RAILROADS

ICC Gives Initial OK to Merger: The Interstate Commerce Commission gave a tentative nod to the proposed merger of Burlington Northern Inc. and Santa Fe Pacific Corp. railroads. The ICC approved a staff recommendation to approve the primary merger application. The commission was continuing to discuss more conditions related to the merger. ICC Chairwoman Linda Morgan, in her opening remarks, said such a merger would create the largest railroad, with more than 35,000 miles of main and secondary track in the United States and Canada.