Hennessy_dh.doc

September 12, 2000

Leo Hennessy
Department of Parks and Recreation
5657 Warm Springs Avenue
Interoffice Mail
Boise, ID 83720-0065

Re: Abandonment of the Palouse River and Cooley City Railroad’s Harvard to Bovill Line in Latah County

Dear Leo,

Enclosed for your information is a draft Environmental and Historical Report prepared by the Palouse River and Cooley City Railroad. The Railroad intends to abandon a 26-mile line located in Latah County generally running on an east-west axis between Harvard and Bovill.

As you will note in the Environmental Report, the Latah County Commissioners are interested in preserving the rail corridor “under some rails-to-trails arrangement.”

Given the fact that no rail traffic has moved on this line for more than four years, the Idaho Public Utilities Commission has decided to process this Application by simply requesting written comments concerning the Railroad’s intent to abandon this line. You will also note that the Railroad intends to use the STB’s exemption process. Under the exemption process, the Railroad normally receives the right to abandon and salvage the rail line 30 days after a notice is published in the Federal Register. Given the lack of rail traffic, I do not anticipate there will be shipper opposition to the abandonment.

If you have any questions, please contact me at 334-0312.

Sincerely yours,

Donald L. Howell, II
Deputy Attorney General

Enclosures

cc: Barb Barrows

Vld/L:Hennessy_dh