1.Short title; amendment of
title 49, United States Code
(a)This Act may be cited
as the Railroad Competition Act of
2006
.
(b)Amendment of
Title 49, United States CodeExcept as otherwise expressly provided,
whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an
amendment to, or a repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall
be considered to be made to a section or other provision of title 49, United
States Code.
<enum>I</enum><header>RAIL TRANSPORTATION COMPETITION</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDCD25A66C737540C281E2E3506C7B8514" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>101.</enum><header>Clarification of
rail Transportation policy</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 10101 is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDDFBEC1807A2041518FEE4EEA0A3F99FC"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting <quote>(a)
<header-in-text level="subsection" style="OLC">In
General.—</header-in-text></quote> before <quote>In regulating</quote>;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDC9444FEE6BF640A6993FE5A9ED834B73"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID7864E0F51DDA46F6A7019623B21A0968" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID375351FEB6F441CA974B6D9702929405"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Primary
Objectives</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The primary
objectives of the rail transportation policy of the United States are—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDF83B362BB7014182ABAC6AD358C29A61"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to promote effective competition among rail
carriers at origins and destinations;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID31D199582FE5450C99135180ACC73071"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to maintain reasonable rates in the absence
of effective competition; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDF2B910D3E6BB4146B8E3C8FE5643559B"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to maintain consistent and efficient rail
transportation service for shippers, including the timely provision of rail
cars requested by
shippers.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDEB665CA3140C453BA5D9641656A10D59" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>102.</enum><header>Requirement for rate
quotes</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 11101(a) is
amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID47B0426758814EB2935D9802B98D17B5"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting <quote>(1)</quote> after
<quote>(a)</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID2A762939DFB74B10808AF1DAE46074BC"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end of subsection (a) the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDCA0927EAAE3E4D1498AC30D43B73AFFE" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID6EADF327275C410AAB0EAE3E0B2DE532" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Upon the request of a shipper, a rail
carrier shall establish a rate for transportation and provide service requested
by the shipper between any two points on the system of that carrier where
traffic originates, terminates, or may reasonably be interchanged. A carrier
shall establish a rate and provide service upon such request without regard
to—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID78CB9CDB539F460D9D7C080F1D989D19"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the location of the movement on the rail
system, including terminal areas;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID0C492220F2F44CAEA1EFFB60762A6D83"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">whether the rate established is for only
part of a movement between a point of origin and a destination;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDE67D00B45468435EBA762E1CE94CF065"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">whether the shipper has made arrangements
for transportation for any other part of that movement; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDF4F5F39C11014140ABB9C9F22A3D59A6"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">whether the shipper has a contract with any
rail carrier for part or all of its transportation needs over the route of
movement, in which case the rate established by the carrier shall not apply to
transportation covered by the
contract.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDB7C3A140C4DA48B595EBA7B8320E4ACB" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>103.</enum><header>Elimination of
barriers to competition between class i carriers and Class II and Class III
rail carriers</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDA739C2C727014F279E7E6207D8CF178C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Restriction on
Approval or Exemption of Rail Carriers’ Activities by Surface Transportation
Board</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 10901 is
amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDACEA199BE15C407E9687DCA62830282F" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDCFE3F92562F54A6E8C094FBC40591034"><enum>(e)</enum><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="ID04B87949FE3945D1A208C402F44129E1"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Board may not issue under this section
a certificate authorizing an activity described in subsection (a), or exempt
from the applicability of this section under section 10502 such an activity,
that involves a transfer of interest in a line of railroad, from a Class I rail
carrier to a Class II or a Class III rail carrier, if the activity directly or
indirectly would result in—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID4C6C3441769740F7A8CE0A651FF8A77C" indent="up1"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a
restriction of the ability of the Class II or Class III rail carrier to
interchange traffic with other carriers; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID7F4D2555CE8948B2ABFF20C414AA8B7C" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a
restriction of competition between or among rail carriers in the region
affected by the activity in a manner or to an extent that would violate
antitrust laws of the United States (notwithstanding any exemption from the
applicability of antitrust laws that is provided under section 10706 of this
title or any other provision of law).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID8702D09B264E4ECFB30AE1DEDE8C0F57" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any party to an activity referred to in
paragraph (1) that has been carried out, or any rail shipper affected by such
an activity, may request that the Board review the activity to determine
whether the activity has resulted in a restriction described in that paragraph.
