
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 49USC10101]

 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
                 SUBTITLE IV--INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION
 
                              PART A--RAIL
 
                     CHAPTER 101--GENERAL PROVISIONS
 
Sec. 10101. Rail transportation policy

    In regulating the railroad industry, it is the policy of the United 
States Government--
        (1) to allow, to the maximum extent possible, competition and 
    the demand for services to establish reasonable rates for 
    transportation by rail;
        (2) to minimize the need for Federal regulatory control over the 
    rail transportation system and to require fair and expeditious 
    regulatory decisions when regulation is required;
        (3) to promote a safe and efficient rail transportation system 
    by allowing rail carriers to earn adequate revenues, as determined 
    by the Board;
        (4) to ensure the development and continuation of a sound rail 
    transportation system with effective competition among rail carriers 
    and with other modes, to meet the needs of the public and the 
    national defense;
        (5) to foster sound economic conditions in transportation and to 
    ensure effective competition and coordination between rail carriers 
    and other modes;
        (6) to maintain reasonable rates where there is an absence of 
    effective competition and where rail rates provide revenues which 
    exceed the amount necessary to maintain the rail system and to 
    attract capital;
        (7) to reduce regulatory barriers to entry into and exit from 
    the industry;
        (8) to operate transportation facilities and equipment without 
    detriment to the public health and safety;
        (9) to encourage honest and efficient management of railroads;
        (10) to require rail carriers, to the maximum extent 
    practicable, to rely on individual rate increases, and to limit the 
    use of increases of general applicability;
        (11) to encourage fair wages and safe and suitable working 
    conditions in the railroad industry;
        (12) to prohibit predatory pricing and practices, to avoid undue 
    concentrations of market power, and to prohibit unlawful 
    discrimination;
        (13) to ensure the availability of accurate cost information in 
    regulatory proceedings, while minimizing the burden on rail carriers 
    of developing and maintaining the capability of providing such 
    information;
        (14) to encourage and promote energy conservation; and
        (15) to provide for the expeditious handling and resolution of 
    all proceedings required or permitted to be brought under this part.

(Added Pub. L. 104-88, title I, Sec. 102(a), Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 
805.)


                            Prior Provisions

    Prior sections 10101 and 10101a were omitted in the general 
amendment of this subtitle by Pub. L. 104-88, Sec. 102(a).
    Section 10101, Pub. L. 95-473, Oct. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 1337; Pub. L. 
96-296, Sec. 4, July 1, 1980, 94 Stat. 793; Pub. L. 96-448, title I, 
Sec. 101(b), Oct. 14, 1980, 94 Stat. 1898; Pub. L. 97-261, Sec. 5, Sept. 
20, 1982, 96 Stat. 1103; Pub. L. 103-311, title II, Sec. 204, Aug. 26, 
1994, 108 Stat. 1683, related to transportation policy. See sections 
13101 and 15101 of this title.
    Section 10101a, added Pub. L. 96-448, title I, Sec. 101(a), Oct. 14, 
1980, 94 Stat. 1897, related to rail transportation policy.


                             Effective Date

    Chapter effective Jan. 1, 1996, except as otherwise provided in Pub. 
L. 104-88, see section 2 of Pub. L. 104-88, set out as a note under 
section 701 of this title.


                      Short Title of 1986 Amendment

    Pub. L. 99-521, Sec. 1, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2993, provided 
that: ``This Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the 
`Surface Freight Forwarder Deregulation Act of 1986'.''


                      Short Title of 1982 Amendment

    Section 1 of Pub. L. 97-261 provided: ``That this Act [see Tables 
for classification] may be cited as the `Bus Regulatory Reform Act of 
1982'.''


                     Short Title of 1980 Amendments

    Pub. L. 96-454, Sec. 1, Oct. 15, 1980, 94 Stat. 2011, provided: 
``That this Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the 
`Household Goods Transportation Act of 1980'.''
    Section 1 of Pub. L. 96-448 provided that: ``This Act [see Tables 
for classification] may be cited as the `Staggers Rail Act of 1980'.''
    Section 1 of Pub. L. 96-296 provided: ``That this Act [see Tables 
for classification] may be cited as the `Motor Carrier Act of 1980'.''

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 302, 10502, 10706 of this 
title; title 33 section 1803.
