Lake State Railway Company-Abandonment Exemption-in Alpena and Presque Isle Counties, MI

On February 2, 2000, Lake State Railway Company (Lake State) filed with the Surface Transportation Board (Board) a petition under 49 U.S.C. 10502 for exemption from the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 10903 to abandon: (1) a portion of its main line Huron Subdivision extending from the U.S. Highway 23 crossing in Alpena (milepost 125.2) northward to the end of the main line just north of Metz, MI (milepost 151.25); and (2) its entire Rogers City Branch, which extends northward from Lake State's main line at Posen, MI (milepost 141.8), to Rogers City, MI, where it ends at RCB milepost 11.5, a total distance of 37.55 miles in Alpena and Presque Isle Counties, MI. The line segments traverse U.S. Postal Zip Codes 49707, 49776, and 49779, and include the stations of Posen (milepost 140), Larocque (milepost 150), and Calcite (milepost 10.9).

The line does not contain federally granted rights-of-way. Any documentation in Lake State's possession will be made available promptly to those requesting it.

The interest of railroad employees will be protected by Oregon Short Line R. Co.—Abandonment—Goshen, 360 I.C.C. 91 (1979).

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 May 22, 2000.

Any offer of financial assistance (OFA) 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 OFA must be accompanied by the filing fee, which currently is set at $1,000. See 49 CFR 1002.2(f)(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 CFR 1152.28 or for trail use/rail banking under 49 CFR 1152.29 will be due no later than March 13, 2000. Each trail use request must be accompanied by a $150 filing fee. See 49 CFR 1002.2(f)(25).

All filings in response to this notice must refer to STB Docket No. AB-534 (Sub-No. 2X) 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) Andrew B. Kolesar III, 1224 Seventeenth Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20036. Replies to the Lake State petition are due on or before March 13, 2000.

Persons seeking further information concerning abandonment 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 (SEA) at (202) 565-1545. [TDD for the hearing impaired is available at 1-800-877-8339.]

An environmental assessment (EA) (or environmental impact statement (EIS), if necessary) prepared by SEA 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 SEA to obtain a copy of the EA (or EIS). EAs in these 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 will generally be within 30 days of its service.

Board decisions and notices are available on our website at “WWW.STB.DOT.GOV.”