Opinion ID: 480726
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Expedited Handling of Iowa Interstate's Petition

Text: 27 Petitioners next attempt to set aside the October 1 order by disputing the extraordinary nature of the circumstances surrounding Iowa Interstate's application that justified expedited handling according to Commission procedure under Ex Parte No. 400. We defer to the Commission's finding that this proceeding presented extraordinary circumstances justifying immediate effectiveness. 28 First, the very fact that the lines at issue were abandoned properties, whose service could have been terminated at any time by CPAC without additional Commission authorization, marked this proceeding for special treatment. Because the initial closing date of the agreement between Heartland and CPAC was scheduled for September 30, 1984, consummation on that date would have automatically terminated the authority of temporary operators to conduct service. See Decision, F.D. 30489, at 2. While Milwaukee Trustee and IRC may have been prepared to continue serving shippers on the line, Br. of Joint Petitioners at 16, they were without authority to do so. In addition, Iowa Interstate requested immediate effectiveness of the exemption decision because of the need to perform maintenance on the lines before the onset of winter. Petition at 14. 29 Finally, Iowa Interstate had an urgent need for revenues to meet its lease and debt service obligations. Br. of Iowa Interstate at 19. Under such circumstances, an immediately effective order was imperative to the financial survival of the start-up railroad. In view of the national policy of preserving continued rail service over lines otherwise destined for abandonment, the Commission's determination that expedited handling was necessary is a rational interpretation of its rules directed at effectuating Congressional transportation policy.