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04-26-2017Karl Morels & Associates 6551511 Street, NW, Suite 225 Washington, DC 20005 (202)595-9045 karlm@karlmorell_mm April 26, 2017 BY HAND DELIVERY Cynthia T. Brown Chief, Section of Administration Surface Transportation. Board Office of Proceedings 395 E Street, SW "Washington, DC 20423 Re. Docket No. AB 6 {Sub -No. 495A9, BASF Railway Company — Abandonment Exemption — in Flathead County, Montana Dear Ms. Brown: 242986 ENTERED Office of Proceedings April 26, 2017 Part of Public Record Enclosed for filing are the original and ten copies of BNSF Railway Company's Petition for Exemption under 49 U.S.C. § 10502. Also enclosed is a check covering the $6.900 filing fee. If you have any questions, please call roe. Sincerely, 7 Karl Morel] Enclosures FILED April 26, 2017 SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD 345 -> 6 g�Clr►V�D sr kph VU1 r <P t19 FEE RECEIVED April 26, 2017 SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD BEFORE THE. SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD 'BNSF RAILWAY COMPANY ABANDONMENT EXEMPTION IN FLATHEAD COUNTY, MONTANA PETITION FOR EXEMPTION BNSF RAILWAY COMPANY 2650 Lou Menk Drive P.O. BoX -9.6,157 Fort- Worth, TX 76,161-0057 James M. mecone Assistant General Attorney BN-SF Railway 2500 Lou Menk Drive,.AOB-3 Fort Worth, Texas 76131-2828 Dated; April 26, 2017 DOCKET NO., AB-6 (SUB -NO. 495X) Karl Morel.1 Karl Morell & Assbdates. Suite 225 655 Fifteenth Street-, N.W. Washington, D.C.: 20005. (202) 595-9045 bocl.,WNO-48 6 {$ab. No. 495X) BEFORE THE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD BNSF RAILWAY COMPANY } ABANDONMENT EXEMPTION } DOCKET NO. AB�6 IN FLATHEAD COUNTY, MONTA.NA } (SUB-NO.495X) PETITION FOR EXEMPTION BNSF Railway Company ("BNSF") petitions the Surface Transportation Board ("STB" or "Board') to exempt. under 49 U.S.C. § 105.02, from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.Q. § 10903, BNSF's abandonment of approximately 2.7 miles Of Tail line located in Flathead County, Montana. PROPOSED TRANSACTION BNSF proposes to abandon approximately 2.7 miles. of track from Milepost 1.225.1.9 to the south. arid. of the line at. Milepost 122.7 58 and to the. west end of the Iine.at Engineering Station. 189+36 (Milepost 1227.10) in Kalispell, Flathead County, Montana (the "Line"). The Line traverses U.S. Postal Service Zip. Code 59941. A map of the Line is attached as Exhibit A. Based on information in. BNSF's possession, the Line does not contain federally granted rights Q£way. Any documentation.in 3NSF's possession will be made available to those requesting it, 2 Darker No. A$ 6 (Sub. No. 495:X) STATEMENT OFFACTS BNSP owns approximately 2.7 .miles of track .from Milepost 1225.19 to .the south end of the line at Milepost 1227..58.and to, the west end of the line at Engineering Station 189+36. (Milepost I2.27.10) in. Kalispell, Flathead .County, Montana. BNSF .intends to exercise the abandonment authority. In STB .Finance Docket No. 34634, I ission Mountain Railroad. Inc. — Aequisition and Lease .Exernption — The Burlington Northern And Santa F'e Railway C"omjaany (not printed), served. January 19, 2005,. Mission Mountain. Railroad, L.L.C. ("MMT") was, among other things, authorized to Iease the Line. Since that time; MMT has provided. local service to two customers on the Line. MMT will seek discontinuance authority over the Line in Docket No. AB:1009 (Sub - No. 1 X). The two customers on the Line, Northwest Drywall & Building Supply and CHS liic., do not oppose the abandonment of this Line and will be relocating to. Glacier Rail. Park. Letters of support from Northwest Drywall & Building. Supply and CHS Inc. %are. attached hereto as Exhibit B. A. letter of support from the City of Kalispell is attached hereto as Exhibit C. There is no overhead. traffic on the portion of the Line proposers for abandonment. EXEMPTION REQUESTED BNSF seeks an exemption. under 49 U.S.C. § .10502 from. the applicable requirements of 49 U..S.C. §.10903 to: permit BNSF to, abandon this 2.7-mile rail. line. Under 49 U.S.C. § 10502, the STB must exempt a transaction fi-om regulation when.it finds that: (1) regulation is not necessary to.earry:out the rail transportation policy of 49 U.S:.C. § 10101; and. (2) either: (a) the