49 U.S.C. § 10502 | Authority to exempt rail carrier transportation

(a)

In a matter related to a rail carrier providing transportation subject to the jurisdiction of the Board under this part, the Board, to the maximum extent consistent with this part, shall exempt a person, class of persons, or a transaction or service whenever the Board finds that the application in whole or in part of a provision of this part—

(1)

section 10101 of this title is not necessary to carry out the transportation policy of ; and

(2)

either—

(A)

the transaction or service is of limited scope; or

(B)

the application in whole or in part of the provision is not needed to protect shippers from the abuse of market power.

(b)

The Board may, where appropriate, begin a proceeding under this section on its own initiative or on application by the Secretary of Transportation or an interested party. The Board shall, within 90 days after receipt of any such application, determine whether to begin an appropriate proceeding. If the Board decides not to begin a class exemption proceeding, the reasons for the decision shall be published in the Federal Register. Any proceeding begun as a result of an application under this subsection shall be completed within 9 months after it is begun.

(c)

The Board may specify the period of time during which an exemption granted under this section is effective.

(d)

section 10101 of this title The Board may revoke an exemption, to the extent it specifies, when it finds that application in whole or in part of a provision of this part to the person, class, or transportation is necessary to carry out the transportation policy of . The Board shall, within 90 days after receipt of a request for revocation under this subsection, determine whether to begin an appropriate proceeding. If the Board decides not to begin a proceeding to revoke a class exemption, the reasons for the decision shall be published in the Federal Register. Any proceeding begun as a result of a request under this subsection shall be completed within 9 months after it is begun.

(e)

section 11706 of this title section 11706 of this title section 11706 of this title No exemption order issued pursuant to this section shall operate to relieve any rail carrier from an obligation to provide contractual terms for liability and claims which are consistent with the provisions of . Nothing in this subsection or shall prevent rail carriers from offering alternative terms nor give the Board the authority to require any specific level of rates or services based upon the provisions of .

(f)

The Board may exercise its authority under this section to exempt transportation that is provided by a rail carrier as part of a continuous intermodal movement.

(g)

The Board may not exercise its authority under this section to relieve a rail carrier of its obligation to protect the interests of employees as required by this part.

Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 102(a)Dec. 29, 1995109 Stat. 808(Added , , .)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

section 10505 of this title Pub. L. 104–88, § 102(a)Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in prior to the general amendment of this subtitle by .

Pub. L. 104–88, § 102(a)Prior sections 10502 to 10505, 10521 to 10531, 10541 to 10544, and 10561, were omitted in the general amendment of this subtitle by .

Pub. L. 95–473Oct. 17, 197892 Stat. 1360Section 10502, , , , related to Interstate Commerce Commission jurisdiction over express carrier transportation.

Pub. L. 95–473Oct. 17, 197892 Stat. 1360 section 10703 of this titleSection 10503, , , , related to railroad and water transportation connections and rates. See .

Pub. L. 95–473Oct. 17, 197892 Stat. 1360 Pub. L. 97–449, § 4(b)(4)Jan. 12, 198396 Stat. 2441 Pub. L. 103–272, § 4(j)(16)July 5, 1994108 Stat. 1369 section 10501 of this titleSection 10504, , , ; , , ; , , , related to jurisdiction of Commission over mass transportation provided by local governments. See .

Pub. L. 95–473Oct. 17, 197892 Stat. 1361 Pub. L. 96–448, title II, § 213Oct. 14, 198094 Stat. 1912 Pub. L. 103–311, title II, § 205(a)Aug. 26, 1994108 Stat. 1683Section 10505, , , ; , , ; , (c)(1), , , 1684, related to authority of Commission to exempt rail carrier and motor carrier transportation. See sections 10502 and 13541 of this title.

Pub. L. 95–473Oct. 17, 197892 Stat. 1361 Pub. L. 96–296, § 31(b)July 1, 198094 Stat. 824 Pub. L. 97–261, § 6(f)Sept. 20, 198296 Stat. 1107 Pub. L. 99–521, § 6(a)Oct. 22, 1986100 Stat. 2994 Pub. L. 103–305, title VI, § 601(b)(2)(C)Aug. 23, 1994108 Stat. 1606 Pub. L. 103–311, title II, § 211(b)(1)Aug. 26, 1994108 Stat. 1689 section 13501 of this titleSection 10521, , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , , related to jurisdiction of Commission over motor carrier transportation. See .

Pub. L. 95–473Oct. 17, 197892 Stat. 1362 section 13502 of this titleSection 10522, , , , related to exempt transportation between Alaska and other States. See .

Pub. L. 95–473Oct. 17, 197892 Stat. 1362 Pub. L. 99–521, § 6(b)Oct. 22, 1986100 Stat. 2994 section 13503 of this titleSection 10523, , , ; , , , related to exempt motor vehicle transportation in terminal areas. See .

Pub. L. 95–473Oct. 17, 197892 Stat. 1363 Pub. L. 96–296, § 9July 1, 198094 Stat. 798 section 13505 of this titleSection 10524, , , ; , , , related to Commission jurisdiction over transportation furthering a primary business. See .

