The U.S. Surface Transportation Board is coming to Oregon, but the feds won’t make it to the South Coast.

The agency will hold a public hearing to discuss abandonment or sale of the Coos Bay rail line at 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 21 at the U.S. Courthouse in Eugene.

The federal agency rarely holds field hearings outside Washington, D.C. The Oregon hearing was scheduled after state and federal officials, along with  rail line shippers, petitioned the STB for a hearing in the region.

The board will hear testimony on two issues: the Central Oregon & Pacific Railroad’s application to abandon the line, and a feeder line application prepared by the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay, which could let the port or someone else take over railroad operations.

The port submitted its application on July 11, proposing to purchase about 111 miles of rail line from the North Spit to the outskirts of Eugene for $9.8 million. Any organization that wishes to file a competing feeder line application must do so before Aug. 8.

The railroad company filed its application to abandon about 94 miles of the line. It wants to keep the westernmost 17 miles between Vaughn and Danebo, which have remained in operation to serve three shippers. The rest of the line was closed in September 2007, due to concerns about tunnel safety.

A final decision on the CORP abandonment application is slated to be issued by Oct. 31.

Anyone wishing to speak at the Eugene hearing must file a written notice of intent to participate with the STB.

For more information, those interested can call Joseph Dettmar at (202) 245-0395.

Eugene’s federal courthouse is located at 405 E. Eighth Ave. Visitors must present photo identification and pass screening to enter the building. Cameras are not permitted.