1.Short title; table of contents
(a)This Act may be cited as the
Railroad Competition and Service
Improvement Act of 2007
.
(b)The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title;
table of contents.
Sec. 2. References to title
49, United States Code.
TITLE I—Ensuring Competition in the Rail Industry
Sec. 101. Clarification of rail transportation policy and
directives for implementation.
Sec. 102. Requirement for railroads to provide rates for
transportation.
Sec. 103. Elimination of barriers to competition between class
I, class II, and class III rail carriers.
Sec. 104. Reciprocal switching.
Sec. 105. Areas of inadequate rail competition.
TITLE II—Improving Service to Rail Customers
Sec. 201. Rail service.
Sec. 202. Railroad obligation to serve.
Sec. 203. Damages due to the failure of timely
delivery.
Sec. 204. Rail customer advocate.
TITLE III—Providing Access to a Reasonable Rate
Process
Sec. 301. Rights of rail customers.
Sec. 302. Improvement of rate reasonableness
standard.
Sec. 303. Filing fees on petitions for captive rate
relief.
Sec. 304. Arbitration of certain rail rate, service, and other
disputes.
TITLE IV—Authority to Investigate
Sec. 401. Authority of board to investigate and suspend certain
railroad actions.
2.References to 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 display-inline="yes-display-inline">Ensuring Competition in the Rail
Industry</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID9B7B3049F5FD4D61BC699DF4DCEAA204" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>101.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clarification of rail transportation policy
and directives for implementation</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 10101 is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID6985BB58183345779AB3F542AF770EE4"><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</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID22DC2246BB314A8A92143E95B75510D7"><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="ID5AF51CC3F2CB492598193564F0D98119" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID4E51D2D4F4264E818866D008B3CEEE4C"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Implementation directives</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In implementing subtitle IV, the Board
shall—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID8D4C96C588EA420CB6C8B63B654D0B48"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">ensure, to the maximum extent possible,
effective competition among rail carriers at origins and destinations;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID911430F57C074361BED7507DD1916B78"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">ensure reasonable rates for rail customers
in the absence of competition; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID76DC1CAAB6D545068C5A999C41848CCE"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">ensure consistent, efficient, and reliable
rail transportation service for rail customers, including the timely provision
of rail cars requested by rail
customers.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDDD47EEA8766F4A4C887BB4098CBC49B0" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>102.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Requirement for railroads to provide rates
for transportation</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section
11101(a) is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID36C65D9B6F9A40E0A0DD3323FBB2DB5C"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting <quote><header-in-text level="subsection" style="traditional">(1)</header-in-text></quote> after
<quote><header-in-text level="subsection" style="traditional">(a)</header-in-text></quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID1CE9D000C0114E99AFBE484479F815A8"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>A rail carrier shall
not</quote> and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id751B9451F00949E59A7AF357388AA15C" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9C17974A677B492CA14E86BB0D0F2C01" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A
rail carrier may not</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID93C6BF377D514C2A826F76FBD00FC050"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after paragraph (1) the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID78E0E2281293400EBDF608B4C2902D29" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID4AF85C3901214C83893586718D653B08" 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 2 points on the system of that carrier at which
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="ID5F4243C421E74DC9B93C6E7F5A3AD616"><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="ID392A546E9F02488E8021C24B5C23FCFA"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">whether the rate established 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="ID13C35D52A47C40A9AD0E7ABCCE5AC14C"><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="ID3159DE64B5F34147BA52281A3DBF4B13"><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.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID1C503D9519A4489B89B7495BA6A70B0F" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>103.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Elimination of barriers to competition
between class I, class II, and class III rail carriers</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID3CA1074F11AB413EBB575F5103B3BFAB"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</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="ID14700FBA01804971AF78225651B4FE52" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID7920B0E911874C24ADE75D9A2841DC2F"><enum>(e)</enum><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="IDF064B9BD5DA74972A6D7BAE045CC76FF"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Board may not issue a certificate
authorizing an activity described in subsection (a), section 10902, or section
11323, or exempt a person, a class of persons, a transaction, or a service from
the applicability of this section with respect to such an activity under
section 10502, if the activity involves a transfer of interest in a line of
railroad, from a Class I rail carrier to a Class II or Class III rail carrier,
and the activity would directly or indirectly—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID888C52BAC07C4BCDA4C958CB80C87BB7" indent="up1"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">restrict or limit the ability of the Class
II or Class III rail carrier to interchange traffic with other rail
carriers;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDD9DB0FDF42DB43E191B8973860A25CA0" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">restrict or limit competition of rail
carriers in the region affected by the activity in a manner that would violate
antitrust laws of the United States (notwithstanding any exemption from the
