A native of Lake View, Iowa, Mr. Reida was in private practice of law in Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska before coming to Washington. He is a graduate of the University of Iowa. Mr. Reida is a member of various bar associations, including the Iowa State Bar, the Nebraska State Bar, the American Bar Association, and the American Trial Lawyers Association, as well as being admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court. In his new duties, Mr. Reida will be responsible for the formulation of the legislative position of the ICC under the direction of the Commission's General Counsel, as well as the analysis and preparation of pending bills and recommendations. Jack L. Rudarmel was appointed to head a new section of audit. The new section will achieve a greater efficiency of resources by consolidating some of the present functions of the Bureau of Accounts. Additionally, the new section will have responsibility over the entire Bureau's field staff. Mr. Rudarmel has been an ICC employee since 1963 when he was appointed a Transportation Utilities Auditor at Portland, Oregon. He was subsequently promoted and transferred to the Washington office as Staff Accountant in 1968. Prior to his employment with the Commission, he served for several years with Consolidated Freightways Corporation, holding various positions in the Accounting Department. A native of Portland, Oregon, Mr. Rudarmel received a degree in Business Administration from the University of Portland in 1949. He served with the U. S. Air Force in the South Pacific during World War II. New Discovery Rules Proposed On December 31, the ICC served notice of proposed rulemaking in Ex Parte No. 55 (Sub-No. 3), General Rules of Practice (Discovery Rules). According to the notice: "This general investigation and rulemaking proceeding is directed to a thorough examination and evaluation of our existing discovery procedures and techniques, and certain revisions of those discovery practices proposed by the Association of Interstate Commerce Commission Practitioners, the Committee on Practice and Procedure of the Motor Carrier Lawyers' Association, and the Administrative Conference of the United States ** The Commission did not fix a time within which initial statements or reply statements must be filed. However, interested persons intending to participate in the proceeding were to notify the Commission. No oral hearings will be scheduled unless a need therefor should later appear. Persons electing to participate were requested to address themselves to specific questions among others. WILLIAM L. SLOVER, Editor Inside The Department Volpe Summarizes DOT Accomplishments Secretary of Transportation, John Volpe, in a January news conference summarized the accomplishments of DOT during the last two years. Volpe emphasized that safety was DOT's first priority in transportation and noted the progress in this area in highway, air, and waterway safety. Additionally, the Secretary pointed to "six major acts which together provide a comprehensive base around which to shape our national transportation program for the next decade and beyond." The six new laws as summarized by the Secretary are: 1. Airport and Airways Development/Revenue Act of 1970: This legislation authorizes the Department, through the Federal Aviation Administration, to commit approximately $600 million annually for the next five years to improve and modernize airports and air, navigation and air traffic control systems. During the decade of the Sixties the airport operations controlled by the FAA increased 112 percent but airport and airways development failed to keep up with this phenomenal growth. The Airport/Airways Act assures that during the Seventies funds for present airport/airways growth as well as for long-range planning and development will be available. Funding of this development program is supported by user taxes on aviation fuels, air freight bills of lading, and passenger tickets. These receipts are credited to an Airport and Airway Trust Fund. 2. Urban Mass Transportation Assistance Act of 1970: This legislation commits the nation to a $10 billion, 12 year program to strengthen public transit. Of the total authorization, the Department is able to commit $3.1 billion for grants to be extended over the next five years. This funding arrangement enables local authorities planning such longrange projects as subways to know what Federal funds to expect and gives them a sound foundation for local funding appeals. The Act also extends financial aid to foundering bus lines for capital improvements and allows others to extend, modernize and improve their service. The legislation is designed to reverse the trend of decreasing public transit passengers. From 1950 to 1967 public transit passengers declined by 50 percent and the number of public transit vehicles dropped from 87,000 to 58,000. In addition, the financial condition of operators moved from a position of a $66 million operating surplus to a $67 million operating deficit. 3. Rail Passenger Service Act of 1970: During the Sixties, intercity railroad passenger service steadily declined. The number of passenger trains dropped from about 1500 to fewer than 400. This Act creates the National Rail Passenger Service Corporation to provide optimum passenger service over a basic route structure determined by the Secretary of Transportation. A Federal appropriation of $40 million permits the Corporation to organize and begin operations. The Secretary was authorized to guarantee loans of up to $100 million for the purchase of rolling stock and other improvements and up to $200 million to assist participating railroads. 4. Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1970: In addition to enabling the Department to complete the national system of Interstate and Defense Highways, this bill provides the tools to meet the social challenges related to highway construction. For the first time money from the Highway Trust Fund will be spent for purposes other than the direct design and construction of roads. The Act gives new support to highway safety by assuring financing of campaigns against such menaces as the drunk driver. It authorizes the Secretary to conduct a training program for the disadvantaged and to bring them into the job market as skilled highway construction employees. It enables the Department to bring the highway beautification program back on track and puts new emphasis on billboard and junkyard control. The Act encourages extended use of the idea of exclusive bus lanes and permits Federal participation in improving city streets. Perhaps most importantly, it sets up environmental protection guidelines to be followed in building of highways— guidelines that will supplement the current program under which the Federal Highway Administration devotes more than 10 percent of its fiscal resources to environmental enhancement and control. 