SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD AUTHORIZES FIRST OF ITS KIND RAIL LINE IN PA.

[STBNews@xxxxxxxxxxx]

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>From the Surface Transportation Board, Washington, D.C.
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The Surface Transportation Board today granted final approval for R. J.
Corman Railroad Company/Pennsylvania Lines Inc. (RJCP) to build and operate
a new rail line using right-of-way previously rail-banked as well as new
right-of-way, near Wallaceton, Pa.  This is the first instance in which the
Board examined a new rail line construction proposal combined with
restoration of rail service over a rail-banked right-of-way.  The entire
rail line would provide rail service to a proposed new waste-to-ethanol
facility, a quarry, an industrial park now under development near Gorton,
Pa., and to other shippers along the line.


                                                                       The
                                                                       Board's
 decision follows an extensive environmental review and analysis of public
                                                                       concerns
 conducted by the agency's Office of Environmental Analysis, with several
                                                                       rounds
 of required environmental documentation (see Surface Transportation Board
                                                                       news
                                                                       releases
 #10-19 of July 23, 2010; #11-09 of March 4, 2011; and #11-26 of Nov. 18,
                                                                       2011).
  The Board's approval is premised on RJCP's building the line on the
 environmentally-preferable
 route, as well as other conditions responsive to the proposal's potential
                                                                       environmental

 impacts.


                                                                       The
                                                                       Board's
 decisions in
                                                                       R.
                                                                       J.
                                                                       Corman
 Railroad Company/Pennsylvania Lines Inc.—Construction and Operation
 Exemption—In
 Clearfield County, Pa., FD 35116
 ( http://www.stb.dot.gov/decisions/readingroom.nsf/WebDecisionID/42047?OpenDocument )

                                                                       ; R.
                                                                       J.
                                                                       Corman
 Railroad Company/Pennsylvania Lines Inc.—Acquisition and Operation
 Exemption—Line
 of Norfolk Southern Railway Company
                                                                       , FD
                                                                       35143;
 and
                                                                       Conrail
 Abandonment of the Snow Shoe Industrial Track in Centre and Clearfield
                                                                       Counties,
 Pa.
                                                                       , AB
                                                                       167
                                                                       (Sub-No.
 1004N) are available for viewing and downloading at the Board's website at
                                                                       www.stb.dot.gov

                                                                       .


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