41951                                  SERVICE DATE—NOVEMBER 2, 2011

DO

 

SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

 

DECISION

 

 Docket No. AB 369 (Sub-No. 7X)

 

BUFFALO & PITTSBURGH RAILROAD, INC.—ABANDONMENT EXEMPTION—IN ERIE AND CATTARAUGUS COUNTIES, N.Y.

 

Decided:  October  31, 2011

 

Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad, Inc. (BPRR) filed a verified notice of exemption under 49 C.F.R. pt. 1152 subpart F–Exempt Abandonments to abandon a 27.6‑mile line of railroad extending from milepost 8.4 in Orchard Park, in Erie County, N.Y., to milepost 36 in Ashford, in Cattaraugus County, N.Y.  Notice of the exemption was served and published in the Federal Register on October 6, 2008 (73 Fed. Reg. 58,297).  In this decision, the Board is granting the request by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (NYS Office of Parks) to extend the interim trail use negotiation period.

 

By decision and notice of interim trail use or abandonment (NITU) served on November 4, 2008, the proceeding was reopened and a 180-day period was authorized for NYS Office of Parks to negotiate an interim trail use/rail banking agreement with BPRR for the right-of-way involved in this proceeding pursuant to the National Trails System Act, 16 U.S.C. § 1247(d) (Trails Act).  By a series of decisions, the most recent served on April 14, 2011, the trail use negotiation period under the NITU was extended until October 21, 2011.

 

By letter filed on October 18, 2011, NYS Office of Parks has requested an extension of the NITU negotiating period.  In support, NYS Office of Parks states that the parties do not anticipate being able to consummate an agreement prior to the expiration date of the trail use negotiation period, but wish to continue negotiations.  By letter filed on October 19, 2011, BPRR advises that it agrees to the extension request.

 

Where, as here, the carrier has not consummated the abandonment at the end of the previously imposed negotiating period and is willing to continue trail use negotiations, the Board retains jurisdiction and the NITU negotiating period may be extended.[1]  Under the circumstances, further extension of the negotiating period is warranted.  See Birt v. STB, 90 F.3d 580, 588-90 (D.C. Cir. 1996); Grantwood Village v. Mo. Pac. R.R., 95 F.3d 654, 659 (8th Cir. 1996).  Accordingly, the NITU negotiating period will be extended for 180 days from October 21, 2011, to April 18, 2012.

 

            This decision will not significantly affect either the quality of the human environment or the conservation of energy resources.

 

            It is ordered:

 

            1.  The NYS Office of Parks’ request to extend the negotiation period is granted.

 

            2.  The negotiating period under the NITU is extended from October 21, 2011, to April 18, 2012.

 

3.  This decision is effective on its service date.

 

By the Board, Rachel D. Campbell, Director, Office of Proceedings.