§717 Adoption of Final System Plan

Summary

The Association must write and publish a preliminary system plan within 420 days after January 2, 1974. It must base the plan on reports, information, and its own studies. The Association must send copies to the Secretary, the Office, the Governor and public utility commission of each State in the region, Congress, each court handling a railroad reorganization in the region, the special court, and other interested people, and publish it in the Federal Register. People have 60 days after the plan is released to send comments. The Office must hold public hearings and give the Association a summary, analysis, and critique of the hearing evidence within 60 days after the plan’s release, and within 30 days for any supplements. Courts must act on reorganizations on specific schedules. Within 120 days after January 2, 1974, each federal district or other court with a railroad case must decide whether the railroad can be reorganized under section 77 and whether that option better serves the public than using this chapter. Within 60 days after the Office’s report under section 715(d)(1), those courts must also decide whether to transfer some rail properties to the Corporation under this chapter. If a court does not order otherwise, the case goes forward under this chapter. Appeals go only to the special court within 10 days, and that court must decide within 80 days with no further review. If a court finally decides not to proceed under this chapter, the railroad trustees may petition the court within 10 days after February 28, 1975 to reconsider; the court must decide within 30 days and any special court appeal must be decided within 30 days. The Association must then make any needed changes, including plan supplements. The executive committee must submit a final system plan to the Board within 540 days after January 2, 1974 and give a copy to the Commission at the same time. The submission must include responses, hearing testimony, and further study. The Board must approve the final plan by majority vote within 30 days and the plan must meet the requirements of section 716. Within 30 days after the Association adopts the final plan and it is sent to Congress under section 718(a), the Commission must send both Houses of Congress its evaluation of the final plan.