Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 90 Part 1.djvu/86

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PUBLIC LAW 94-000—MMMM. DD, 1976

90 STAT. 36

Annual report to Congress.

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PUBLIC LAW 94-210—FEB. 5, 1976 paragraphs (10) through (16) thereof, respectively, and by inserting therein a new paragraph (9) as follows: " (9) Following promulgation of standards under section 1(5)(d) of this part, whenever a rate of a common carrier by railroad subject to this part is challenged as being unreasonably high, the Commission shall, upon complaint or upon its own initiative and within 90 days after the commencement of a proceeding to investigate the lawfulness of such rate, determine whether the carrier proposing such rate lias market dominance, within the meaning of section 1(5)(c)(i) of this part, over the service to which such rate applies. If the Commission finds that such a carrier does not have such market dominance, such finding shall be determinative in all additional or other proceedings under this Act concerning such rate or service, unless (a) such finding is modified or set aside by the Commission, or (b) such finding is set aside by a court of competent jurisdiction. Nothing in this paragraph shall limit the Commission's power to suspend a rate pursuant to this section, except that if the Commission has found that a carrier does not have such market dominance over the service to which a rate applies, the Commission may not suspend any increase in such rate on the ground that such rate as increased exceeds a just or reasonable maximum for such service, unless the Commission specifically modifies or sets aside its prior determination concerning market dominance over the service to which such rate applies.". (d) Section 15 of the Interstate Commerce Act (49 U.S.C. 15) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following two new paragraphs: "(17) Within 1 year after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Commission shall establish, by rule, standards and expeditious procedures for the establishment of railroad rates based on seasonal, regional, or peak-period demand for rail services. Such standards and procedures shall be designed to (a) provide sufficient incentive to shippers to reduce peak-period shipments, through rescheduling and advance planning; (b) generate additional revenues for the railroads; and (c) improve (i) the utilization of the national supply of freight cars, (ii) the movement of goods by rail, (iii) levels of employment by railroads, and (iv) the financial stability of markets served by railroads. Following the establishment of such standards and procedures, the Commission shall prepare and submit to the Congress annual reports on the implementation of such rates, including recommendations with respect to the need, if any, for additional legislation to facilitate the establishment of such demand-sensitive rates. "(18) In order to encourage competition, to promote increased reinvestment by railroads, and to encourage and facilitate increased nonrailroad investment in the production of rail services, a carrier by railroad subject to this part may, upon its own initiative or upon the request of any shipper or receiver of freight, file separate rates for distinct rail services. Within 1 year after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Commission shall establish, by rule, expeditious procedures for permitting publication of separate rates tor distinct rail services in order to (a) encourage the pricing of such services in accordance with the carrier's cash-outlays for such services and the demand therefor, and (b) enable shippers and receivers to evaluate all transportation and related charges and alternatives.". (e) Section 15 of the Interstate Commerce Act (49 U.S.C. 15), as amended by this Act, is further amended— (1) by adding at the end of paragraph (7) thereof the following new sentence: "This paragraph shall not apply to common carriers by railroad subject to this part."; and