20080801Ron Law Letter to ITD, agencies.pdf

IDAHO
PUBLIC UTiliTIEScommission
C.L. "Butch" Oter, Governor
P.O. Box 83720, Boise, Idaho 83720-0074
Mack A. Redford, President
Marsha H. Smith, Commissioner
Jim Kempton, Commissioner
July 29,2008
Utt\-K-02-o(
Pamela Lowe, Director
Idaho Transportation Dept
PO Box 7219
Boise, il 83707-1129
RE: Purosed Union Pacific Railroad Abandonment in Coeur d Alene, STB Docket No. AB-33
(Sub-No. 272X)
Dear Pamela Lowe:
Union Pacific Railroad has notified the Commission that it intends to file an Application with the
Surface Transportation Board (STB) to furher abandon a portion of the Coeur d Alene Industrial
Lead from M.P. 7.50 near Gibbs to the end of the line at M.P. 8.79 in Coeur d Alene, Idaho. This
rail line is approximately 1.29 miles long and served the city of Coeur d Alene and Kootenai
County (see attached map). The line proposed for abandonment is between the Spokane River
and Northwest Boulevard. The STB is the entity within the U.S. Deparment of Transportation
with the authority to approve or deny rail line abandonments.
We anticipate that the railroad wil seek to use the expedited "exemption" process to abandon
this rail line. The exemption process may be used if no rail traffc had moved on the line for the
past two years. In 2004, Union Pacific previously abandoned 5.29 miles in the "middle" of this
line to M.P. 7.5 near Gibbs. The portion of the line now proposed for abandonment is the
remaining eastern end of the line. Once the exemption notice is filed, the STB will publish the
notice in the Federal Register within 20 days. Unless stayed, the railroad may abandon the line
30 days after the notice is published in the Federal Register.
Although the authority to grant or deny rail abandonments is governed by federal law, Idaho
Code § 62-424 requires that the Public Utilities Commission conduct a public hearng on the
proposed abandonment. Lf the Commission finds that abandonment of the rail line would
adversely affect the area being served and that the line has a potential for profitability, then the
Commission represents the State in the STB proceeding. I suspect that the Commission wil soon
issue a formal Notice ofthe proposed abandonment, and wil convene a hearng in this matter.
Located at 472 West Washington Street, Boise, Idaho 83702
Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone]
When the Notice is issued, it will be available on the Commssion's web site:
ww.puc.idaho.gov.
Your agency may be contacted by Union Pacific to comment on the impact of abandonment. The
Governor's Executive Order No. 2006-24 provides that all state agencies notify the PUC when
contacted by railroads of potential abandonments. If your agency is contacted about the
abandonment ofthe Coeur d Alene Industral Lead, please notify me at 334-0330. Finally, please
contact me if your agency believes that the abandonment will adversely affect Idaho.
Than you for your assistance in this matter. If you or your staffhave any questions regardig
the abandonment process, please feel free to call me at 334-0330.
Very trly yours,~~
Ron Law
Executive Administrator
cc: Commissioners
Don Howell, DAG
John Chatbum, Special Assistant to the Governor
Kootenai County Commission
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BEGIN
ABANDONMENT
MP7.5
. .~-i': ~- '
.END
ABANDONMENT
MP 8.79
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Legend
BRIDGE NO. BRIDGE TYPE
7.67 1-SPAN TIMBER PILE TRESTLE - OPEN DECK
J
UPRR LINES TO BE ABANDONED
OTHER UPRR LINES
.,OTHER RAILROADS
. . . .PRINCIPAL HIGHWAYS
OTHER ROADS
_ 50 + YEAR OLD STRUCTURES
:\abandonments\ab33 1'12 Coeur d Alene IndL.mxd
COEUR D'ALENE INDUSTRIAL LEAD
MP 7.50 TO MP 8.79
TOTAL OF 1.2 MILES IN KOOTEAi COUNiY
lNIDAHO
'.'
UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD CO.
COEUR D'ALENE INDUSTRIAL LEAD
. IDAHO
INCLUDING 50+ YEAR OLD STRUCTURESo 0.5 1 2
Miles
.
Pamela Lowe Director Janet Gallimore Executive Director Robert Meinen Director
Idaho Transportation Dept Idaho State Historical Society Dept of Parks and Recreation
PO Box 7219 2205 Old Penitentiary Road 5657 War Springs Ave
Boise, il 83707-1129 Boise, il 83712 Boise, il 83716
Toni Hardesty Director Jim Ellick Director Ed Tulloch Regional Water Quality
Dept of Environmental Quality Dept of Commerce Manager
1410 North Hilton PO Box 83720 Dept of Environmental Quality
Boise, il 83706-1255 Boise, il 83720-0093 2110 Ironwood Parkway
Coeur d'Alene, il 83814-2648
Curt Fransen Deputy Director Charles Corsi Supervisor Ron Kerr
Dept of Environmental Quality Dept ofFish and Game Idaho Transportation Dept
1410 N. Hilton 2885 W. Kathleen Ave POBox 7129
Boise, il 83706 Coeur d'Alene, il 83815 Boise, il 83707-1129
Michael Gridley City Attorney Gordon Dobler Public Works Sandi Bloem Mayor
City of Coeur d'Alene Director City of Coeur d'Alene
710 Mullan City of Coeur d'Alene 710 E. Mullan
Coeur d'Alene, il 83816-0489 710 E. Mullan Coeur d'Alene, il 83816-0489
Coeur d'Alene, il 83816-0489