transaction .is of limited scope; or (b) regulation is not necessary to protect shippers from the abuse of market power. The legislative history of Section 10.502 reveals a clear Congressional intent that the STB should IiberalIy use its exemption authority to fi-ee certain transactions from the administrative and Dackee No. AB 6 (Sub. Na. 49S1) financial costs associated with continued regulation. In enacting the Staggers Act of 1980, Pub. L. No, 96-448., 94 Stat. 1895.,. Congress encouraged the. STB's predecessor to useIiberal.ly the expanded exemption authority under former Section 10505: The policy underlying this provision is that while Congress has been able. to. identify broad areas of commerce where reduced regulation. is clearly warranted., the Commission is more capable through the administrative process of examining specific regulatory provisions and practices not yet addressed by Congress to determine where they can be deregulated consistent with the policies of Congress. The conferees expect that, consistent with the policies of this Act, the Commission will pursue partial and complete exetnption. from remaining regulation. H.R. Rep. No. 1,430,.96'' Cong. 20 Sess. 105 (1980). See also Exemption From Regulation --- Boxccra 7rcrffie, 367 I.C.C. 424, 428 (1983), vacated and remanded oiz other grounds, Brae Corp. v. United &ates,:74o. la .2d 1023 (D.C. Cir. 1984). Congress reaffirmed this policy in the conference report accompanying the ICC Termination Act of 199.5, Pub. L. No. 104-88, 109 Stat. 803 which re-enacted the rail exemption provisions as Section 1.0502. H.R. Rep. 42.2, 1.04"' Cong., I" Sess. 168-69 (1995). A. The Application of 49 U.S.C.. § 10.903 Is. Not Necessary to Carry Out the Rail Transportation Policy Detailed scrutiny of this transaction is not necessary to carry out the rail transportation policy. An exemption would minimize the unnecessary expenses associated with the filing of a formal abandonment application, expedite regulatory decisions and reduce regulatory barriers to exit [49 U.S.C. § 10 101(2) and (7)]. See, e.g, Noy folk & W Ry. Co. —A bandonniew Exenz, -- Chin., Hamilton County, 014.3 S.T.B. 11.0 (1998); STB Docket No. AB-367 (Sub- No.. 2X), Georgia Central. Railroad., L.P. — Ahandoninent Exernjition --- In Chatham .Cooney, t.;A Gnat printed), served September 17, 1997 ("Georgia Central"). By abandoning the Line, BNSF will be able to avoid. the significant opportunity costs associated with retaining this Line_ Granting the exemption will 4 Docket No. RE 6 (Sub. No. 495x) thus foster sound eeonomic.conditions and. encourage efficient management. 49 U.S.C. § 14101(5) and (9). ,See, e:g., STB Docket No..AB-497 (Sub -No. 1X), .Minnesota.11rorthern Railroad, Inc. — Abandonment Exemption — In Red Lake and Polk Counties, MY (not. printed.), served November 14; 1997; STB Docket No. AB-318. (Sub -No. 4X), Louisiana & Delta Railroad; Inc. -- Abandonment Exemption — In L afourche and Assumption Parishe r, L4. (riot printed), served August 26., 1997. Other aspects of the. tail transportation policy are not adversely affected. For example, competition and the continuation of a sound.rail transportation system are not affected as the two customers on the Line, Northwest Drywall & Building Supply and CHS Inc:; do not oppose the abandonment and will be relocating to Glacier Rail.Park. B. This. Transaction Is of Limped Scope In. determining whether.a. proposed transaction is of limited scope, the Board considers a variety of factors, such as the length of the rail line,. the number of shippers on the line and the traffic volume. See, e.g., Docket No. AB-6 (Sub No. 349.X), Burlington Northern -Radr oad Company — Ahandonrnent Exemption -- In Greene and folk Counties; 11I0 (loot printed), served August 27, 1993; Docket No.. A13-34.7 (Sub -No. IX), Florida West Coast Railroad C 61npany — Abandonment Exemption — Gilchrist and.Leuy Counties, T,L.(not printed), served January Tf, 1992. The proposed transaction. is clearly of limited scope. BNSF is seeking to abandon a 2.7- mile line that traverses city streets in Kalispell; Montana. The shortness of the Line and the limited geographic area involved demonstrate the limited scope of the proposed abandonment. See, e.g, .Docket No. AB-397 (Seib -No. 3X). Tulare Valley Railroad Company - Abandonment Exemption. In Tulare And Fresno Counties; CA (not printed), served February 9. 