applicability of antitrust laws that is provided under section 10706 or any
other provision of law); or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID3A2E241AA0EF41E0AE477759FA852CFE" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">require higher per car interchange rates
for Class II or Class III rail carriers to interchange traffic with other rail
carriers.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID28AEB081DE934BCE9319D74DE39787EE" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any party to an activity described 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 the Board determines, upon review of the activity, that the activity
resulted in such a restriction, the Board shall declare the restriction to be
unlawful and terminate the restriction unless the Board determines 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="IDF9F3D0D4CD0845039EF91F093CD873DA" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this subsection, 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 section 5 applies to unfair methods of
competition.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID74E5848562CC4B0CA8ECB2FD84F31DBE"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Applicability</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Paragraph (2) of section 10901(e), 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 10502 before, on, or after the date of
enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID6DA5DC93794B41E084E9050B5794645A" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>104.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Reciprocal switching</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 11102(c) is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID0463ED5F7881430FA91356EAB8988950"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (1)—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID2DF67B178B044E30BFBCC555039FE545"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>may require</quote> and
inserting <quote>shall require</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id16D0F126D03443B1AF9077ECD821990E"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>where it finds</quote>
and inserting <quote>if the Board determines</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4537C92ADCC0421896135484975762D8"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>where such</quote> and
inserting <quote>if such</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID02BA2081A83A4C9CA93A10C88E49AA2E"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking the second sentence and
inserting the following: <quote>The rail carriers entering into such an
agreement shall establish the conditions and compensation applicable to such
agreement. If the rail carriers cannot agree upon such conditions and
compensation within a reasonable period of time, the Board shall establish such
conditions and compensation.</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID23F9A792D7954DAAB6B14CB1660ABC85"><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="IDE205E54CF894483B9A2A02C5AD3CAFCA" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDD93DD97D30064E73A628C5965791DF7C" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In making any finding under paragraph (1),
the Board may not require 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="ID09A4A438A7D745C8AB8AD8459053AA49" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>105.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Areas of inadequate rail
competition</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDB213DF6C41674160B897CA6A714F0087"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Designation and remedies</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDAC9988C452CE400995A7F8DDFDE7A256"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">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="IDC9CFA58B3C7F404A9ABC1B27E80F46F0" style="USC">
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID82B3CF80DCDD4BC294F767D137CFF4CF" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>10503.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Areas of inadequate rail
competition</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID56B1BDAB0CC54FABAF4B5F887AE9E1DD"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Board shall designate any State or
substantial part of a State as an area of inadequate rail competition after
finding that—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID645EA8E1D54A4DAA84992497F28A696D"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the State or substantial part of the State
encompasses rail shipping origins and destinations that are served exclusively
by 1 Class I railroad; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID8E17AD6DFCE946B08EC72AF27014A53D"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">persons that ship by rail or receive rail
shipments in the State or substantial part of the State—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDF3D182F54C01427FBCBBA5EACF2B2890"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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="IDDD646AB5328D48139F18704A031FCDFD"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">have experienced competitive disadvantage
in the marketplace or other economic adversity because of high cost or poor
quality of rail service in the State, or in a substantial part of the
State.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID4555BCD5DAF043F0A1B6D9B907E0EB37"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Specific commodities</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An area of inadequate rail competition may
be composed of the facilities of a group of shippers or receivers of 1 or more
specific commodities within a geographic area.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID5044F21AF6FE464D9A53FC0FBCE98341"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Authorized petitioners</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A Governor of a State is authorized to
petition the Board for a designation of the State, or of a substantial part of
the State, as an area of inadequate rail competition.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDE535F17D22AC401BB5EF0D2E400D8135"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Actions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 60 days after designating a
State, or substantial part of a State, as an area of inadequate rail
competition, the Board shall resolve the conditions described in subsection (a)
that justify the designation. In taking such action, the Board may not require
rates lower than those necessary to yield recovery of 180 percent of
revenue-variable costs. In addition to providing other remedies authorized by
