Opinion ID: 399111
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: restriction removal

Text: 26 First, we deal with the effect of our opinion on the Restriction Removal Statement, Removal of Restrictions From Authorities of Motor Carriers of Property, Ex Parte No. MC-142 (Sub-No. 1), 45 Fed.Reg. 86,747 (effective Dec. 28, 1980). The Restriction Removal Statement is based on Section 6 of the Motor Carrier Act, 49 U.S.C.A. § 10922(h)(1) (West Supp. 1981). The following mandate applies to every proceeding pending on the effective date of this opinion and to every proceeding commenced hereafter: 27 1. In order that persons affected by the ICC's rules and the general public may be properly informed, the ICC is required to announce that those parts of the guidelines not declared invalid are rules and to publish them as such. We held, (t)he Motor Carrier Act requires the Commission to establish a procedure, on application of individual motor carriers, 'to reasonably broaden the categories of property authorized.' 49 U.S.C.A. § 10922(h)(1) (emphasis supplied). 659 F.2d at 461. What the Commission considers a 'reasonable' broadening of commodities descriptions is described in the second part of the Restriction Removal Statement labeled 'Guidelines.'  Id. at 462 (footnote omitted). These Guidelines may be found at 45 Fed.Reg. 86,759 (1980). The guidelines are not guidelines but normative rules, and must be evaluated as such. 659 F.2d at 464 (footnotes omitted). 28 Those parts of the guidelines mentioned below have been declared invalid as exceeding the statutory language of the Motor Carrier Act. The provisions replacing them in compliance with this mandate shall be incorporated into the published rules by a procedure complying with the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), 5 U.S.C. § 500, et seq. 29 2. In every proceeding to broaden the categories of property authorized by existing certificates (49 U.S.C.A. § 10922(h)(1)), the Commission shall follow our earlier opinion: 30 The carrier must be permitted, both by the Commission's express statement and actual agency practice, to seek some other commodity classification if it can show that use of the tripartite Commission standard would require the transportation of commodities unrelated to those previously authorized or would require the institution of a different type of service, and that the carrier is not fit or is unwilling or is unable to provide the service. 659 F.2d at 464-65. 5 31 While the manner in which the Commission announces its compliance with this part of our mandate is left to it, subject to the requirements of the APA, it must permit applicants to use the flexible standard described above and avoid language containing sinews of command. 659 F.2d at 463. 32 As we have already noted, The procedure for seeking such a modification must be reasonably flexible so that applications will neither be arbitrarily prejudged nor condemned to excessive expense. 659 F.2d at 465. 33 3. In every restriction removal proceeding the Commission must provide some opportunity for opposition to (the) application to be voiced. 659 F.2d at 465. While we indicated in our previous opinion that an opportunity for evidentiary submission by applicants or opponents might be helpful, 6 we are without authority to prescribe the Commission's procedure so long as it provides a method by which opponents to an application may enter an appearance and make the basis for their opposition known. 34 4. In every proceeding by which authority to carry general commodities is sought, the ICC is ordered not to grant bulk commodities authority to the applicant without requiring some showing that the applicant is fit, willing, and able to provide the bulk commodity transportation sought. As we have previously held: 35 By stating that it will routinely grant authority to carry bulk commodities to all applicants requesting general commodities authority, the Commission has exceeded its statutory duty to issue a certificate only to persons fit, willing, and able to provide the transportation to be authorized by the certificate. 36 659 F.2d at 465 (footnotes omitted). To further implement this order, the ICC shall rescind the guideline mandating the improper result, 45 Fed.Reg. 86,747, 86,759 (1980) (to be codified in 49 C.F.R. § 1151.21(a)). 37 5. In every proceeding involving a general commodities carrier, the ICC shall not permit the general commodities carrier (to) eliminate the restriction against household goods without demonstrating more than its general commodities certificate. 659 F.2d 467-68. The ICC shall further require in every such proceeding some showing that the carrier is fit, willing, and able to carry household goods, in accordance with the other provisions of the Motor Carrier Act. 7 The ICC shall revise the guidelines, 45 Fed.Reg. 86,747, 86,759 (1980) (to be codified in 49 C.F.R. § 1137.21(a)), eliminating the provision excepting household goods from general commodities authority, so as to reflect this mandate and the procedure by which it is to be implemented.