If, upon review of the activity, the Board determines that the activity
resulted in such a restriction and the restriction has been in effect for at
least 10 years, the Board shall declare the restriction to be unlawful and
terminate the restriction unless the Board finds that the termination of the
restriction would materially impair the ability of an affected rail carrier to
provide service to the public or would otherwise be inconsistent with the
public interest.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID181B89F213BD456BA14275D0214CDA63" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this subsection:</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID1AF9E4959CA245AC88781984888C004F"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>antitrust laws</term> has
the meaning given that term in subsection (a) of the first section of the
<act-name parsable-cite="CLAY">Clayton Act</act-name> (15 U.S.C. 12(a)), except
that such term also means section 5 of the <act-name parsable-cite="FTCA">Federal Trade Commission Act</act-name> (15 U.S.C. 45) to
the extent that such section 5 applies to unfair methods of competition.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID135892B29566452FA5B9B37670D77B0E"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The terms <term>Class I rail
carrier</term>, <term>Class II rail carrier</term>, and <term>Class III rail
carrier</term> mean, respectively, a rail carrier classified under regulations
of the Board as a Class I rail carrier, Class II rail carrier, and Class III
rail
carrier.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID7367BD8716A748BB95B7BB19858352CF"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Applicability
to Previously Approved or Exempted Activities</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Paragraph (2) of section 10901(e) of title
49, United States Code (as added by subsection (a)), shall apply with respect
to any activity referred to in that paragraph for which the Surface
Transportation Board issued a certificate authorizing the activity under
section 10901 of such title, or exempted the activity from the necessity for
such a certificate under section 10502 of such title, before, on, or after the
date of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID032B3F128B1743209A627F4775D62073" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>104.</enum><header>Reciprocal switching
on competitive terms</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section
11102(c) is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID6295CB3C90DE4DDB87888CC98E0237DE"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>may require</quote> in
paragraph (1) and inserting <quote>shall require</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID0AB0FE2DD7F041E2A3F7E57CE692BDE6"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>may establish</quote> in
paragraph (1) inserting <quote>shall establish</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDB43A9AB81BC943F8B8AC14D2B7D38B60"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID619F8960E91C48DC9451B9F52909D935" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDE68BE337E01B4B49A3E0A7C7F46370BB" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In making any finding for the purposes of
the first sentence of paragraph (1), the Board may not require that there be
evidence of anticompetitive conduct by a rail carrier from which access is
sought.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDE26105458A3F4613A3B5875373F94F67" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>105.</enum><header>Areas of inadequate
rail competition</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID09EE3933166145B9934EF49DB2292CC2"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Designation and
Remedies</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID11A2956EC3C1435CAF58751BC7BEA0B3"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Chapter 105 is
amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDD69D7306E126450CAA1FCB754BC1AC8C" style="USC">
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDA2F38B5A4C284467A951FA4CFB315236" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>10503.</enum><header>Areas of
inadequate rail competition</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID939F858358734C638BF777A85110F728"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Designation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Board shall designate any State or part
of a State as an area of inadequate rail competition after finding either of
the grounds set forth in subsection (b). An area of inadequate rail competition
may be limited to be composed of the facilities of a group of shippers or
receivers of one or more specific commodities within a geographic area.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDADBB1870F2C74E828D83A6829BEC9CDA"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Grounds for
Designation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The grounds for
designating a State or part of a State as an area of inadequate rail
competition are as follows:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID721DF2CBDBB648BBA570AC3E7CE61744"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The State or part of a State encompasses a
significant number of rail shipping origins and destinations that are served
exclusively by only one Class I railroad.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDB41E1F60B1724CA5AEA31C761B34DA63"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A significant number of the persons that
ship by rail or receive rail shipments in the State or part of a State—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID661CBD1A3BD840E5A9F6EC34CA194A3F"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">usually find it necessary to pay rates for
the rail shipments that exceed the rates necessary to yield recovery by the
rail carrier of 180 percent of revenue-variable costs, as determined under
standards applied in the administration of section 10707(d); or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDBA9B0195F09442E7BEAB657BF91558EE"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">has experienced competitive disadvantage in
the marketplace or other economic adversity because of high cost or poor
quality of rail service in the State or part of a State, as the case may
be.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID1889B36E69974976AAD29FC0847973A5"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Authorized
Petitioners</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The following
persons may petition the Board for a designation of a State or part of a State
as an area of inadequate rail competition:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID10B572C5090345CE8DB637A1B6D267A6"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Governor from the State.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDDD5E6FE1B5884942B073D74B093CB5BF"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A Member of Congress from the State.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID799263D0C3F74EC9805AF5AF7C56FFF3"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">As provided in section 10504, the Rail
Customer Advocate of the Department of Agriculture and any State official
referred to in subsection (a)(2) of such section.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID5ABBCAEE9A2147DAA7DA446285F78E89"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Actions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Upon designating a State or a part of a