law, the Board may order any of the following actions:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDD0BC778F04034B77B5B3959C345D8E19"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Provision of reciprocal switching as
provided for in section 11102(c) and terminal trackage rights beyond the limits
specified in section 11102(a).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID82445CF3A3844A4AB3871FC954C46133"><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 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="ID2E6489AE1B054E16B5838358517B71CE"><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, expedited
final offer arbitration under section 11708(e).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDEBBC5880D10B4278AF97C9B420C317FD"><enum>(4)</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="IDE1AA1D1BF3D04BB6A0D7CE72F8F98F39"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Procedures</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the case of a petition for an order for
reciprocal switching or terminal trackage rights 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>
</subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID867564BEDB5C4807B7FF564F7DF2279D"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 105 is amended by adding at the end the following new item:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID2AAA2EB055814D70A466C4B0BC4F1953" 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="IDDBB6B4A486974077A38F240F16834F14"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Study on areas of inadequate rail
competition</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 1
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Rail Customer Advocate of
the Department of Transportation shall—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDD5BECD32140E477C9A6817E57580388F"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">review the effectiveness of the procedures
under section 10503 for challenging and remedying conditions adversely
affecting rail shippers of agricultural and forestry commodities and products,
including commodities and products shipped by rail in annual volumes of 1,500
rail cars or less, and the applicability of such procedures for ameliorating
rail rate and service problems, in areas of inadequate rail competition;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDB453B1EA3270477FB0157A72FEB61FF3"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">report the results of the study to
Congress, including any recommendations that the Rail Customer Advocate may
have for improving the procedures.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Improving Service to Rail
Customers</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID464A0DE3595E45708834EEAA9D90EE24" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>201.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Rail service</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDB146119B57504CC49E2F5E07D6F846FF"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Public notice</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0FDA3C9D26F74D6CA4A3E35BF8D407EF"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 7 days after receipt by the
Surface Transportation Board, or any member or staff of the Board, of a
complaint from a customer about rail service, the Board shall post a
description of the complaint on the Board’s Internet website, including—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE75A169C12E74BF4870C67AE56B01552"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">information identifying the railroad or
railroads providing the service that is the subject of the complaint;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6C50D0990C7C4E1385BE9C25A47218F2"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the general geographic area of the
customer’s movement;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idFDDE7D797C6B4E63B0D73182D4AEA2C3"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the date upon which the service problem
occurred; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1FAB02B778B548FE801A03D818135BA4"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the date notice of the complaint was made
to the Board or any member or staff of the Board.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1021134B589147FD886B716ED58A111C"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Internet posting shall identify the
rail customer only upon the written consent of the rail customer. Not later
than 5 days after the date the complaint is resolved, the Board shall update
the information posted on the Board’s Internet website to indicate that the
complaint has been resolved, the means of its resolution, and the date of its
resolution.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID8A715DBDAC9D43E5B011AD0846965DB5"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Annual report to Congress</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5E3CF16EB1EF4FAE80F9692108B33365"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than March 15, 2008, and annually
thereafter, the Surface Transportation Board shall submit to Congress a report
regarding the service complaints received by the Board, or any member or staff
of the Board, in the previous calendar year for each Class I railroad.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD49D97713CB54A92B5FE29E8F171D66A"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Contents</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each report submitted under paragraph (1)
shall include a description of each service complaint, including—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD89450AA394F47F091EF4DBF7808D78F"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">information identifying the railroad in
question;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id97A4E0F76DAF4D7EBD4542AC204781A0"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the geographic area of the customer’s
movements;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idADEA3F1149C74580B6523496EB935D7D"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the date on which the service problem
occurred;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3B4C534E66D5490688FF0D9D16CF51AB"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the date notice of the service complaint
was made to the Board, or any member or staff of the Board; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id608A57A9244B45E9B64813A33474C00B"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the date of, and a detailed description of,
the resolution of the complaint.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id56A36B35EA324D1D8AD0EA8AF6651F1C"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Publication</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A copy of the report submitted under