1995, C. This 'T'ransaction. Will Not Result in an Abuse of Market Power 5 Docker No. AB 6 (Sub. No. 495J). There .are only two shippers on the Line. The. last. two remaining customers on the Line, Northwest Drywall & Building Supply and. CHS Inc., do not oppose the abandonment and will be relocating to Glacier Rail Park. Therefore, regulation is not necessary to protect. shippers front an abuse of.market power. See, e.g_ STB Docket No.. AB-5.5. (Sub -No. 5.76) CSX Tr•an.5por tation> Inc. — Abandonment Exemption 7n Guernsey County, OH (not printed), served November 22,. 1.999; STB Docket No. AB-55 (Sub -No. 563X), CSY Tr anspor°talion, Inc. -- Abandonine"I Exetnplion —177 Harrison Counly, WG (not printed), served September 25; 1998; Georgia Central. ENVIRONMENTAL AND IRSTOR.tC REPORTS The Environmental Report and the Historic Report containing the information required by 49 C.F.R. §§ .1.105 07 and.1.105.09 were forwarded to the Board on March 8; 2017. CERTIFICATES OF SERVICE The Certificate of Service of the Environmental and Historic Reprints is attached to the Petition as Exhibit D. The Certificate of Service for this Petition:for Exemption is attached as Exhibit E. CERTIFICATE OF PUBLICATION The Certificate of Publication is attached as Exhibit F. FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE A draft Federal Register notice is.. attached to this Petition as Exhibit G. 6 boAei No. AU 6 (Sub. No. 495.V) LABOR PROTECTION The interests of railroad employees who may be adversely affected by the proposed abandonment wilt be adequately protected by the labor protection conditions in [Oregon Short Une R. Co.. —Abandonment — Goshen,.36.0.I.C.C. 91 (1979). CONCLUSION Application of the regulatory requirements and procedures of 49 U.S.C. 10003 is not required to: carry out the rail transportation policy set forth in 49. U.S.C. § 10101, as .. previously described in this Petition, nor is STB regulation required to protect shippers from. an abuse of Market.power. Moreover,. this abandonment is of limited scope: Accordingly,.BNSF respectfully urges. the Board to grant this petition. James M. Mecone Assistant G( zneral Attorney BNSF Railway Company 2500 Lou 1V1enk Drive, AOB-3 Fort Worth, Texas: 76 1.31-2828 Dated; April 26, 2017 Respectfully submitted, r Karl Morell Karl Morell & Associates Suite 225 655 Fifteenth Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20.005 (202) 595-9045 7 Docket No. d 3 6 (Sub. No. 495X) ft-f --I Alsd I _. w I EXHIBIT A (1, W" Mftlml EXH113IT D nw •rinwatll.tnin March 24, 2017 Ms. Cynthia Brawn, Chief Section of Administration Office of Proceedings Surface Transportation Board 395 E Street, SW Washington, DC 20423-0001 Re: BNSF Abandonment of Rail line in City of 'Kalispell Dear Ms. Brown, On behalf of Northwest Drywall, I submit this letter in support of the BNSF Petition for Exemption to abandon the line of railroad extending from Milepost 1225.19 on the north end of the city of Kalispell, Montana, to Milepost 1227.58 to the south and Milepost 1227.10 to the west. Northwest Drywall has long operated on the rail line in the area recommended for abandonment and has recently successfully negotiated with the City of Kalispell and Flathead County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) to relocate our business into a new facility to be built in the new rail park owned by FCEDA. The relocation of our business to this new site just north of Kalispell will allow for safer train service and termination of the tracks outside of the busy core area of the city. We understand that the tracks would not be removed until such time as our business is relocated and reopened at the new rail park so that our rail service will not be interrupted. Please approve the abandonment of this section of track described above and in accordance with the BNSF request. Sincerely, Pamela Mower Secretary Northwest Drywall P.D Sox 579 150 1 s1 Avenue wN Kalispell, NIT 59903 406.755.7400 Fax 406 15b 1478 April 20, 2017 Ms. Cynthia Brown, Chief Section of Administration Office of Proceedings Surface Transportation Board 395 E Street, SW Washington, DC 20423-0001 Re: BNSF Abandonment of Rail Line in City of Kalispell Dear