Soo Line Railroad Company; Abandonment Exemption; in Hennepin County, MN

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Docket No. AB-57 (Sub-No. 40X)]

Soo Line Railroad Company; Abandonment Exemption; in Hennepin

County, MN

On March 10, 1998, Soo Line Railroad Company, operating under the

trade name Canadian Pacific Railway (Soo Line), 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 its line of

railroad known as the Hiawatha/Cedar Avenue Wye, extending from

milepost 423.59, near the eastern edge of Cedar Avenue to

mileposts 423.26 and 423.21, respectively, near

the eastern edge of Hiawatha Avenue, a total distance of approximately

1 mile, in Hennepin County, MN. The line traverses U.S. Postal Service

Zip Code 55407, and includes the station of Minneapolis at milepost

423.

The line does not contain federally granted rights-of-way. Any

documentation in Soo Line's possession will be made available promptly

to those requesting it.

[[Page 15259]]

The interest of railroad employees will be protected by the

conditions set forth in 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 June 26, 1998. 1

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\1\ Soo Line requests expedited handling of this petition to

enable it to facilitate the removal of rail materials and structures

from the right-of-way before the State of Minnesota resumes

construction of Highway 55 on July 1, 1998. If the record supports

an abandonment, we will attempt to accommodate Soo Line's request.

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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 a $1,000

filing fee. 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 April 20, 1998. Each trail use

request must be accompanied by a $150 filing fee. See 49 CFR

1002.2(f)(27).

All filings in response to this notice must refer to STB Docket No.

AB-57 (Sub-No. 40X) 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) Larry D. Starns, Esq., Leonard,

Street and Deinard, 150 South 5th St., Suite 2300, Minneapolis, MN

55402.

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 (202)

565-1695.]

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.

Decided: March 23, 1998.

By the Board, David M. Konschnik, Director, Office of

Proceedings.

Vernon A. Williams,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 98-8118 Filed 3-27-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4915-00-P