Opinion ID: 3011662
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: abandonment of rail lines

Text: FAST seeks review of the actions of the STB in the exercise of its exclusive regulatory jurisdiction over rail carriers and rail transportation, particularly its jurisdiction to permit a rail carrier to abandon or discontinue use of an existing rail line that might qualify as or contain historic property. We begin, therefor e, with an overview of the relevant regulatory landscape. A rail carrier intending to abandon, and to be r eleased from its obligations to retain or operate, any part of its railroad lines must file an application to do so with the STB and such abandonment must adhere to certain established procedures. See 49 U.S.C. S 10903(a)(1)(A); see also 49 U.S.C. SS 10903-10907. The STB is empower ed to exempt a transaction from the ordinary regulatory requirements if the STB finds that the ordinary procedur es are not necessary to carry out federal transportation policy and that either the transaction is limited in scope or the full application procedures are not necessary to protect shippers from any abuses of market power . See 49 U.S.C. S 10502(a). The abandonment of a rail line or corridor will qualify as an exempt transaction if the carrier certifies that no local traffic has moved over the line for at least two years, that any traffic on the line can be rerouted over other lines, and that no formal complaints, regarding cessation of service on 3 the line, are pending or have been decided within that twoyear period. See 49 C.F.R. S 1152.50(b). This process is intended to be an expedited one. The exemption, and therefore permission to abandon the rail line, becomes effective 30 days after publication of notice in the Federal Register. See 49 C.F.R. 1152.50(d)(3); see also 49 U.S.C. S 10502(b) (Any proceeding begun as a result of an application under this subsection shall be completed within 9 months after it is begun.). An exempt abandonment remains subject to any conditions that the STB may impose upon it. If the STB agrees that a proposed abandonment is exempt and allows the abandonment to proceed under the expedited procedures, the STB must consider certain factors prior to permitting the abandonment to become final. See 49 C.F.R. S 1152.50(a)(2). First, the STB must consider and determine whether the rail pr operties to be abandoned are appropriate for use for public purposes. See 49 U.S.C. S 10905;2 49 C.F .R. S 1152.28(a)(1). If the STB finds that the properties are appr opriate for public use, the STB is authorized to impose conditions on the abandonment of the property by the carrier . Such conditions may include a prohibition on the disposal of the property for a period of 180 days unless the pr operty is first offered, on reasonable terms, for sale for public purposes. See 49 U.S.C. S 10905; 49 C.F.R. S 1152.28(d). Second, the STB must consider possible interim trail use or rail banking,3 should any state, political subdivision, or qualified private organization be interested in acquiring or using the rail line right-of-way in such a manner. See 16 U.S.C. S 1247(d); 49 C.F.R. S 1152.29. Third, the STB must comply with the requirements of S 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, 16 U.S.C. S 470f. The exemption procedures of S 10502 and S 1152.50 are intended to expedite the approval of the pr oposed abandonment by making it effective almost immediately, _________________________________________________________________ 2. Formerly 49 U.S.C. S 10906. 3. This would permit the railroad right-of-way to be used in some interim manner and to be preserved for future r estoration or reconstruction and reactivation for railroad purposes. See 49 U.S.C. S 1247(d). 4 subject to any conditions imposed by the STB. Consideration of the S 106 historic pr eservation process, on the other hand, necessarily requires the STB to proceed more slowly. The fact that Congress has introduced a procedure which permits the slowing of the overall abandonment process reflects Congr ess's intent to balance immediate, fast-track approval of the abandonment by the carrier with a more deliberate consideration of preservation of historically significant properties. See Concerned Citizens Alliance, Inc. v. Slater, 176 F.3d 686, 695-96 (3d Cir. 1999) (citing Illinois Commerce Comm'n v. ICC , 848 F.2d 1246, 1260-61 (D.C. Cir. 1988) (describing S 106 as stop, look, and listen provision requiring an agency to acquire information before acting)).