The Surface Transportation Board (Board) announced today that its Section of Environmental Analysis (SEA) has issued an Environmental Assessment (EA) for public review and comment concerning the proposal by the Norfolk Southern Railway Company, Pan Am Railways, Inc. (a noncarrier holding company), and two of Pan Am's railroad subsidiaries, the Boston and Maine Corporation and the Springfield Terminal Railway Company, to acquire, and to jointly control and own, Pan Am Southern LLC, a new railroad to be formed.
The EA identifies and analyzes the potential environmental impacts (both beneficial and adverse) that could occur as a result of the transaction. The EA also sets forth preliminary recommended mitigation measures, should the Board approve the proposal. At the conclusion of the comment period, SEA will prepare a Post Environmental Assessment (Post EA) in response to comments received. The Board will then issue a final decision, based on all comments received in the public record in this proceeding, addressing the transportation merits of the proposal and the entire environmental record, including the EA and the Post EA.
The EA has been distributed to all parties on the Board's service list for this proceeding, including key governmental agencies, elected officials, and those participating in the environmental review process. SEA invites public comment on all aspects of the EA. The Board is providing the public 30 days—until December 15, 2008—for the filing of comments on the EA. Those wishing to file comments regarding the EA must send an original and one copy to:
ATTN: Ken Blodgett (FD 35147)
Case Control Unit
Surface Transportation Board
395 E Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20423-0001
Environmental comments also may be filed electronically, via the Board's Web site at www.stb.dot.gov, by clicking the "E-FILING" link on the home page. Please refer to "Finance Docket No. 35147" in all correspondence addressed to the Board.
The EA was issued today, November 14, 2008, in Norfolk Southern Railway Company, Pan Am Railways, Inc., et al.—Joint Control and Operating/Pooling Agreements—Pan Am Southern LLC, STB Finance Docket No. 35147. The EA is available for viewing and downloading via the Board's Web site, under "E-LIBRARY" on the home page, then under "Decisions & Notices," beneath the date "11/14/08."
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