Pub. L. 95–473Oct. 17, 197892 Stat. 1363 Pub. L. 96–258, § 1(4)June 3, 198094 Stat. 425 Pub. L. 97–261, § 30Sept. 20, 198296 Stat. 1128 section 13504 of this titleSection 10525, , , ; , , ; , , , related to exempt motor carrier transportation entirely in one State. See .

Pub. L. 95–473Oct. 17, 197892 Stat. 1364 Pub. L. 96–258, § 1(5)June 3, 198094 Stat. 425 Pub. L. 96–296July 1, 198094 Stat. 797 Pub. L. 96–454, § 11(a)Oct. 15, 198094 Stat. 2023 Pub. L. 97–261, § 14(d)Sept. 20, 198296 Stat. 1114 Pub. L. 97–377, § 152Dec. 21, 198296 Stat. 1918 Pub. L. 97–449, § 5(g)(1)Jan. 12, 198396 Stat. 2442 Pub. L. 98–216, § 2(8)Feb. 14, 198498 Stat. 5 Pub. L. 98–554, title II, § 227(c)Oct. 30, 198498 Stat. 2852 Pub. L. 103–272, § 4(j)(17)July 5, 1994108 Stat. 1369 section 13506 of this titleSection 10526, , , ; , , ; , §§ 7, 21(a), 24(a), , , 812, 814; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , , related to miscellaneous motor carrier transportation exemptions. See .

Pub. L. 96–296, § 16(a)July 1, 198094 Stat. 810 Pub. L. 103–272, § 5(m)(16)July 5, 1994108 Stat. 1377Section 10527, added , , ; amended , , , related to written contracts pertaining to certain interstate movements by motor vehicle.

Pub. L. 96–296, § 21(b)(1)July 1, 198094 Stat. 812 Pub. L. 96–454, § 11(b)Oct. 15, 198094 Stat. 2023 Pub. L. 103–272, § 5(m)(17)July 5, 1994108 Stat. 1377 section 13507 of this titleSection 10528, added , , ; amended , , ; , , , related to mixed loads of regulated and unregulated property. See .

Pub. L. 96–296, § 24(b)(1)July 1, 198094 Stat. 814 Pub. L. 103–272, § 5(m)(18)July 5, 1994108 Stat. 1377 section 13508 of this titleSection 10529, added , , ; amended , , , related to authority of Commission over cooperative associations. See .

Pub. L. 98–554, title II, § 226(a)(1)Oct. 30, 198498 Stat. 2848 Pub. L. 99–514, § 2Oct. 22, 1986100 Stat. 2095 Pub. L. 100–690, title IX, § 9111(a)Nov. 18, 1988102 Stat. 4531–4533 Pub. L. 103–272, § 4(j)(18)oJuly 5, 1994108 Stat. 1369 section 13902 of this titleSection 10530, added , , ; amended , , ; –(f), , ; , (), , , 1371, related to certificates of registration for certain foreign carriers. See .

Pub. L. 103–272, § 3(1)July 5, 1994108 Stat. 1360Section 10531, added , , , related to mass transportation exemption from Commission jurisdiction.

Pub. L. 95–473Oct. 17, 197892 Stat. 1365 section 13521 of this titleSection 10541, , , , related to jurisdiction of Commission over transportation by water carriers. See .

Pub. L. 95–473Oct. 17, 197892 Stat. 1366 Pub. L. 98–89, § 3(b)Aug. 26, 198397 Stat. 599 Pub. L. 98–216, § 2(9)Feb. 14, 198498 Stat. 5 Pub. L. 103–272, § 5(m)(19)July 5, 1994108 Stat. 1377Section 10542, , , ; , , ; , (10), , ; , , , related to exemption of transportation by water carriers of commodities in bulk from Commission jurisdiction.

Pub. L. 95–473Oct. 17, 197892 Stat. 1367Section 10543, , , , related to exemption of certain incidental water transportation from jurisdiction of Commission.

Pub. L. 95–473Oct. 17, 197892 Stat. 1368 Pub. L. 96–258, § 1(6)June 3, 198094 Stat. 425 Pub. L. 97–449, § 5(g)(2)Jan. 12, 198396 Stat. 2443 Pub. L. 98–216, § 2(11)Feb. 14, 198498 Stat. 5 Pub. L. 103–272, § 5(m)(19)July 5, 1994108 Stat. 1377Section 10544, , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , , related to exemption of certain miscellaneous water carrier transportation from Commission jurisdiction.

Pub. L. 95–473Oct. 17, 197892 Stat. 1369 Pub. L. 99–521, § 6(c)Oct. 22, 1986100 Stat. 2994 Pub. L. 103–272, § 5(m)(20)July 5, 1994108 Stat. 1377 section 13531 of this titleSection 10561, , , ; , , ; , , , related to jurisdiction of Commission over services of household goods freight forwarders. See .

Pub. L. 95–473Oct. 17, 197892 Stat. 1369 Pub. L. 97–449, § 5(g)(3)Jan. 12, 198396 Stat. 2443 Pub. L. 99–521Oct. 22, 1986100 Stat. 2994Oct. 22, 1986A prior section 10562, , , ; , , , related to exempt freight forwarder service, prior to repeal by , §§ 6(d)(1), 15, , , 2999, effective 60 days after .

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Jan. 1, 1996Pub. L. 104–88 section 2 of Pub. L. 104–88 section 1301 of this titleSection effective , except as otherwise provided in , see , set out as a note under .