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SPI Abandonment Exemption Docket Full Text of Decision

36794

SERVICE DATE - MARCH 6, 2006

DO

SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

DECISION

STB Docket No. AB-512X

SIERRA PACIFIC INDUSTRIES -ABANDONMENT EXEMPTION- IN AMADOR COUNTY, CA

Decided: March 3, 2006


By decision served on February 25, 2005, the Board, under 49 U.S.C. 10502,
exempted from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 10903 the
abandonment by Sierra Pacific Industries, Inc. (SPI) of a line of railroad
extending from milepost 0.0 at Ione to milepost 12.0 at Martell, in Amador
County, CA.[1] The Board made the exemption subject to public use trail
use, and environmental conditions. SPI submitted a consummation notice on
February 16, 2006.[2]

By letter filed on February 28, 2006, SPI seeks to withdraw its consummation
notice. SPI notes that, among the conditions that were imposed, SPI was
required to retain its interest in and take no steps to alter the historic
integrity of all sites and structures on the right-of-way that are 50 years
old or older until completion of the section 106 process of the National
Historic Preservation Act, 16 U.S.C. 470f. SPI explains that it mistakenly
filed the notice without having fulfilled the historic preservation condition.
SPI assures the Board that it will comply with the historic
preservation condition and not attempt to consummate the abandonment before
the condition has been satisfied and removed by the agency.

The Board's regulations at 49 CFR 1152.29(e)(2) require the filing of a
notice of consummation within 1 year from the service date of the decision
authorizing abandonment, but only if there are no legal or regulatory barriers to
consummation. The existence of an unsatisfied historic preservation
condition constitutes such a barrier. In that case, the Board's
regulations provide that the time to consummate the abandonment and file a
notice of consummation extends until 60 days after the satisfaction, expiration,
or removal of the condition. Because the historic preservation
condition here has not been satisfied, SPI's request to withdraw the consummation
letter will be granted.

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

It is ordered:

1. The request of SPI to withdraw the consummation letter is granted.

2. This decision is effective on its date of service.


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


Vernon A. Williams

Secretary

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[1] In the same decision, the Board also granted an exemption for
SierraPine to discontinue service over the line in
SierraPine -Discontinuance Exemption- In Amador County, CA, STB
Docket No.
AB-880X (STB served Feb. 25, 2005).

[2] While SierraPine joined in this filing, only the carrier that has
received abandonment authority is subject to the requirement for filing a
notice of consummation. See 49 CFR 1152.29(e)(2).