United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office Resources, Community, and Economic Development Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1995-03-03 monographic deposited born digital GA 1.13:T-RCED-95-119 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-RCED-95-119 P0b002ee180388c19 f:trc95119 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-T-RCED-95-119 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-T-RCED-95-119 T-RCED-95-119 Independent regulatory commissions Motor carrier operations Railroad transportation operations Cost control Cost effectiveness analysis Interstate commerce Railroad regulation Transportation industry Transportation rates Federal agency reorganization Testimony RCED Virtually all the options GAO reviewed for transferring the Interstate Commerce Commission's (ICC) functions offer opportunities for budget savings--ranging from $16 million to $28 million. Of potentially greater significance, however, is the matter of how ICC's remaining regulatory duties would be handled in the future. If Congress decides that there is still a need for a high degree of independence and substantial expertise to carry out the remaining regulatory processes, a merger with the Federal Maritime Commission or incorporating the functions into the Transportation Department (DOT) under a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)-like model might be preferable. On the other hand, if Congress decides that an independent regulatory agency is no longer necessary, then greater savings might be realized by integrating the remaining ICC functions into the DOT or by dividing them among several agencies. Congress may wish to distinguish between rail and motor carrier regulatory activities. It may be appropriate to establish a FERC-like entity to handle rail matters and to integrate the remaining carrier functions primarily into DOT. This could save money and preserve independent decisionmaking where necessary. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-T-RCED-95-119/html/GAOREPORTS-T-RCED-95-119.htm GAO/T-RCED-95-119 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-RCED-95-119 Testimony GAO/T-RCED-95-119; Interstate Commerce Commission: Impacts of Eliminating or Transferring Motor Carrier and Other Functions; Independent regulatory commissions Motor carrier operations Railroad transportation operations Cost control Cost effectiveness analysis Interstate commerce Railroad regulation Transportation industry Transportation rates Federal agency reorganization