05-17-201745827 SERVICE DATE —MAY 16, 2017
FR 4915-01-P
SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD
[Docket No. AB 6 (Sub -No. 495X)]
BNSF Railway Company Abandonment Exemption —in Flathead County, Montana
On April 26, 2017, BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) filed with the Surface
Transportation Board (Board) a petition under 49 U.S.C. § 10502 for exemption from the
prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. § 10903 to abandon a 2.7-mile rail line
extending from milepost 1225.19 to the south end of the line at mlepost 1227.58 and to
the west end of the line at Engineering Station 189+36 (milepost 1227.10) in Kalispell,
Flathead County, Minn. (the Line). The Line traverses U.S. Postal Zip Code 55901.
According to BNSF, the leaseholder and local rail service operator on the Line,
Mission Mountain Railroad, L.L.C., will seek authority to discontinue its service over the
Line. BNSF represents that the two customers on the Line, Northwest Drywall &
Building Supply and CHS Inc., will be relocated and do not oppose the abandonment.
BNSF states that the Line does not contain any federally granted rights -of -way.
Any documentation in BNSF's possession will be made available pronnptly to those
requesting it.
The interest of railroad employees will be protected by the conditions set forth in
Oregon Short Line Railroad —Abandonment Portion Goshen Branch Between Firth &
Ammon, in Bingham & Bonneville Counties, Idaho, 360 I.C.C. 91 (1979).
By issuing 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 14, 2017.
Docket No. AB 6 (Sub -No. 495X)
Any offer of financial assistance (OFA) under 49 C.F.R. § 1152.27(b)(2) for
continued rail service will be due by August 24, 2017, or 10 days after service of a
decision granting the petition for exemption, whichever occurs fist. Each OFA must be
accompanied by a $1,700 filing fee. See 49 C.F.R. § 1002.2(f)(25).
All interested persons should be aware that, following abandonment, the Line
may be suitable for other public use, including interim trail use. Any request for a public
use condition under 49 C.F.R. § 1152.28 or for interim trail use/rail banking under
49 C.F.R. § 1152.29 will be due no later than June 5, 2017. Each interim trail use request
must be accompanied by a $300 filing fee. See 49 C.F.R. § 1002.2(f)(27).
All filings in response to this notice must refer to Docket No. AB 6 (Sub -No.
495X) and must be sent to: (1) Surface Transportation Board, 395 E Street, S.W.,
Washington, DC 20423-0001; and (2) Karl Morell, Karl Morell & Associates,
655 Fifteenth St., NW, Suite 225, Washington, DC 20005. Replies to the petition are
due on or before June 5, 2017.
Persons seeking further information concerning abandonment procedures may
contact the Board's Office of Public Assistance, Governmental Affairs, and Compliance
at (202) 245-0238 or refer to the full abandonment or discontinuance regulations at
49 C.F.R. § part 1152. Questions concerning environmental issues may be directed to the
Board's Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA) at (202) 245-0305. Assistance for the
hearing impaired is available through the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at
1-800-877-8339.
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Docket No. AB 6 (Sub -No. 495X)
An environmental assessment (EA) (or environmental impact statement (EIS), if
necessary) prepared by OEA will be served upon all parties of record and upon any
agencies or other persons who commented during its preparation. Other interested
persons may contact OEA to obtain a copy of the EA (or EIS). EAs in abandonment
proceedings normally will be made available within 60 days of the filing of the petition.
The deadline for submission of comments on the EA generally will be within 30 days of
its service.
Board decisions and notices are available on our website at `WWW.STB.GOV."
Decided: May 11, 2017.
By the Board, Rachel D. Campbell, Director, Office of Proceedings-
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