paragraph (1) shall be posted on the Board’s Internet website.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID81FC11BECC6A485399CF2CD23AEAC055"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Time limits on petitions for injunctive
relief</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 721(b) is
amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idBAFB0B07E55F45EBB838C57A35BADA99"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (4)
as subparagraphs (A) through (D);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE4E962D943794A4E8603DB79C81928CA"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting <quote>(1)</quote> before
<quote>The Board may</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idBD49BA38436F4AD98C5E1567443FBEB4"><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="idE1909F4DEB51496B8CE992D1EBBCE185" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB47E91494DBA442EB048439A360069F9" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id7D75B43D1BCD45C6A15DBE27DDB2F9C5"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If, not later than 20 days after the
publication of a new or revised rail rate, rule, or practice, a complaint is
filed, and injunctive or similar relief is sought, based on an allegation of
unlawfulness (other than an allegation that a rate level is not reasonable
within the meaning of section 10701(d)), the Board, not later than 90 days
after receiving such a complaint, shall determine, based on applicable law,
whether or not to grant the relief sought.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id475F2F2FFFC9453D9F8816DFC4B9FF8B" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the party requesting relief establishes
that the rule or practice involved in the complaint is unlawful per se, there
shall be a strong presumption of irreparable harm regardless of the
availability of monetary relief.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id613E9FA12504483487F4765D039F0D1B" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Board may not deny injunctive or
similar relief based in whole or in part on the absence of irreparable harm due
to the availability of adequate monetary relief unless monetary damages have
been awarded to the complaining
party.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID1E29E452DA75405482D16A5D81151900" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>202.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Railroad obligation to serve</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 11101(a) is amended by inserting
<quote>The transportation provided shall be reliable and efficient.</quote>
after <quote>on reasonable request.</quote>.</text>
</section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID32C6399E81364BCB8869E6DC17DF680B" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>203.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Damages due to the failure of timely
delivery</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 11704(b) is
amended by inserting <quote>, including damages due to the failure of timely
delivery</quote> after <quote>violation of this part</quote>.</text>
</section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID12764166683F443B883955E3CE88EC4F" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>204.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Rail customer advocate</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDEBB83304151047B8819F9DCD1523610D"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subchapter II of chapter 7 is
amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id73F4ABDD0AE64701879E17F9BCAB38B8"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating section 727 as section
728; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC8A042AAA45F4793B929B30F41B0E8D0"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by inserting after section 726 the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID549EF701F5994DB1A280367CEF3BB520" style="USC">
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDAB104DD58C384E9F82F21AB35C051D2F" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>727.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Office of Rail Customer Advocacy</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID041F9D52A4F1463C843F8AFBF00F4E1F"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There is established, within the Department
of Transportation, the Office of Rail Customer Advocacy.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID32AFAC0632294CBBBD228F094CFD3992"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Rail customer advocate</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Office of Rail Customer Advocacy shall
be headed by the Rail Customer Advocate, who shall be appointed in the
competitive service by the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with
the Secretary of Agriculture.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID2EBB73B0C1B44702B3DD89717A89A180"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Duties and powers of rail customer
advocate</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Rail Customer
Advocate shall—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDDCFCB1A1356148E2918D3FE6C6ECC90E"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">accept rail customer complaints;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID4149EFCAC158410CB98CDAC089749EBF"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">participate as a party in proceedings of
the Board on petitions for action by the Board regarding the regulation of rail
transportation, and may initiate such an action;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDFD238CD7BD6B4DBFAB94D69E9F9B4D61"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">collect, compile, and maintain information
regarding the cost and efficiency of rail transportation; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDC28BB481D6F54DF894FB2374FD133B2A"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">carry out other duties and powers
prescribed by the Board.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID0156FF4ECCC941CF82C30652409B46ED"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Access to information</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Rail Customer Advocate shall have
access to information, including databases, of the Board to carry out the
duties and powers under subsection
(c).</text>
</subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDB133AB11E9EF4F208AE9D0AD5ABA2BEF"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 7 is amended by striking the item relating to section 727 and inserting
the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID10F533C511AB41A0AF70BE9155FA0552" style="OLC">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">727. Office of Rail Customer
Advocacy.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">728.