Ms. Brown, On behalf of CHS Inc., I submit this letter of conditional support for BNSF's Petition for Exemption to abandon the line of railroad extending from Milepost 1225.19 on the north end of the City of Kalispell, Montana, to Milepost 1227.58 to the south and Milepost 122.7.10 to the west, to meet the requirements of the City's TIGER grant. CHS and our CHS Mountain West Coop service center in Kalispell agree with abandonment on the condition that the City and the Flathead County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) provide the funding required to move us to a new location. Although the City and FCEDA have indicated that they will provide relocation funding for CHS based on the previous construction cost estimates, construction costs have risen sharply during the Federal Railroad Administration's lengthy TIGER grant approval process. Final construction costs will not be known until the end of June. Due to this situation, we ask that the STB defer its final abandonment decision on BNSF's petition until after final construction costs are known and CHS executes definitive agreements enabling the relocation. CHS expects to execute such agreements by June 30, 2017. At that time CHS will be able to give an unconditional statement on the abandonment of the track. CHS is the current name of a long line of farmer's cooperatives that have utilized railroad tracks in Kalispell since before Kalispell was a city. This strong historic presence in Kalispell is indicative of the agricultural roots of the community and we continue to serve farmers in this valley and surrounding area. Moving out of down town Kalispell will better serve our customers and the residents of Kalispell. CHS has been planning for its relocation to the new rail park on the northern edge of Kalispell with our partners, the City of Kalispell and the FCEDA, for a number of years. The relocation of our business to this new site will allow for reduced interactions between grain and fertilizer trucks and resident or tourist vehicles, particularly during the height of harvest and planting season. We understand that the www.chskalispell,coin • www.chsinc.com P.O. Box 579 150 1%1Avenue WN Kalispell. M1 59903 406-755-7400 Fax 406-755.7478 tracks would not be removed until such time as our business is relocated and reopened at the new rail park. Thus, our rail service will not be interrupted as part of this process. Sincerely, / �-4ZtD ~ C L�i.1— Mark D Lalum Assistant General Manager Mountain West Coop Kalispell, Montana Cc: Katharine Thompson, City of Kalispell Naomi Moore, Senor Legal Counsel CHS Dan Mack, Vice President Transportation and Terminal Operations CHS Brock Lautenschlager, Rail Services Director CHS David Cobb, Federal Affairs CHS Chuck Thompson, General Manager Mountain West Coop Tim Miller, Vice President Mountain Region CHS www.chskalispell.com , www.chsinc.com EXHIBIT C .TY{'- City of Kalispell OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER 201 First Avenue East WON ANA Kalispell, MT 59903 April 4, 2017 Ms. Cynthia Brown, Chief Section of Administration Office of Proceedings Surface Transportation Board 395 E Street, SW Washington, DC 20423-0001 Re: BNSF Abandonment of Rail Line in City of Kalispell Dear Ms. Brown, Can behalf of the City of Kalispell, please accept this letter in full support of the BNSF's Petition for Exemption to abandon a line of railroad extending from Milepost 1225.19 on the north end of the city to Milepost 1227.58 to the south and Milepost 1227.10 to the west end. The City of Kalispell's City Council requested that BNSF take this action in Resolution #5799 passed unanimously on January 17„ 2017. The City of Kalispell was awarded a TIGER grant from, the USDOT in October 2015 to build a new industrial rail park and track turnaround on the northern edge of the City allowing for the subsequent removal of nearly two miles of existing rail line to be replaced by a bike and pedestrian trail. This project is the outgrowth of an intensive multi -year public engagement process and relocation plans with two current rail users, CHS and Northwest Drywall. The rail abandonment and removal is intended to be complete following the relocation of these rail served businesses to the new rail park. This project has included substantial