State as an area of inadequate rail competition, the Board shall attempt to
resolve, within 60 days after the date of the designation, the conditions
described in subsection (b) that justify the designation. In addition to
providing other remedies authorized by law, the Board may, when requested in a
petition, order any of the following actions:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID84C0C0AFA6E540F1A7482B157DAC0E66"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Provision of reciprocal switching and
access to tracks of another rail carrier beyond the limits specified in section
11102(a) of this title.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDDDC9BEE3D5A44380818B59723FE19E65"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Haulage transportation of railroad cars by
a rail carrier to or from facilities that such carrier alone physically serves
on behalf of another rail carrier, for a fee prescribed by the Board.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDC7392201D6374F0AAC7D51DD7CA10084"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Regarding rates on any rail segments within
or connected to the area of inadequate rail competition on which rail service
is susceptible to delay or interruption due to traffic congestion—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID0D7B5830C02A4809B3EB9494E192811A"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">expedited review of the reasonableness of
the rates under section 10701(d)(3); or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID91D2BD0A857F4B6EA9B9A7AADF34801A"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">expedited final offer arbitration of the
reasonableness of the rates under section 11708(e).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID28378AA2009D48DC90B55818F041EE0A"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Expedited review, under section
10701(d)(3), of the reasonableness of—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDD1E9BCF0AF774800BDAAAAC5F84614F5"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">increases in rates or other charges;
and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID837695386828432BA90E36A9B9D123AF"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">new transportation service tariffs.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDC273F41B8FCF4CCF8646B2C765BA5790"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Expedited review of whether a rate violates
the prohibition against discriminatory rates contained in section 10741,
without regard to subsection (b)(2) of such section.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDCF4E55ECD3E945E9918779F68F1D94C5"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Limitations and
Conditions Applicable to Specific Remedies</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID596EADCB26BE4397951353124C8092ED"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of a petition for an order for
reciprocal switching or access to tracks of another rail carrier under
subsection (d)(1), the Board may not require that there be evidence of
anticompetitive conduct by a rail carrier as a prerequisite for ordering such
action.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDFA3E95859609457AAE934F84A1B5592F"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of a petition for expedited
review of rates or final offer arbitration of rates under subsection
(d)(3)—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID96528DBC704748788BCA98764939B8D5"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Board or arbitrator or panel of
arbitrators, as the case may be, shall accord, with respect to rail
transportation of a specific commodity, significant persuasive weight to
evidence comparing—</text>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID388C34C7F3E24970813426BB9D2E766B"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">rates charged for rail transportation of
various quantities of that commodity within the area of inadequate rail
competition; and</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID6B7EAA18918C43BCBB481D552C07EFF8"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">rates charged for rail transportation of
similar quantities of that commodity or any similar commodity or commodities in
areas where there is competition among rail carriers for shipments of such
commodity or commodities; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID706F5C41D2B44B82861705BDB19D0BB7"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Board or arbitrator or panel of
arbitrators, as the case may be, shall not apply the stand-alone cost test that
the Board applies in determining the reasonableness of rates reviewed in cases
not involving rail service in an area of inadequate rail competition.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID3EEC4BFFC6CF4B688D922A338F9F3567"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of a petition for expedited
review, under subsection (d)(4), of an increase of a rate or other charge or
the imposition of a new service tariff by a rail carrier—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID6DEF085E0E954FFE9F6E17E99DD9E4F8"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the rail carrier shall have the burden of
proving the reasonableness of the increase or tariff charge; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID6698FF8B8776463DA0FF17022904495C"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Board shall consider any evidence
comparing—</text>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID83782F31DB7D44E9A85C468A68A4812A"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the increased rate or other charge, or the
tariff charge, as the case may be; and</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID7403588F85F746F492074D71D53A4803"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">corresponding rates, other charges, or new
service tariff charges, respectively, imposed for rail transportation in areas
where there is a significant level of competition among the rail
carriers.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDD8F11B37CC464CEDBA253EB4F29E01C4"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Clerical
amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The chapter
analysis for chapter 105 is amended by inserting after the item relating to
section 10502 the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID3FC6A878987A49CEB8180B8F075019AB" style="OLC">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">10503. Areas of inadequate rail
competition</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDE5BA643582B44706B3FA56249F2F9BB9"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Study and
Report on Areas of Inadequate Rail Competition</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDC2F4A2D6773145229002594332F0C75C"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Study
required</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Rail Customer
Advocate of the Department of Agriculture shall carry out a study of the
process provided under section 10503 of title 49, United States Code (as added
by subsection (a)), for challenging and remedying conditions described in
subsection (b) of such section in States and parts of States designated under
such section as areas of inadequate rail competition insofar as such conditions