5. Federal Railroad Safety Act of 1970: This Act establishes broad, but clear-cut authority for the Secretary of Transportation to set and enforce safety standards for the railroads. It enables him to control shipments of hazardous materials and directs him to establish a central reporting system for hazardous materials and firefighting personnel faced with emergencies. It gives new impetus to improving protection at grade crossings, where the death to injury ratio reached 1,500 to 3,000. It also establishes a Federal-State working arrangement similar to that which has worked so well in giving America her fine highway system. 6. Saint Lawrence Seaway Legislation: Agreeing to the Secretary's request, the Congress gave a boost to the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation. As part of the Merchant Marine Act, Congress eliminated interest payments on the Seaway's remaining $133 million debt, as well as on the $22.4 million of deferred interest debt. The action insures that tolls need not be increased, thus assisting in the continued growth of the Great Lakes ports and the economy of the nation, especially the Midwest. More than 50 million tons of freight—a record -moved through the Seaway during the 1970 season, indicating the importance of the Seaway to the nation. 7. Other Legislative Action: The Department also was involved in such key legislative programs as the Railroad Emergency Assistance Act, which enables the Federal government to guarantee loans for railroads in bankruptcy reorganization; the extension of the High Speed Ground Transportation Act, insuring the continuation of such projects. as the Metroliner demonstration; Aviation War Risk Insurance Amendment to the Federal Aviation Act, which assures that the domestic airline industry is insured for war risk; implementation of the Tokyo Convention, to deal with air piracy, and several measures designed to improve the operation of the U. S. Coast Guard. Turbotrains To Be Continued DOT has renewed its lease on turbotrain equipment, operated between Boston and New York, for two more years. The engines are owned by United Aircraft Corporation. In February the New York terminal will be changed from Grand Central to Penn Central Station facilitating interchange with the DOT Metroliner Program. Under terms of the contract, the Federal Railroad Administration will lease the three-car trains until 1973 from United Aircraft, which also will perform certain maintenance tasks. Penn Central will continue to operate the two trains under a separate monthly contract. Beginning February 1 the new Turbo connecting schedules with the Metroliners will be: Leaves South Station, Boston, 7:25 a.m.; arrives Penn Central Station, New York, 11:13 a.m. (connects with Metroliner which leaves New York 11:30 a.m.; arrives at Washington 2:29 p.m.). Leaves Penn Central Station, New York, 4:15 p.m.; arrives South Station, Boston, 8:04 p.m. (connects with Metroliner which leaves Washington at 1:00 p.m.; arrives New York 3:59 p.m.). Safety Standards Rejected For Farm Tractors DOT has advised Congress that uniform Federal safety standards for agricultural tractors and other farm machinery are not presently required. Congress, last May, asked the Department of Transportation to conduct a study, submit a report, and consider establishing uniform Federal safety standards for the design and manufacture of all agricultural tractors sold in interstate commerce. The report, prepared by the Department's National Highway Safety Bureau, shows that tractor accidents claim between 800 and 1,000 lives each year. Two-thirds to three-quarters of these fatalities occur on the farm, while 60 percent of fatal tractor accidents result from tractor overturn. Data indicate that tractor safety is more of a farm than a highway problem. The report, therefore, recommends that the U. S. Department of Agriculture be recognized as having prime responsibility for providing overview and coordination of Federal agency efforts in encouraging improved safety in tractor and other farm machinery operations. DOT invited Congress to authorize a follow-up study within five years. Consumer Protection Bulletin Issued on Corvair The following is the full text of DOT's Consumer Protection Bulletin on Corvair: .: SPECIAL CONSUMER PROTECTION BULLETIN SUBJECT: Alerting U.S. Motorists to specific use-risk situations in connection with highway use of certain General Motors Corporation vehicles. And inviting current consumer experience regarding this userisk. MAKE/MODEL/YEAR: All 1961 through 1969 model year Chevrolet Corvair vehicles. BACKGROUND: An investigation by the Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the direct air heating system used in all 1961 through 1969 model year Corvair vehicles has disclosed that a problem with engine fumes does exist in some of these vehicles. Although the investigation is not yet completed, Douglas Toms, Acting Administrator of the Traffic Safety Administration, believes the public should be alerted to the potential health and safety hazards indicated by the preliminary findings. The fact that winter has begun and vehicle heaters are being used regularly makes this bulletin at this time particularly important. PROBLEM: The fume problem in Corvair vehicles may relate to vaporization of engine oil, combustion chamber leaks, exhaust manifold leaks, and the design of the Corvair heater. Field tests of a limited sample of Corvair vehicles have been conducted by Safety Administration engineers. The sample thus far has consisted of vehicles for which complaints had been registered regarding the presence of fumes in the passenger compartments. In each of the vehicles in which significant concentrations of carbon monoxide were present as a result of heater operation, there were also present combustion fumes that produced eye irritation and unpleasant odors, and in addition, a distinguishable hissing sound emitted from the engine compartment. Vehicles having low levels of carbon monoxide did not always have the objectionable fumes or the noticeable engine noise. INTERPRETATION: The Safety Administration is now turning its attention to an intensive survey of a random sampling of Corvair vehicles. Until that inquiry is completed and the Safety Administration issues a statement on its findings, operators of Corvair vehicles who notice any fume odors connected with the operation of the heater are advised to seek repairs immediately, and, until satisfactory repairs are obtained to keep a window open at least one inch at all times during heater operation. CONSUMER REQUEST: Corvair owners experiencing fume problems related to heater operation are also requested to contact the Safety Administration. The address is: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Department of Transportation, Washington, D. C. 20591. Basic Rail Passenger System Proposed DOT as directed under the terms of the Rail Passenger Service Act has announced its recommendation for the initial rail passenger net |