Report on Interstate Commerce Commission Functions

INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION

[Ex Parte No. 522]

Report on Interstate Commerce Commission Functions

AGENCY: Interstate Commerce Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pending legislation, the ``Trucking Industry Regulatory Reform

Act of 1994,'' requires the Commission to submit a report to the

Congress and to the Secretary of Transportation within 60 days of

enactment, identifying and analyzing all regulatory responsibilities of

the agency and recommending specific statutory and regulatory functions

that could be eliminated or restructured. As part of its analysis, the

Commission seeks public comment on its current regulatory

responsibilities and any recommended changes.

DATES: Comments are due on September 8, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Send comments (an original and 10 copies) referring to Ex

Parte No. 522 to: Interstate Commerce Commission, Office of the

Secretary, Case Control Branch, Washington, DC 20423.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph H. Dettmar, (202) 927-5660 or

Elizabeth Nightingale, (202) 927-5276. (TDD for hearing impaired: (202)

927-5721.)

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 11, 1994, the Trucking Industry

Regulatory Reform Act of 1994 was passed by the United States Senate.

Section 210(a) provides:

The Interstate Commerce Commission shall prepare and submit to

the Secretary of Transportation and to each Committee of the

Congress having jurisdiction over legislation affecting the

Commission a report identifying and analyzing all regulatory

responsibilities of the Commission. The Commission shall make

recommendations concerning specific statutory and regulatory

functions of the Commission that could be eliminated or

restructured. The Commission shall submit the report within 60 days

after the date of enactment of this Act.

Given the short period of time provided for the preparation of the

report, we are seeking public comment in anticipation of the enactment

of the legislation. If the legislation is not enacted, we intend to

undertake a review of our current responsibilities and issue a report

recommending any changes that appear warranted, pursuant to our

authority at 49 U.S.C. 10311. We seek public comment to assist the

Commission in analyzing its current regulatory responsibilities and in

recommending any elimination or restructuring of responsibilities.

Public comments are due within 20 days of publication of this notice.

For the convenience of those preparing comments, the following list

reflects the Commission's primary areas of responsibility:

Regulation of Rail Freight Transportation

Regulation of Rail Passenger Transportation

Regulation of Trucking

Trucking Undercharge Oversight

Regulation of Household Goods Carriers and Freight Forwarders

Regulation of Intercity Bus Transportation

Regulation of Brokers

Regulation of Certain Water Carriage

Regulation of Certain Pipelines

North American Free Trade Agreement

In addition, upon request the Commission will make available a

document addressing these areas in more detail entitled ``Principal

Areas of ICC Regulatory Responsibility''. Requests should be directed

to the Commission's Office of Public Services at (202) 927-7597.

This action will not significantly affect either the quality of the

human environment or the conservation of energy resources.

Decided: August 16, 1994.

By the Commission, Chairman McDonald, Vice Chairman Phillips,

and Commissioners Simmons and Morgan.

Vernon A. Williams,

Acting Secretary.

[FR Doc. 94-20437 Filed 8-18-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7035-01-P