adversely affect rail shippers of agricultural or forestry commodities and
products.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDBD5108A24CF44E4C9C2D5DABDD435DED"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Findings on
effectiveness of process</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The
Rail Customer Advocate shall make findings, on the basis of the study under
paragraph (1), regarding the effectiveness of the process for remedying the
conditions studied, particularly in the case of customers that ship
agricultural or forestry commodities and products by rail in annual volumes of
1,500 rail cars or less.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID57F54527FE464181B9DDAAE360DEB583"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 3 years after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Rail Customer Advocate shall submit to Congress
a report on the results of the study under paragraph (1), including the
findings required under paragraph (2).</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>RAIL SERVICE</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID3712BEA16BD04F9C90FA94F7E25586EF" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>201.</enum><header>Rail
service</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID2DE8137535334B67AD82F3D6ED19F254"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Public
Notice</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Board shall,
within 7 days after receipt of a formal or informal complaint by the Board or
any Member or staff of the Board, post on the Board’s internet web site
information identifying the railroad in question, the general geographic area
of the customer’s movement, a general description of the service complaint, the
date upon which the service problem occurred and the date notice of the service
complaint was made to the Board, any Member or staff of the Board. The Board
shall not identify the rail customer, unless the customer has consented in
writing to the release of this information. When and if the service complaint
is resolved, whether or not by action of the Board or any Member or staff of
the Board, the Board shall amend the information posted to indicate that the
service complaint has been resolved, the means of its resolution, and the date
of its resolution.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID5FD6082C267A476895D22CE1C364EAB2"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Annual Report
to Congress</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Board shall,
by March 15th of each year, file with Congress, and post on its internet web
site, a comprehensive report on the service complaints received in the previous
calendar year for each Class I railroad, including all of the information
posted for such service complaints on the internet web site of the
Board.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDF5462F9971F34917A6776B119C828135"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Time Limit on
Petitions for Injunctive Relief</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 721 is amended by adding at the end
the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID91F477AD33A64EFDAD1E6E4FAAD7C707" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDDA04C20D6C38457080E8265FDFD8AB50"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Time Limit on
Petitions for Injunctive Relief</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If a complaint is filed and injunctive or
similar relief is sought within 20 days after the publication of a new or
revised rail rate, rule, or practice, based on an allegation of unlawfulness
other than an allegation that a rate level is not reasonable within the meaning
of section 10701(d) of this title, the Board shall determine whether or not to
grant the requested relief within 90 days of receiving the request. If the
moving party establishes that the rule of practice complained of is unlawful
per se, there shall be a strong presumption of irreparable harm regardless of
the availability of monetary relief. If the Board denies injunctive or similar
relief based in whole or in part on the absence of irreparable harm due to the
availability of adequate monetary relief, then the Board may award requested
monetary damages to the complaining party if that party prevails in its
complaint.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header>REASONABLE RATES FOR CAPTIVE RAIL
CUSTOMERS</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID78DF2F6701394CF28D4E9D6AB3D82E0E" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>301.</enum><header>Arbitration of
certain rail rate, service, and other disputes</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID9597477879B544F5AD6C73BD6DEB789B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
General</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDF24FB395F2B8424BBA0BCF51880E98FD"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Authority</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Chapter 117 is amended by adding at the end
the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDE26E3C9469B2406D8B6F8C53912613CD" style="USC">
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDF9C20B9F4D4A4FFA823A7BD594C05AB9" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>11708.</enum><header>Arbitration of
certain rail rate, service, and other disputes</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDBE069327370B4A93A2F0FD393D81B619"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Election of
Arbitration</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A dispute
described in subsection (b) shall be submitted for resolution by arbitration
upon the election of any party to the dispute that is not a rail
carrier.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID9F08399110394DB989CBBAF24AD54930"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Covered
Disputes</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDA2935089F76643458A173178996C4AF7"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Except as provided in
paragraph (2), subsection (a) applies to any dispute between a party described
in subsection (a) and a rail carrier that—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID585773C9E31441938DD3EA05D39B3CDD"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">arises under section 10701(c), 10701(d),
10702, 10704(a)(1), 10707, 10741, 10745, 10746, 11101(a), 11102, 11121, 11122,
or 11706 of this title; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID6D71D7888FDE4A1BB64D7958F695FEC3"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">involves—</text>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDBC04BD6E5C45467292925496483579CF"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the payment of money;</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID074380A952D749B5808D7088BED6965F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a rate or charge imposed by the rail
carrier; or</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDF65C58E8EC5B4D8FB9B9449404619A81"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">transportation or other service by the rail
carrier.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID1F1C92FA137243C29B3973CF2FC0C763"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Exception</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subsection (a) does not apply to a dispute
if the resolution of the dispute would necessarily involve the promulgation of