community planning, public involvement, business engagement, and public -private partnership for the betterment of the community stakeholders. We are very proud of this community's perseverance and hard work to achieve multiple community goals in this transformative project where Kalispell retains and expands its rail access at the same time that it reduces the negative impacts of the old line that bifurcates the city. This request for rail abandonment is part of Kalispell's USDOT TIGER grant project. As such, timely approval of the abandonment is critical. The Federal Rail Administration is working with the City of Kalispell to complete the obligation of grant funds in advance of the September 30, 2017, deadline. That being said, it is of great import that the Surface Transportation Board review this request at its earliest convenience. We encourage the Surface Transportation Board to act in support of our request to abandon this section of railroad track in an expeditious manner. Sincerely, Doug Russell City Manager EXHIBIT D CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE ENVIRONMENTAL AND HISTORIC RETORTS The undersigned hereby Certifies that, in Docket No. A13-6 (Sub=.No. 495X), the transmittal letter required by 49 C.F.R. § 1105.11, was mailed to all agencies listed in 49 C.F.R: § 1145..7(b), via Fist. Glass mail on. the 8th day of March, 201.7. The undersigned hereby certifies that a. copy of the Environmental and/or Historic Reports in Docket No. AB-6 (Sub -No. 495X) was served by first class mail on the 84h day of March, 2017. on the following: Ms. Victoria Rutson Chief, Office of Environmental Analysis surface Transportation Board 395E Street S.W. Washin&n, DC 20423T0001 `lbm .lentz City of Kalispell Planning Department 201 P' Averlue.EaSt Kalispell, .MT 59901 Mark. Mussnian Flathead. County Department of.Planning and Zoning 4.0.11"' Street West, Suite 22.0 Kalispell, MT 59901 Simon Monroe Room 945.2. National Geodetic.. Survey 1315. East-West Highway Silver Spring, MD 2091.0-3282 Dylan I1ickey U.S. Array Corps..of.Engineers Oinalia.District Helena RegulataryOffice 10 West 15111 Street, Suite2200 l;telena, MT 5.96-6 Ciiris..Soone U.S. Department.of.the Interior .Bureau of.Land Management Montana -Dakotas. State Office 5001. Sooingat6 Dive Billings; MT 59.101 Docket No, All6'(Suh. No. 495V U.S. EPA Regina 8 8OC�-EISC: .1595 'LWynkoop Street. Denver, CO 80202:-11B David Allen U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 6 585 Shepard Way, Suite 1 Helena; MT 59601 Sue Masica, Regional Director National Park Service Interrnountaiu Region 12795 Alameda Parkway Denver, Ca 80225 Jay Brooker NRCS Montana State Office 3550 Mul Ian Road, Suite 106 Missoula, MT 59808 Montana Department of Environmental Quality P.O. Boa. 200901 Helena, NIT 5620-0901.. State of Montana Public Service Commission 1701. Prospect Ave. P.O. Box 202601 Helena, MT:50620 Jessica Bush Montana. State .Historic Preservation Office. P.O: Box 20120 225 N. Robeits. Helena; MT 59620 KARL MORELL 7 Karl Morell &Associates Suite 225 655 Fifteenth Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20005 (202) 595-9045 Dated: April 26, 2017 Docket Nu:.AB.6 (Sub. No. 495X) EXHIBIT E CERTIFICATE. OF SERVICE Pursuant to 49 C.F.R. § 1152.60(d), the Lindersigned hereby certifies that the Petition for Ekeniption in Docket No, A13-6 (Sub -No. 495X) was mailed via first class mail on. April 2.1, 2017, to the following parties: State Public Service Commission State of Montana Public Service Commission 170.1 Prospect Ave. P.0`1 Box 202601 Helena. MT 59620 Military Traffic Management Command Military Surface. Deployment and Distribution Command Transportation Engineering Agency ATTN: SDTE-SA (Railroads for National Defense) I Soldier Way, Building.190OW Scott AFB,. Illinois 62225.-5006 .National Park Service V.S. Department of the Interior National Parlc Service Recreation, Resources Assistance Division 1849 C Street, NW Washington, DC.2.0240-0001 U.S. Department of Agriculture U.S. Department.of Agriculture Chief of the .Forest Service 4th Floor N.W., Yates Building 201 10' Street, SW Washington, DC 20250 Shippers. Northwest Drywall. & Building Supply Mike Mower, President 160 01 Ave W N Kalispell, M71" 59901 CHS Inc... 150 1" Ave W N Kalispell, MT 59903 Sue Masica, Regional Director National Park Service Intermountain Region 12795 Alameda Parkway Denver, C4 80225. CHS..Inc. 5500 Cenex Drive Inver Grave Heights, MN 55077 Dorkd No. dB 6 (Su6..No. 495X) KAR MORML Karl Morell & Associates Suite 225 655 Fifteenth Street, N.W. Wasbington, D.C. 200.05 (202)595-9045 Dated: April 26, 20.17 Doekei No, AB 6 (Sub. No. 495X) EXHIBIT F CERTIFICATE OF PUBLICATION The undersigned hereby certifies: that notice of the proposed abandonment. in. Docket No. A-B-b .