NOTICE

The FRA Administrator’s Declaration of Emergency Event

Pursuant to Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) § 211.45, Federal Railroad Administration Administrator Ronald L. Batory has determined that the current conditions of extreme cold, ice, wind, and severe winter weather in various parts of the United States constitute an “emergncy event” as related to railroad operations. In making this determination, the Administrator notes that the National Weather Service has predicted severe winter weather effects stretching across the nation that include record low temperatures, large amounts of snow and ice and strong winds. Also, The National Weather Service is calling the cold "dangerous" and “unprecedented” for the month of March. In portions of Montana, this will be the coldest temperatures of the entire winter season as actual temperatures dip to - 40 degrees. The level of cold will also be more typical of late-January than early March. It is forecast that by Sunday morning, some parts of the northern Plains will see wind chills nearing 55 degrees below zero. In some spots could see record cold temperatures for March. Therefore, the Administrator has activated the Emergency Relief Docket (FRA-2019-0001) as of March 1, 2019, the emergency relief provisions of 49 CFR § 211.45 are in effect.