding under 49 U.S.C. 10502(b). The Board's Section of 
Environmental Analysis (SEA) has conducted an environmental review of 
the proposed construction and alternatives. A detailed Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) prepared by SEA together with 
eight cooperating agencies \1\ was issued for public review and comment 
on February 2, 2009. SEA then prepared a Final EIS that was issued on 
September 18, 2009. The Final EIS considered all the comments received 
on the Draft EIS, reflects SEA's further independent analysis, and sets 
forth SEA's preferred rail alignments and final recommended 
environmental mitigation measures.
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    \1\ U.S. Department of Defense Alaskan Command, Bureau of Land 
Management, Federal Transit Administration, Federal Railroad 
Administration, U.S. Air Force 354th Fighter Wing Command from 
Eielson Air Force Base, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast 
Guard, and State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources.
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    After considering the entire record, including both the 
transportation aspects of the petition and the potential environmental 
issues, we granted the requested construction and operation exemption 
in a decision served on January 6, 2010, permitting ARRC to build any 
of the preferred rail alignments set out in the decision, subject to 
compliance with the environmental mitigation measures listed in 
Appendix 1 of the decision. Vice Chairman Mulvey dissented with a 
separate expression. Petitions to reopen must be filed by February 5, 
2010.
    Board decisions and notices are available on our Web site at 
www.stb.dot.gov.

    Decided: January 5, 2010.

    By the Board, Chairman Elliott, Vice Chairman Mulvey, and 
Commissioner Nottingham. Vice Chairman Mulvey dissented with a 
separate expression.
Kulunie L. Cannon,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2010-217 Filed 1-8-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P