Definitions.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><enum>III</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Providing Access to a Reasonable Rate
Process</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID9B4936A8D3254454BCF5048FBE684821" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>301.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Rights of rail customers</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID63665F8684994236A45F3CA187D3E0B3"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Chapter 107 is amended by inserting before
section 10701 the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID87CD3BA1C2BE480D967CABA4D0ADABDF" style="USC">
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID9B52EF25D56D4A6FBAA701B3FE3063A2" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>10700.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Rights of rail customers</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Rail customers that are subject to railroad
market dominance shall have a right of access to a process maintained by the
Board for determining if the rate in question is reasonable. The Board shall
ensure that the process is accessible by all affected rail customers and is
cost
effective.</text>
</section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID4FA720A7485C451B905D7C11FF1F7422"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of sections for chapter 107 is
amended by inserting before the item relating to section 10701 the
following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID48A7B9913C6645AEB1CD6C7F78B48885" style="OLC">
<toc regeneration="no-regeneration">
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">10700. Rights of rail
customers.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDA50697C84496407792E4997FC2407E23" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>302.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Improvement of rate reasonableness
standard</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id521823793B254F2387530B446B55D20B"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 10701(d) is amended by adding at
the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID0C032E2AAC32477B90BF6D9C5CE6DB70" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID19B21FF0FAC44EC38257CF12904F4003" indent="up1"><enum>(4)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="ID1CD817DBE2CB4F45AF4D47C6FC65BCA7"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this paragraph, the Board shall adopt a method for determining the
reasonableness of rail rates based on the railroad’s actual costs, including a
portion of fixed costs and an adequate return on debt and equity. The method
adopted—</text>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB1826F90DFD542E8B905A27655F5110F" indent="up1"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">shall permit a final determination not
later than 9 months after a complaint is filed;</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA3ECA335E94049D58DB0FB22B663B3CA" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">shall ensure that necessary cost and
operational information is available to the complainant;</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3D718534703249DF92B601EFF4BEC083" indent="up1"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">shall not require excessive litigation
costs; and</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idBB3640BE4BEE4EA7B2C23730ADDCB708" indent="up1"><enum>(iv)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">shall require, upon a showing by the
shipper of market dominance (as defined in section 10707), that the rail
carrier prove that the challenged rate is reasonable.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID2A85EC9624334E39B4D363A02B0575E1" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Board may not use any method for
determining the reasonableness of rail rates based on the costs of a
hypothetical competitor, except that, in any rate reasonableness proceeding
filed before the method required under subparagraph (A) is adopted, the
complaint, upon the election of the complainant, shall be decided based on
applicable rate standards in effect on the date of the filing, including small
shipper rate guidelines.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID649250DE661243B49356BEA133AA6B96" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Board shall adopt a method under this
paragraph that applies 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="IDC056C97BDA604082A6C0DF54C4C9EF8C" indent="up1"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Upon receiving notification of a challenge
made by a shipper to the reasonableness of any rate established by a rail
carrier, the Board shall determine the reasonableness of the rate without
regard to—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID4A01DA2A58594E2E977EE4FBAE89A23C"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">whether 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="ID19DD4FE564C949A7B8EED672DA4ADF04"><enum>(B)</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="IDF4B107E7947A457C9BB3CA201AF003AF"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">any other contract the shipper has with a
rail carrier for any part of the rail traffic
involved.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id080BC3E57F7347C58EA4FD1B8CB68EEB"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definition of market
dominance</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 10707(a) is
amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id008C21A8352E48B58F9BFAB14C117023" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDb4cddd3b205a4859ac13fee81a6f0243"><enum>(a)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section, <term>market
dominance</term> exists if a complainant shipper demonstrates that the
challenged rate results in a revenue-variable cost percentage for the
transportation to which the rate applies that is not less than 180
percent.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDC61E1189E1454E479AACAA42EB913CD4" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>303.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">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="ID951D338444104A2586E18DF519FE11CA" style="OLC">
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDCF8F434A1A0B4870AC980F2539D9C97B"><enum>(f)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">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="ID99ABD4A91675492AB4DF1CA4C1B68AF0" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>304.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Arbitration of certain rail rate, service,
and other disputes</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID1D8E98E15D6B4619B56D2CB7AF2E5CDD"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</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="IDBE83C85393474021B2573F8DEDC01DD3" style="USC">
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDBC9F403F8C5045D2AB28891B41A203A2" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>11708.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Arbitration of certain rail rate, service,
and other disputes</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDB5878E3178404240BAB762F536FB8794"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idAE230F94DAAB4A14A482FACDED66471D"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Covered disputes</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id9589B4ED28174302BF8C4C926BC5435C"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Except as provided in paragraph (2),
subsection (a) shall apply to any dispute between a party and a rail carrier
that—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4B587AB553DB4A359DA169380A87A9F4" indent="up1"><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;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idAA8C774CD5C0492DB3A2A059A7D6A6B9" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">involves the transportation of any
agricultural product, including timber, paper, and fertilizer; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDE73190B96EB4791BB25FC7462FC5116" indent="up1"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">involves—</text>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idBB6FF0CB50D6452098A1F9D3221451E8"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the payment of money;</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4374C1E1499141E38B7FA6081D68686E"><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="id0AB6BFFFE1524DCC9A5CE69C70A59247"><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="idD988708554D44E83A87F954628C2E5CE" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subsection (a) shall 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="IDa4fe532b5e404a699010a5b9fea5ea69"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Arbitration procedures</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 1 year after the effective
date of this section, the Board shall promulgate regulations governing
voluntary arbitration that are consistent with the provisions of this section.
