In every abandonment exemption case, the applicant shall publish a notice in a newspaper of general circulation in each county in which the line is located and certify to the Board that it has done this by the date its notice of (or petition for) exemption is filed. The notice shall alert the public to the proposed abandonment, to available reuse alternatives, such as trail use and public use, and to how it may participate in a Board proceeding. Sample newspaper notices are provided in the Appendix to this section for guidance to the railroads.
Appendix to § 1105.12—Sample Newspaper Notices
Sample Local Newspaper Notice for Out-Of-Service Abandonment Exemptions
Notice of Intent To Abandon or To Discontinue Rail Service
(Name of railroad) gives notice that on or about (insert date notice of exemption will be filed with the Surface Transportation Board), it intends to file with the Surface Transportation Board, Washington, DC, a notice of exemption under 49 CFR 1152 Subpart F—Exempt Abandonments permitting the (abandonment of or discontinuance of service on) a__mile line of railroad between railroad milepost __, near (station name), which traverses through United States Postal Service ZIP Codes (ZIP Codes) and railroad milepost __, near (station name) which traverses through United States Postal Service ZIP Codes (ZIP Codes) in__County(ies), (State). The proceeding will be docketed as No. AB__(Sub-No.__X).
The Board's Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA)will generally prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA), which will normally be available 25 days after the filing of the notice of exemption. Comments on environmental and energy matters should be filed no later than 15 days after the EA becomes available to the public and will be addressed in a Board decision. Interested persons may obtain a copy of the EA or make inquiries regarding environmental matters by writing to the Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA), Surface Transportation Board, Washington, DC or by calling that office at [INSERT TELEPHONE NUMBER].
Appropriate offers of financial assistance to continue rail service can be filed with the Board. Requests for environmental conditions, public use conditions, or rail banking/trails use also can be filed with the Board. An original and 10 copies of any pleading that raises matters other than environmental issues (such as trails use, public use, and offers of financial assistance) must be filed directly with the Board's Office of Proceedings, Washington, DC [See 49 CFR 1104.1(a) and 1104.3(a)], and one copy must be served on applicants' representative [See 49 CFR 1104.12(a)]. Questions regarding offers of financial assistance, public use or trails use may be directed to the Board's Office of Public Assistance, Governmental Affairs, and Compliance at [INSERT TELEPHONE NUMBER]. Copies of any comments or requests for conditions should be served on the applicant's representative: (Name, address and phone number).
Sample Local Newspaper Notice for Petitions for Abandonment Exemptions
Notice of Intent To Abandon or To Discontinue Rail Service
(Name of railroad) gives notice that on or about (insert date petition for abandonment exemption will be filed with the Surface Transportation Board) it intends to file with the Surface Transportation Board, Washington, DC, a petition for exemption under 49 U.S.C. 10502 from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 10903, et seq., permitting the (abandonment of or discontinuance of service on) a__mile line of railroad between railroad milepost___, near (station name) which traverses through United States Postal Service ZIP Codes (ZIP Codes), and railroad milepost_, near (station name) which traverses through United States Postal Service ZIP Codes (ZIP Codes) in__County(ies), (State). The proceeding has been docketed as No. AB__(Sub-No.__X).
The Board's Office of Environmental Analysis (OEA) will generally prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA), which will normally be available 60 days after the filing of the petition for abandonment exemption. Comments on environmental and energy matters should be filed no later than 30 days after the EA becomes available to the public and will be addressed in a Board decision. Interested persons may obtain a copy of the EA or make inquiries regarding environmental matters by writing to OEA, Surface Transportation Board, Washington, DC or by calling OEA at [INSERT TELEPHONE NUMBER].
Appropriate offers of financial assistance to continue rail service can be filed with the Board. Requests for environmental conditions, public use conditions, or rail banking/trails use also can be filed with the Board. An original and 10 copies of any pleading that raises matters other than environmental issues (such as trails use, public use, and offers of financial assistance) must be filed directly with the Board's Office of Proceedings, Washington, DC [See 49 CFR 1104.1(a) and 1104.3(a)], and one copy must be served on applicants' representative [See 49 CFR 1104.12(a)]. Questions regarding offers of financial assistance, public use or trails use may be directed to the Board's Office of Public Assistance, Governmental Affairs, and Compliance at [INSERT TELEPHONE NUMBER]. Copies of any comments or requests for conditions should be served on the applicant's representative (name and address).
[56 FR 36105, July 31, 1991, as amended at 56 FR 49821, Oct. 1, 1991; 58 FR 44619, Aug. 24, 1993; 61 FR 67883, Dec. 24, 1996; 64 FR 53268, Oct. 1, 1999; 69 FR 58366, Sept. 30, 2004; 74 FR 52906, Oct. 15, 2009; 81 FR 8854, Feb. 23, 2016; 83 FR 15078, Apr. 9, 2018]