180625 EIR line abandonment.pdf

Case No: EIR-R-18-01
Contact: Matt Evans
[phone]
[phone]
www.puc.idaho.gov
PUC to hold telephonic public hearing on proposed
rail abandonment
BOISE (June 25, 2018) – The Idaho Public Utilities Commission has scheduled a telephonic
public hearing over a proposal to abandon a 5-mile stretch of rail line in Fremont County.
The hearing is set for June 28 at 10 am.
It is intended to provide an opportunity to submit testimony for the official case record
regarding Eastern Idaho Railroad LLC’s proposal to abandon the 5-mile rail line located
between Milepost 28.80, at Egin, and Milepost 33.80, at Parker.
To participate, call [phone] and enter passcode 6674832# when prompted.
In order to abandon a rail line, federal regulations call for the operating railroad to file a
Notice of Exemption with the Surface Transportation Board (STB).
In order to receive federal approval, the railroad must certify that no rail traffic has moved
on the line for the past two years and that there are no outstanding complaints about the
lack of rail service along the line.
The Commission is required to hold a public hearing before the railroad’s proposal is
considered.
The Commission’s role is to determine if the abandonment:

- Adversely affects the area being served,
- Impairs the access of Idaho shippers to vital goods and markets, and
- Whether the rail line has the potential for profitability.
If the Commission determines the proposed abandonment is not in the public interest, it
files comments and represents the state before the STB.
If there are no objections to the proposed abandonment, the Commission will not file
comments.
Under the Notice of Exemption procedure, the STB will publish a notice in the Federal
Register within 20 days after the petition for exemption is filed. Thirty days after the notice
is published, the railroad is permitted to abandon the rail line unless the STB stays the
abandonment.

A copy of the railroad’s application is available on the commission’s Web site at
www.puc.idaho.gov. Click on the rail icon, then on “Open Rail Cases,” and select Case No.
EIR-R-18-01. Or go here.