Such modifications shall include the following:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID9ed5959c3f474791a7c32696061b907b"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Arbitration shall be mandatory if either
party elects arbitration in lieu of filing a formal or informal complaint
before the Board. Challenges to the reasonableness of rail rates or charges may
not be subjected to arbitration at the sole election of a rail carrier imposing
such rates or charges.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDd12cff75730b4e5d97e4650416eeeb49"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Arbitration shall be before an
administrative law judge of the Board, or arranged for by the Board, unless the
parties to the arbitration each select an arbitrator and the 2 selected
arbitrators agree on a third arbitrator from a list of neutral arbitrators
maintained by the Board.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID40d4ce99490f4693a637f4e4e65a0a5a"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Disputes concerning rates and charges shall
not be considered or decided using any method based on stand-alone cost, the
costs of a hypothetical competitor, or in reliance on precedent adopting or
applying such methods.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDdf714abab4204802a04d202be9552a77"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Standards for rate reasonableness developed
under section 10701(d)(3) shall apply in arbitration under this section. The
arbitrator or arbitrators shall adopt the final offer of 1 of the parties,
without amendment or compromise, if such position is consistent with this
section.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID6af7e494a3b148b7b5dcf4f89b958625"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A rate may not be prescribed in an
arbitration if such rate would result in a revenue-variable cost percentage
below 180 percent or if market dominance is not found. A rate prescription may
not remain in effect for longer than 5 years after the date on which the
arbitrator’s decision becomes final.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID8a1a7694728d4177b4b77ae5010a317b"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If a party to arbitration under this
section seeks damages from a rail carrier that do not exceed $500,000 per year
based on a claim of excessive rates or charges, the arbitrator shall consider
evidence of rates or charges on comparable shipments.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID5df191d58b164c1fa41736dd886b7511"><enum>(7)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Decisions issued in arbitration under this
section shall not be subject to appeal to the Board unless all parties to the
arbitration agree to such appeal. Appeals to a court, or to the Board if both
parties agree to Board review, shall be based on a clear error standard, and
consistency with the requirements of this
section.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID0EBE225F4366487D931D00B1C94F8195"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Clerical amendment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 117 is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idda8f2ff3-febc-4e7b-8791-c08209886963" style="USC">
<toc>
<toc-entry bold="off" idref="IDBC9F403F8C5045D2AB28891B41A203A2" level="section">Sec. 11708. Arbitration of certain rail rate, service, and
other
disputes.</toc-entry>
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</subsection></section><enum>IV</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Authority to Investigate</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID0327375778894EB8AD384BEBA9F47213" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>401.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Authority of board to investigate and
suspend certain railroad actions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 11701(a) is amended to read as
follows:</text>
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<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID580BECD9FD2B4C8FB1B3260EAAB51A1A"><enum>(a)</enum><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="IDAB3A376DC4234432AD93A1CE2FE09D8F"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Board may begin an investigation under
this part on its own initiative. If the Board finds that a rail carrier is
violating this part, the Board shall take appropriate action to compel
compliance with this part.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID99828DB2FEA845A480B4EE33710561C8" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the Board receives a complaint alleging
that a rail carrier may be violating this part, the Board shall initiate an
investigation.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id453FC405E12E425487B134CA885991BE" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the alleged violation under paragraph
(2) applies to more than 1 person, the Board has substantial reason to believe
that the allegations in the complaint are likely to have merit, and, if the
allegations prove to have merit, it will be difficult to make complete
restitution for the damage, the Board—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC9965DA123B344D7AC64D8BB83B1549E"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">shall suspend the rail carrier activity in
question; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id85F1D492AA464EF18AF1127A91E8C70D"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">may not revoke such suspension unless the
rail carrier justifies the practice to the satisfaction of the
Board.</text>
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