49 U.S.C. § 10704 — Authority and criteria: rates, classifica-

Page 424 TITLE 49—TRANSPORTATION § 10704 § 10704. Authority and criteria: rates, classifica- tions, rules, and practices prescribed by Board (a)(1) When the Board, after a full hearing, de- cides that a rate charged or collected by a rail carrier for transportation subject to the juris- diction of the Board under this part, or that a classification, rule, or practice of that carrier, does or will violate this part, the Board may prescribe the maximum rate, classification, rule, or practice to be followed. The Board may order the carrier to stop the violation. When a rate, classification, rule, or practice is pre- scribed under this subsection, the affected car- rier may not publish, charge, or collect a dif- ferent rate and shall adopt the classification and observe the rule or practice prescribed by the Board. (2) The Board shall maintain and revise as nec- essary standards and procedures for establishing revenue levels for rail carriers providing trans- portation subject to its jurisdiction under this part that are adequate, under honest, economi- cal, and efficient management, for the infra- structure and investment needed to meet the present and future demand for rail services and to cover total operating expenses, including de- preciation and obsolescence, plus a reasonable and economic profit or return (or both) on cap- ital employed in the business. The Board shall make an adequate and continuing effort to as- sist those carriers in attaining revenue levels prescribed under this paragraph. Revenue levels established under this paragraph should— (A) provide a flow of net income plus depre- ciation adequate to support prudent capital outlays, assure the repayment of a reasonable level of debt, permit the raising of needed eq- uity capital, and cover the effects of inflation; and (B) attract and retain capital in amounts adequate to provide a sound transportation system in the United States. (3) On the basis of the standards and proce- dures described in paragraph (2), the Board shall annually determine which rail carriers are earn- ing adequate revenues. (b) The Board may begin a proceeding under this section only on complaint. A complaint under subsection (a) of this section must be made under section 11701 of this title, but the proceeding may also be in extension of a com- plaint pending before the Board. (c) In a proceeding to challenge the reason- ableness of a rate, the Board shall make its de- termination as to the reasonableness of the challenged rate— (1) within 9 months after the close of the ad- ministrative record if the determination is based upon a stand-alone cost presentation; or (2) within 6 months after the close of the ad- ministrative record if the determination is based upon the methodology adopted by the Board pursuant to section 10701(d)(3). (d)(1) The Board shall maintain procedures to ensure the expeditious handling of challenges to the reasonableness of railroad rates. The proce- dures shall include appropriate measures for avoiding delay in the discovery and evidentiary phases of such proceedings and exemption or revocation proceedings, including appropriate sanctions for such delay, and for ensuring prompt disposition of motions and interlocutory administrative appeals. (2)(A) Except as provided under subparagraph (B), in a stand-alone cost rate challenge, the Board shall comply with the following timeline: (i) Discovery shall be completed not later than 150 days after the date on which the chal- lenge is initiated. (ii) The development of the evidentiary record shall be completed not later than 155 days after the date on which discovery is com- pleted under clause (i). (iii) The closing brief shall be submitted not later than 60 days after the date on which the development of the evidentiary record is com- pleted under clause (ii). (iv) A final Board decision shall be issued not later than 180 days after the date on which the evidentiary record is completed under clause (ii). (B) The Board may extend a timeline under subparagraph (A) after a request from any party or in the interest of due process. (Added Pub. L. 104–88, title I, § 102(a), Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 810; amended Pub. L. 104–287, § 5(23), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3390; Pub. L. 114–110, §§ 11(b), 16, Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 2233, 2238.) Editorial Notes PRIOR PROVISIONS A prior section 10704, Pub. L. 95–473, Oct. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 1373; Pub. L. 96–296, § 13(b), July 1, 1980, 94 Stat. 803; Pub. L. 96–448, title II, § 205(b), Oct. 14, 1980, 94 Stat. 1906; Pub. L. 97–261, § 9(b), Sept. 20, 1982, 96 Stat. 1109; Pub. L. 99–521, § 7(b), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2994, related to authority and criteria for rates, classifications, rules, and practices prescribed by Interstate Commerce Commission, prior to the general amendment of this subtitle by Pub. L. 104–88, § 102(a). See sections 10704, 13701, and 15503 of this title. AMENDMENTS 2015—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 114–110, § 16, inserted ‘‘for the infrastructure and investment needed to meet the present and future demand for rail services and’’ after ‘‘management,’’ in introductory provisions. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 114–110, § 11(b), designated exist- ing provisions as par. (1), substituted ‘‘The Board shall maintain procedures to ensure the expeditious handling of challenges to the reasonableness of railroad rates.’’ for ‘‘Within 9 months after January 1, 1996, the Board shall establish procedures to ensure expeditious han- dling of challenges to the reasonableness of railroad rates.’’, and added par. (2). 1996—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 104–287 substituted ‘‘Janu- ary 1, 1996’’ for ‘‘the effective date of the ICC Termi- nation Act of 1995’’. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE Section effective Jan. 1, 1996, except as otherwise pro- vided in Pub. L. 104–88, see section 2 of Pub. L. 104–88, set out as a note under section 1301 of this title. § 10705. Authority: through routes, joint classi- fications, rates, and divisions prescribed by Board (a)(1) The Board may, and shall when it con- siders it desirable in the public interest, pre-