Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 94 Part 2.djvu/619

 PUBLIC LAW 96-448—OCT. 14, 1980

94 STAT. 1897

in order to achieve maximum utilization of railroads to save energy and combat inflation. GOALS

SEC. 3. The purpose of this Act is to provide for the restoration, 49 USC loioia maintenance, and improvement of the physical facilities and finan- ^°^cial stability of the rail system of the United States. In order to achieve this purpose, it is hereby declared that the goals of this Act are— (1) to assist the railroads of the Nation in rehabilitating the rail system in order to meet the demands of interstate commerce and the national defense; (2) to reform Federal regulatory policy so as to preserve a safe, adequate, economical, efficient, and financially stable rail system; (3) to assist the rail system to remain viable in the private sector of the economy; (4) to provide a regulatory process that balances the needs of carriers, shippers, and the public; and (5) to assist in the rehabilitation and financing of the rail system. TITLE I—RAIL TRANSPORTATION POLICY RAIL TRANSPORTATION POLICY

SEC. 101. (a) Chapter 101 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 10101 the following new section: "§ 10101a. Rail transportation policy "In regulating the railroad industry, it is the policy of the United States Government— "(1) to allow, to the maximum extent possible, competition and the demand for services to establish reasonable rates for transportation by rail; "(2) to minimize the need for Federal regulatory control over the rail transportation system and to require fair and expeditious regulatory decisions when regulation is required; "(3) to promote a safe and efficient rail transportation system by allowing rail carriers to earn adequate revenues, as determined by the Interstate Commerce Commission; "(4) to ensure the development and continuation of a sound rail transportation system with effective competition among rail carriers and with other modes, to meet the needs of the public and the national defense; "(5) to foster sound economic conditions in transportation and to ensure effective competition and coordination between rail carriers and other modes; "(6) to maintain reasonable rates where there is an absence of effective competition and where rail rates provide revenues which exceed the amount necessary to maintain the rail system and to attract capital; "(7) to reduce regulatory barriers to entry into and exit from the industry; "(8) to operate transportation facilities and equipment without detriment to the public health and safety;

49 USC 10101a.

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