regulations generally applicable to all rail carriers.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDF9B8834FF02043C3800A3DB407DD6522"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Arbitration
Procedures</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of
Transportation shall prescribe in regulations the procedures for the resolution
of disputes submitted for arbitration under subsection (a). The regulations
shall include the following:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID576D40DDE9044CE998D59FA724D8C04C"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Procedures, including time limits, for the
selection of an arbitrator or panel of arbitrators for a dispute from among
arbitrators listed on the roster of arbitrators established and maintained by
the Secretary under subsection (d)(1).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID6D69442198CC4734A33EF84F344E3546"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Policies, requirements, and procedures for
the compensation of each arbitrator for a dispute to be paid by the parties to
the dispute.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID002D7E8710C24BADBF40ABF96C03B7E3"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Procedures for expedited arbitration of a
dispute, including procedures for discovery authorized in the exercise of
discretion by the arbitrator or panel of arbitrators.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDEBA888ABAC6846369E06CD9DFDBC1ECA"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Selection of
Arbitrators</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDA7131DE97D704A9B8A26DCE4FAD07CE1"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of
Transportation shall establish, maintain, and revise as necessary a roster of
arbitrators who—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDA5975D639E284B529039CF590D641D43"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">are experienced in transportation or
economic issues within the jurisdiction of the Board or issues similar to those
issues;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDE62ACABD47034DB0B74DFE32CA864756"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">satisfy requirements for neutrality and
other qualification requirements prescribed by the Secretary;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID43307C5F89D14119979BBB7FC540BD00"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">consent to serve as arbitrators under this
section; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID2CFE362A57684F519CF1175F4D101653"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">are not officers or employees of the United
States.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDDB770133384245C991EE87E4B04A44D2"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Smaller
disputes</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For a dispute
involving an amount not in excess of $1,000,000, the regulations under
subsection (c) shall provide for arbitration by a single arbitrator who—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID09A423A55D8E43F1B80DC9E541E46BC4"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">is selected by the parties to the dispute;
or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID968CDB80D29140B08C2780E59A2BCC53"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">if the parties cannot agree, is selected by
the Secretary from among the arbitrators listed on the roster of arbitrators
under paragraph (1).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID3CFFF3BF2ED84D2B9B4003CDD67B7060"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Larger
disputes</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDD5AE3965D26D4687A55B9235657F8C0F"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For a dispute involving an amount in excess
of $1,000,000, the regulations under subsection (c) shall provide for
arbitration by a panel of three arbitrators selected as follows:</text>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDC07A9FB10A9B4163A11473E7CAED37B3"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">One arbitrator selected by the party
electing the arbitration.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID1DF2C16BCA9C4D0287935832885CF464"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">One arbitrator selected by the rail carrier
or all of the rail carriers who are parties to the dispute, as the case may
be.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID6353B1279C7A4B29AB44B1927F55A09B"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">One arbitrator selected by the two
arbitrators selected under clauses (i) and (ii).</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID4CEE5A27B7DC4DCD82A7444196CB88F4"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If a selection of an arbitrator is not made
under clause (ii) or (iii) of subparagraph (A) within the time limits
prescribed in the regulations, then the Secretary shall select the arbitrator
from among the arbitrators listed on the roster of arbitrators under paragraph
(1).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID169D880C0433482C8CE9FE4258ADF855"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Disputes Over
Rates or Charges</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDF4E07344E30C4BC49CAB65F50FA7AEF6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Limitation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The requirements of this subsection apply
to a dispute submitted under this section concerning a rate or charge imposed
by a rail carrier.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID6A3244ECA55B41A0A745AB714AE2A443"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Awards</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDE8266DB3020B47489E6E8F81034D820E"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subject to subparagraph (B), the decision
of an arbitrator or panel of arbitrators in a dispute on an issue described in
paragraph (1) shall be the final offer of one of the parties to the
dispute.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDBF3E4CA84B834427930292C1AAC4D5B3"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A decision under subparagraph (A) may not
provide for a rate for transportation by a rail carrier that would result in a
revenue-variable cost percentage for such transportation that is less than 180
percent, as determined under standards applied in the administration of section
10707(d).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDD68620446D2F4582A333E4E13D9B268E"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Rate and charge
disputes</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the party
electing arbitration of a dispute described in paragraph (1) seeks compensation
for damages incurred by the party as a result of a specific rate or charge
imposed by a rail carrier for the transportation of items for the party and the
party alleges an amount of damages that does not exceed $500,000 for any year
as a result of the imposition of the specific rate or charge, the arbitrator,
in making a decision on the dispute, shall consider the rates or charges,
respectively, that are imposed by rail carriers for the transportation of
similar items under similar circumstances in rail transportation markets where
there is effective competition, as determined under standards applied by the
