The ICC Termination Act of 1995 revised the law governing applications by rail carriers to abandon or discontinue service over lines of railroad and related offers of financial assistance that would continue rail service after approval of abandonment or discontinuance by the Surface Transportation Board (Board). Accordingly, by decision served December 24, 1996, the Board revised 49 CFR part 1152 to implement the changes and update the pertinent regulations, and to streamline the abandonment and discontinuance process consistent with the new law. The Board also made conforming changes to the environmental rules at part 1105. These new regulations, which were adopted following a notice and comment rulemaking proceeding, went into effect on January 23, 1997. The Board now makes some clarifying changes to the rules, makes delegations of authority that will permit agency employees to carry out certain responsibilities under these procedures, and corrects one typographical error.