(Sub -No. 495X) was published on Match 28, 2017, in the Daily Inter Lake, a newspaper of .general circulation in Flathead County, Montana as required by 49 C.F.R, § 1105,12. KARL MDRELL Karl Morel & Associates Suite 225. 655 Fifteenth Street, N.W. Washington., D.C. 20.005 (202) 595-9045 Dated: April 26, 2017 Duekel )Vo.. AS 6 (Sub. No. 40sx) EXHIBIT G SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD. DOCKET NO. AB=G (Sub -No. 495X.) BNSF RAILWAY COMPANY --ABANIJONMENT EXEMPTION -- FLATHEAD COUNTY,. MONTANA. On April.. 26,. 2017, BNSF Railway Company ("BNSF") filed with the Surface Transportation Board. a petition under 49 U.S.C. 10502 for exemption from the provision of 49 U.S.G. 10903 for BNSF to abandon approximately 2.:7 miles of track from .Milepost 1225.19 to the south end of the line at Milepost 1227.58 and to the west end of the line at Engineering Station 189+36 .(Milepost 1227.10) in .Kalispell, Flathead County, Montana (the "Line"); The Line traverses U.S. Postal Service Zip Code 59901. The line does not contain federally granted rights -of -way. Any documentation in the railroad's possession will be made available promptly to those requesting it. The interests of railroad employees will be protected by the conditions set forth: in Oregon Short Line R. Co. — Abandonment.- Goshen, 3G0 I.C.C. 91 (1979). 13y issuance of this notice, the Board is instituting an exemption proceeding pursuant to 4.9 U.S.C. 10502(b). A final decision will be issued within 90 days (by mm_ , 2017). Any offer of financial assistance guider 49 C.F.R..1.152.27(b)(2) will be due no later than 10 days after. service of a decision granting the. petition for exemption. Each offer of financial assistance must be accompanied. by the filing. fee, which currently is set at $.1.700.. See 49 C.F.R. 1002.2(0(25). All. interested persons should be aware that following abandonment of rail service and salvage of the line, 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 and airy request:for trail use/rail banking D.ockef No. A B 6 ( ub. Na. 4.9SX ) under 49 CYF R. 1152..29 will be due no later than 20 days after notice of the filing of the petition for exemption is published in the Federal Regl'ster. Each trail use request must be accompanied by a $300.filing fee.. ,5e.e 49 CY.R. I002.2(t)(27). All filings in response: to this notice must refer to Docket No. AB-6 (Sub -No. 495X)• and must be sent to: (1) Chief, Section of Administration, Office of Proceedings, Surface Transportation Board, 395 E Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20423-00.01; and (2) Tames M. Mecone, BNSF Railway Company, 2500 Lou Menk Drive, AQB-3, Fort Worth, Texas 76131- 2828. Persons seeking further information concerning abandomnent procedures may contact the Surface Transportation Board or refer to the. full abandomrent regulations at 49 C.F.R. Pant 1152. Questions `concerning environmental issues may be directed to the Board's Office of EnAronmental Analysis at (202) 245-0295. [Assistance for the liearing inipaired is available through the. Federal Information. belay Service at 1-800-877-8339.1 An environmental assessment (EA) (or environmental impact statement (EIS)),. if necessary prepared by the Office of Enviroiunental Analysis Nyill be served upon all parties of record and upon any agencies of other persons. who commented during its: preparation: Any other persons who. would like to. obtain. a copy of the EA (or EIS) May contact the Office of Environmental Analysis. EAs in these abandonment proceedings normally will be available within 60 days of the failing of the petition. The deadline for submission of comments on the EA will generally be within 30 days of its service. Decided: 2017. By the Board, Rachel D. Campbell, Director, Office of Proceedings Dackel No.. f H 6 (Sub. No. 405A)