Board in the administration of section 10707(a).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID3F2C3CAF7C9E45FA890869F34CA7DBBB"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Time for
Issuance of Arbitration Decision</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding any other provision of this
subtitle limiting the time for the taking of an action under this subtitle, the
arbitrator or panel of arbitrators for a dispute submitted for resolution under
this section shall issue a final decision on the dispute within the maximum
period after the date on which the arbitrator or panel is selected to resolve
the dispute under this section, as follows:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID06651304EBF949A7A1390FBF17E3D6A7"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of a dispute involving
$1,000,000 or less, 120 days.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDF7F0F1CEAADD47199B09781AC8E47F97"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of a dispute involving more
than $1,000,000, 180 days.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID84AE6BB068AF41E580E39E16F0F7CE88"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Authorized
Relief</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A decision of an
arbitrator or panel of arbitrators under this section shall grant relief in
either or both of the following forms:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDF19F3A7AE8C4443C8D60EDD71E0443F5"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Monetary damages, to the extent authorized
to be provided by the Board in such a dispute under this subtitle.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDBBE84AE3B0B041D09BF212E52A8143BE"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An order that requires specific performance
under any applicable law, including any law limiting rates to reasonable rates,
for any period not in excess of 2 years beginning on the date of the
decision.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDB1CD0F6B85634AC3B1F6047EB54FDD9A"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Judicial
Confirmation and Review</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The
following provisions of title 9 shall apply to an arbitration decision issued
in a dispute under this section:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDEFB8EB20A0DE4162A641F68DE4682D44"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 9 (relating to confirmation of an
award in an arbitration decision), which shall be applied as if the parties had
entered into an agreement under title 9 to submit the dispute to the
arbitration and had provided in that agreement for a judgment of an unspecified
court to be entered on the award made pursuant to the arbitration.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDB13183663546407DAADAF84EB14FD968"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 10 (relating to judicial vacation
of an award in an arbitration
decision).</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID14602BFAFFAE43529EEAB85BB1493023"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Clerical
amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The chapter
analysis for chapter 117 is amended by inserting after the item relating to
section 11707 the following: The table of sections at the beginning of such
chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 11707 the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDAD7EB2E46C534247A21DBAD1A6D30C5E" style="OLC">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">11708. Arbitration of certain
rail rate, service, and other
disputes</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID636BF7F36F3B4EB9B4CA9D8DFCB2D7F0"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Time for
Implementing Certain Requirements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall promulgate
regulations, prescribe a roster of arbitrators, and complete any other action
that is necessary for the implementation of section 11708 of title 49, United
States Code (as added by subsection (a)).</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID2AF4863CB42D4B5FA98C3EDF7BCA9264" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>302.</enum><header>Filing fees on
petitions for captive rate relief</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 721 is amended by adding at the end
the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID1FFC8C48697B4526AFE41A3C0FB238DD" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDA01F2EF6199E421CAC50A90838CCCDB3"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Limitation on
Fees</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Board may not charge
a fee for the filing of a complaint, protest, or other request for relief in an
amount greater than fees charged by district courts of the United States for a
comparable
filing.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDE9F80F2BE22F401C80C7156D585EB7C1" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>303.</enum><header>Rate
reasonableness</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section
10701(d) is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDB04F6CFE1F724975B7E43F6839D6ADC5" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID80E1887302A440C59D3BC502731AC0DB" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="ID1AD77BE3EE324D0C996E47F7B16C002F"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than one year after the date of
enactment of the Railroad Competition Act of 2006, the Board shall adopt an
alternative method for determining the reasonableness of rail rates using the
railroad’s actual costs, including a portion of fixed costs and an adequate
return on equity. The method shall permit a final determination within nine
months of filing a complaint, shall ensure that necessary cost, financial and
operational information is available, and shall not require excessive
litigation costs.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID33A6332C7E7A43E29533E844D671CF8C" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Board may not, on or after the date of
enactment of that Act, use any method for determining the reasonableness of
challenged rail rates based on the costs of a hypothetical competitor, except
in a proceeding pending on the date of enactment of that Act or where the
complainant so elects. The simplified and expedited method for determining the
reasonableness of challenged rail rates provided for in paragraph (3) shall
remain available at the election of qualifying complainants.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID4AC421D30EC641F6A15BD078FC59D956" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Board shall adopt a method for applying
the <quote>phasing constraint</quote> in its existing rail rate method so that
it can be practically administered without substantial litigation-related costs
in any proceeding involving a challenge to a rail rate in which the Board
determines that the phasing constraint applies.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDC97E5CBE78514F70B250B4944073A6DB" indent="up1"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Upon a challenge made by a shipper to the
reasonableness of any rate established by a rail carrier in accordance with
subsection (c) or section 11101(a), the Board shall determine the
reasonableness of the rate without regard to whether—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDFD95DF34FA5743DF9F3D65704897B4B8"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the rate is for part of a movement between
