41489                                     SERVICE DATE – MARCH 23, 2011

DO

 

SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

 

DECISION

 

Docket No. AB 290 (Sub-No. 314X)

 

NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY—ABANDONMENT EXEMPTION—IN LATROBE, WESTMORELAND COUNTY, PA.

 

Decided:  March 22, 2011

 

Norfolk Southern Railway Company (NSR) filed a notice of exemption under 49 C.F.R. pt. 1152 subpart F–Exempt Abandonments to abandon a 2.04-mile line of railroad between milepost XN-0.00 and milepost XN-2.04, in Latrobe, Westmoreland County, Pa.  Notice of the exemption was served and published in the Federal Register on September 4, 2009 (74 Fed. Reg. 45,890-91).

 

By decision and notice of interim trail use or abandonment (NITU) served on October 6, 2009, the proceeding was reopened and a 180-day period was authorized for Latrobe-Unity Parks & Recreation Commission and the Latrobe Foundation (Proponent) to negotiate an interim trail use/rail banking agreement with NSR for the right-of-way involved in this proceeding.  The trail use negotiating period was set to expire on April 5, 2010.  By decisions served on March 30, 2010, and October 1, 2010, the NITU negotiating period was extended until March 31, 2011.

 

On March 3, 2011, Proponent requested an additional extension of the negotiation period for 180 days.  Proponent states that it has come to an agreement on the purchase price and is working toward resolving other issues before the sale can be completed.  Proponent further states that NSR is rebidding the salvage of items on the line in order to find a private company that will process the removal, since the first bid process did not produce an acceptable bid.  Proponent states that NSR will have to complete the salvage operation before the sale can be completed.  On March 4, 2011, NSR filed a letter with the Board consenting to the extension request.

 

Where, as here, the carrier is willing to continue trail use negotiations, the negotiating period may be extended.[1]  An extension of time will promote the establishment of trails and rail banking consistent with the National Trails System Act, 16 U.S.C. § 1247(d).  Accordingly, the NITU negotiating period will be extended 180 days until September 27, 2011.

 

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

 

            It is ordered:

 

            1.  Proponent’s request to extend the NITU negotiating period is granted.

 

            2.  The negotiating period under the NITU is extended until September 27, 2011.

 

            3.  This decision is effective on its service date.

 

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