Opinion ID: 353957
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: the commission proceeding

Text: 2 In its December 17, 1976 decision in Ex Parte No. MC-37 (Sub-No. 26), Commercial Zones and Terminal Areas, supra, which we refer to as the Report, the Commission modified its rules defining the geographic boundaries of commercial zones and terminal areas as those terms are used in sections 203(b)(8) and 202(c) of the Interstate Commerce Act, 49 U.S.C. §§ 303(b)(8) and 302(c). The Commission first resorted to rule making to define the scope of commercial zones and terminal areas in the mid 1940's, and its proceedings culminated in the adoption of a population-mileage formula for commercial zones in 1946, Ex Parte No. MC-37, Commercial Zones and Terminal Areas, 46 M.C.C. 665, and for carriers' terminal areas in Commercial Zones and Terminal Areas, 1952, 54 M.C.C. 21 (Sixth Supplemental Report, Ex Parte No. MC-37). Since 1946, the Commission has decided 43 cases involving defining specifically the limits of particular zones. 3 By 1975, the Commission felt that circumstances throughout the nation had changed so much that a new rule making procedure was appropriate. The procedure was begun on August 12, 1975, by publication of a notice in the Federal Register suggesting a new formula and inviting the submission of written data, views and arguments. The response was widespread, and the Commission issued an Interim Report (Ex Parte No. MC-37 (Sub-No. 26), Commercial Zones and Terminal Areas, 124 M.C.C. 130) on December 18, 1975. The interim report of 55 pages plus appendices stated tentative conclusions and invited further filings. Again, the response was widespread. There were over 600 responses, and a massive record was compiled, consisting of 23 large volumes. The final Report, adopting a new population-mileage formula, issued on December 17, 1976. It covers 134 pages in the record, plus a lengthy appendix, and carefully analyzes the issues and the data and views submitted by the many parties who filed them. 4 The new rules took effect on April 8, 1977. They bring up to date the 1946 population-mileage formula to reflect the tremendous urban expansion which the nation has experienced during the last three decades. In addition to expanding substantially the commercial zones and terminal areas of cities with populations of 200,000 or more, the Commission's order greatly simplifies the old rules by making the revised population-mileage formula applicable to 42 cities, the zones of which were previously individually described. The old and new population-mileage formulae are as follows: 5 1946 New Municipal Population Boundaries  Boundaries  ---------------------- ---------------- ---------------- less than 2,500 2 3 2,500 to 24,999 3 4 25,000 to 99,999 4 6 100,000 to 199,999 5 8 200,000 to 499,999 5 10 500,000 to 999,999 5 15 1 million or more 5 20