a point of origin and a destination;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDA490C09695304D0E9916EC84FB6CAEC0"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the shipper has made arrangements for
transportation for any other part of that movement; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID19B983CF9AFB4EBEBA34F3079CFE3118"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the shipper currently has a contract with a
rail carrier for any part of the rail traffic involved, except that any rate
prescribed by the Board shall not apply to transportation covered by such a
contract.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><enum>IV</enum><header>MISCELLANEOUS</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID296377A1CE154C5EADB5F262073149A3" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>401.</enum><header>Rail Customer
Advocate in the Department of Agriculture</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID880D4515C86A4030999CF88DB7A1FF3E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Participation
of Rail Customer Advocate in STB Proceedings</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID0DA6F5C6DA8F4E928AB97E0757199703"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Authority and
responsibilities</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Chapter 105,
as amended by section 105 of this Act, is further amended by adding at the end
the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID85B24669026940A39C40537A66FBA1EF" style="USC">
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDC1ED2FE73FA743F2A3C7828DD62B6E77" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>10504.</enum><header>Participation of
Rail Customer Advocate in Board proceedings</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDD4376F07F5424D18B1B203B8195B9A0C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Authority</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The following persons are authorized to
petition the Board for an exercise of authority of the Board regarding rail
transportation of any agricultural or forestry commodity or product, and to
participate in any proceeding of the Board regarding rail transportation of
such a commodity or product:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDB3C6E8FD65F5494499E5963EE24BA345"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Rail Customer Advocate of the
Department of Agriculture.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID0A25B07E27A34473A28003DDE1E9DEA2"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any official of the government of a State
whose functions are the same as or similar to the functions of the Rail
Customer Advocate of the Department of Agriculture.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID9BA13C822C204EDFB9717CEAD5866E49"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Consideration
of Presentations by Advocate</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID5D423BB0334F491EAA36C5B81CF3F043"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Board shall accord significant
persuasive weight to any material evidence, proposal, or view that is presented
by an official referred to in subsection (a) with respect to rail
transportation of an agricultural or forestry commodity or product.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDF748D37338F04A329A16D94EDA9720D3"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In disposing of any matter before the Board
in which an official referred to in subsection (a) has participated under the
authority of such subsection, the Board shall present in writing a detailed
explanation of any disagreement of the Board with matters presented to the
Board by that
official.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDCAC71112E8FD4DDC87124D6706DCA19C"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Clerical
amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The chapter
analysis for chapter 105, as amended by section 105, is further amended by
inserting after the item relating to section 10503 the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID2260D921F5634F6BA77A64469E73156A" style="OLC">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">10504. Participation of Rail
Customer Advocate in Board
proceedings</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDE7966FBD9366454C88A67AA653B98C4F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Establishment
and Duties</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID3E1D70EE4E534AA5BFC3B2091FA86AA8"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subtitle I of title
II of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 7005)
is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDDAA7E3B5A5E140628410D92295C25817" style="OLC">
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID3E991EC1558146BEB8508E8CE628BE25" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>286.</enum><header>Rail Customer
Advocate</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDA7F1E05EAEA645928485C81289B6FCA3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment
of Office</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There is
established within the Department an Office of Rail Customer Advocacy.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID7EA0FA8317C14137A005C2F49415DEA7"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Rail Customer
Advocate</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID384879F7307D470BB7DA653E8B93DD26"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Appointment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall appoint the Rail
Customer Advocate.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID2C2026673CD54F64ABB53CBBD0D2F162"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Head of
office</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Rail Customer
Advocate is the head of the Office of Rail Customer Advocacy.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID696EDC48A48640A582A14F1BEC44EAA1"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Functions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Rail Customer Advocate has the
following functions:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID7AB4197791A048B3AD46FE9E55477603"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Participation
in stb proceedings</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To
participate as a party in proceedings of the Surface Transportation Board on
petitions for action by the Board regarding the regulation of rail
transportation of agricultural or forestry commodities or products, and to
initiate any such action.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID848C0284DE7243F0ABE271196C46A72E"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Compilation of
information</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To collect,
compile, and maintain information regarding the cost and efficiency of rail
transportation of agricultural commodities and products and forestry
commodities and products.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID3444650985A44854A9F87DAF22019C98"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Studies</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To perform studies regarding rail
transportation of agricultural commodities and products and forestry
commodities and products.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDABCCEF16CE2E4A7D9EBBCD9B800B8A0B"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Access to STB
