Opinion ID: 442913
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: ICC Review of MPUC

Text: 4 Section 10935 of Title 49 governs discontinuation of intrastate bus transportation. Section 10935(a) allows common carriers to appeal to the ICC state denials of permission to discontinue a route. There is no requirement under section 10935 that the ICC provide special consideration or deference to the findings of the state agency or commission. Sections 10935(e)(1)(A) and (e)(2)(A) specify the review standard and section 10935(g)(2) sets forth the particular factors to be considered. The findings of the state are not included. 5 Notwithstanding the fact that ICC review under section 10935 is de novo, it is still within the jurisdiction of the Commission to consider and weigh the findings of the state commission. In the present case the ICC considered the MPUC record and its findings. See ICC Decision No. MC-1515 (Sub-No. 340) at 8 (Nov. 3, 1983). The congressional purpose of the Bus Regulatory Reform Act of 1982 1 was to free interstate carriers from state created impediments that prevented them from abandoning unproductive routes. 2 See 49 U.S.C. Sec. 10101(a)(3)(C); S.Rep. No. 411, 97th Cong., 2nd sess. 7-9, reprinted in 1982 U.S.Code Cong. & Ad.News 2308, 2314-16. We find no error in the treatment accorded the state's findings by the ICC.