Pursuant to Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 211.45, Federal Railroad Administration Administrator Ronald L. Batory has determined that the imminent threat and exposure to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) poses a risk of serious illness that constitutes an "emergency situation" as related to railroad operations.

In making this determination, the Administrator notes the President has declared a national emergency related to COVID-19 and the World Health Organization (WHO) has made the assessment of COVID-19 and it is now characterized as pandemic, which can cause serious illness to high risk populations. Governors of several States have issued various Emergency Declarations related to COVID-19 outbreaks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported more than 1,600 cases across forty-six (46) States and the number of cases of this respiratory illness is expected to increase.

Therefore, the Administrator has activated the Emergency Relief Docket (FRA-2020-0002) for Novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) as of March 13, 2020, and the emergency relief provisions of 49 CFR § 211.45 are in effect.