Information</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To carry out the
functions under subsection (c), the Rail Customer Advocate shall have access to
information, including databases, of the Surface Transportation
Board.</text>
</subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDEB69F57B4E474E81846B7C6E9C9F0A7E"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Conforming
amendments</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 296(b) of
the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 7014(b)) is
amended—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDAD339CB39F56406F8E9000CB5338F054"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>or</quote> after the
semicolon in paragraph (4);</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID73E5E2FEDE964ABB9CD1A5FC7F866830"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>218.</quote> in
paragraph (5) and inserting <quote>218; or</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDEC5A7EE4678D4109BA8F546F8F957E8C"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID9E24FA1F6D6E4D53B2DB2F699D067748" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID6CAEB8E0DFBB4F1090D4DE5770A0C7D8"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the establishment of the Office of Rail
Consumer Advocacy of the Department under section
286.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDE214BEC5F0DE4761BF0E62456219A043" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>402.</enum><header>Study of competition
among rail carriers</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDBE61CE30D12A45819DDFB7B0B3608BB0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Requirement for
Study</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Chapter 101 is amended
by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID86BA58115A7248B39043351547B7E544" style="USC">
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID82AD17560D4848118CEFB775BC6B905F" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>10103.</enum><header>Study of rail
carrier competition and processes of the Board</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID1B19FAC541C3403B845121A67AF7B92F"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Requirement for
Study</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Within 2 years after
the date of enactment of the Railroad Competition Act of 2006, the Secretary of
Transportation shall conduct a comprehensive study of rail carrier competition
and the processes of the Board, after consulting with the Department of
Justice, the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, the Department of
Agriculture, rail users and railroads. The study shall include an assessment
of—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID564D1AA1789642DBAA523CEA03F44DB4"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the availability of effective competitive
options among and between rail carriers;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID6ACEEC7AE7E74B53866EB56A84F9E8D5"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the effectiveness of the processes of the
Board, including the process used for determining the reasonableness of rates
of rail carriers;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID1F2A44768FA14086B2EE389C2E524FD6"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the availability to rail users of effective
regulatory dispute resolution options;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID22E618421BED4B71BB5157C65964A395"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Board’s implementation of the Railroad
Competition Act of 2006; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID437BCF77A0B9450D9C381855CC196EAD"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the overall level of rail-to-rail
competition in serving rail users in the United States.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID298E33E4A727495B8312459D4D91D1EA"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report to
Congress</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than
November 15 of the year in which the study is conducted under subsection (a),
the Secretary shall submit a report on the results of the study to Congress.
The report shall include—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDD09AEFADB3324A8E8E678290CD84837F"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Secretary’s assessment of the overall
level of rail-to-rail competition in the rail carrier industry in the United
States;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID1C1FF1C0E08448B3867198F8DB231AA5"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the markets that have limited rail-to-rail
competition;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID67F7F31A75A1455BB12E5C830E61C398"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">recommendations for enhancing rail-to-rail
competition, particularly in markets identified as having limited rail-to-rail
competition;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID9D8EDB3A327F4620A267850FB2B55ED6"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">an assessment of the Board’s performance of
its purpose to promote and enhance competition among and between railroads
by—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDD8D976E1AE2C4E7CB7F3E623A620E6C1"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">implementing the provisions and policies of
the Railroad Competition Act of 2006;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID8A980C03613C40F993D9B91E4ADDD2FE"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">addressing complaints regarding rates,
charges, and service; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID4381FFD5A9414BE5A50529CA628BDDE9"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">promulgating regulations of general
applicability or taking other actions;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID911BB78E74CD453194C308014C0D51B5"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">recommendations for modification of any of
the decisions of the Board (or decisions of the former Interstate Commerce
Commission continuing in effect) or for modification of the general authority
or jurisdiction of the Board; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID8FF6FFB1F7D744D7B709C17A15BC0FED"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any other findings, analyses, assessments,
and recommendations that result from the study.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDF04BB50030DF4979BF07056CFD022844"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Updates</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary shall update the study every
3 years after the initial study is completed and report the results to the
Congress.</text>
</subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDC9ED856B46DA4B01B9AA053186EA37D9"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Clerical
Amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The chapter
analysis for chapter 101 is amended by inserting after the item relating to
section 10102 the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDC40384FE97A0489DA503E235EC13E2A6" style="OLC">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">10103. Periodic study of rail
carrier competition and processes of the
Board</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section>