Railroad services abandonment: Pacific Harbor Line, Inc.,

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Federal Register: March 11, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 47)NoticesPage 11950From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr11mr98-116

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

STB Docket No. AB-542XHarbor Belt Line Railroad; Discontinuance Exemption; Port of Los Angeles

On February 19, 1998, Harbor Belt Line Railroad (HBL) filedwith the Surface Transportation Board a petition under 49 U.S.C. 10502 for exemption from the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 10903 to discontinue its switching operations on tracks owned by the City of Los Angeles (the City) within the Port of Los Angeles (the Port) harbor complex, Los Angeles County, CA.<SUP>1</SUP> The tracks traverse U.S. Postal Service Zip Codes 90731, 90744, 90802, and 90822.

\1\ HBL was created in 1928 by the City and the railroads then serving the Port to provide switching service within the Port. HBL is now controlled by the City through its Board of Harbor Commissioners, Union Pacific Railroad Company and The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company.

This transaction is related to Pacific Harbor Line, Inc.--Operation Exemption--Port of Los Angeles, STB Finance Docket No. 33411 (STB served Dec. 2, 1997), in which Pacific Harbor Line, Inc. (PHL), fileda notice of exemption to acquire operating rights from the City to provide the switching services being discontinued here. Upon commencement of services by PHL, HBL will be replaced as the operator of the lines in the harbor complex and will completely discontinue all operations.

The lines do not contain federally granted rights-of-way. Any documentation in HBL's possession will be made available promptly to those requesting it. Because HBL is proposing to discontinue services over its entire line, no labor conditions will be imposed.

By issuance of this notice, the Board is instituting an exemption proceeding pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 10502(b). A final decision will be issued by June 9, 1998.

Any offer of financial assistance to subsidize continued rail service under 49 CFR 1152.27(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 a $1,000 filing fee. See 49 CFR 1002.2(f)(25).

Because this is a discontinuance proceeding and not an abandonment, trail use/rail banking and public use conditions are not appropriate.

This proceeding is exempt from environmental reporting requirements under 49 CFR 1105.6(c) and from historic reporting requirements under 1105.8(b).

All filings in response to this notice must refer to STB Docket No. AB-542X and must be sent to: (1) Surface Transportation Board, Office of the Secretary, Case Control Unit, 1925 K Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20423-0001; and (2) Samuel M. Sipe, Jr., Steptoe & Johnson, LLP, 1330 Connecticut Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20036.

Persons seeking further information concerning abandonment and discontinuance procedures may contact the Board's Office of Public Services at (202) 565-1592 or refer to the full abandonment or discontinuance regulations at 49 CFR part 1152. Questions concerning environmental issues may be directed to the Board's Section of Environmental Analysis at (202) 565-1545. [TDD for the hearing impaired is available at (202) 565-1695.]

Decided: March 6, 1998.

By the Board, Joseph H. Dettmar, Acting Director, Office of Proceedings. Vernon A. Williams, Secretary.

FR Doc. 98-6289Filed3-10-98; 8:45 amBILLING CODE 4915-00-P

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