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25 August 2009
[Federal Register: August 25, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 163)]
[Notices]
[Page 42952-42955]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25au09-124]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
[Docket No. PHMSA-2009-0253; Notice No. 09-4]
Notice of Approval: Lithium Battery Shipping Descriptions
AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).
ACTION: Notice of approval.
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SUMMARY: PHMSA is authorizing persons who offer lithium metal and
lithium ion cells and batteries for transportation in commerce, and
persons who transport lithium metal and lithium ion cells and batteries
in commerce, to describe those articles in the same manner as recently
adopted in international regulations. PHMSA will consider adopting
these alternate shipping descriptions into the Hazardous Materials
Regulations at a future date.
DATES: Effective Date: This notice of approval is effective August 25,
2009.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donald Burger, Office of Hazardous
Materials Special Permits and Approvals, Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation,
East Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001,
telephone (202) 366-4535.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Sec. 172.101 Hazardous Materials Table (HMT) in the Hazardous
Material Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) contains the following
entries for lithium batteries, which apply to both lithium metal
(primary; non-rechargeable) and lithium ion (secondary; rechargeable)
batteries:
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lithium battery................................................. 9 UN3090 PG II
Lithium batteries contained in equipment........................ 9 UN3091 PG II
Lithium batteries packed with equipment......................... 9 UN3091 PG II
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In 2006, the United Nations Committee of Experts on the Transport
of Dangerous Goods adopted separate entries for lithium metal and
lithium ion batteries (see chart below) into the dangerous goods list
in the Fifteenth revised edition of the UN Recommendations on the
Transport of Dangerous Goods, in order to distinguish lithium metal
from lithium ion batteries. The International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organization
subsequently adopted these entries into their respective dangerous
goods lists.
We did not adopt these new shipping descriptions for lithium
batteries in a final rule published January 14, 2009 under Dockets HM-
224D and HM-215J (74 FR 2200) harmonizing the HMR with recent changes
to international regulations because we had not proposed these changes
in the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) (73 FR 44803; July 31,
2008). In response to comments to the NPRM that urged PHMSA to adopt
the separate entries for lithium metal and lithium ion batteries, we
noted that the HMR permit compliance with the ICAO Technical
Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air
(Technical Instructions). Thus, the separate shipping descriptions for
lithium metal and lithium ion batteries may be used for air
transportation, both domestically and internationally, and for
transportation by motor vehicle and rail immediately before or after
being transported by aircraft. [74 FR 2207] We also stated we planned
to complete an assessment of the costs and benefits of further
restrictions and available alternatives before developing additional
lithium battery rulemaking proposals and therefore, PHMSA did not adopt
changes to the lithium battery requirements including the separate
shipping descriptions. [74 FR 2207]
Since that time, we have concluded that assigning the same shipping
descriptions to both lithium metal and lithium ion batteries, which are
regulated differently based on differences in chemistry, functionality,
and behavior when exposed to a fire, causes significant problems in
acceptance procedures for carriers and may unnecessarily hinder or
delay the transportation of these products. While the HMR permit the
use of the ICAO Technical Instructions as well as the International
Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code) for domestic transportation
when a portion of the transportation is by aircraft or vessel,
subsequent domestic transportation of packages containing lithium
batteries remains difficult.
PHMSA is currently working on a rulemaking intended to enhance the
safe transportation of lithium batteries. As part of this rulemaking,
we are considering adoption of the international shipping descriptions
for lithium metal and lithium ion batteries. To facilitate commerce,
however, PHMSA believes shippers should be
[[Page 42953]]
permitted to use the international lithium battery shipping
descriptions for the domestic transportation of lithium batteries even
though the shipping descriptions have not been adopted into the HMR.
Section 172.101(l)(2) of the HMR permits alterations to the
shipping descriptions in the HMT with prior written approval of the
Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety. In accordance
with Sec. 172.101(l)(2), PHMSA is authorizing use of the lithium
battery shipping descriptions (i.e., the lithium battery hazardous
materials descriptions and UN identification numbers) that have been
adopted into dangerous goods lists in the international regulations as
alternatives to the lithium battery hazardous materials descriptions
and UN identification numbers currently authorized in the HMT,
effective as of the date of publication of this notice in the Federal
Register. For clarity, the following chart provides a comparative list
of the current shipping descriptions in the HMT and the corresponding
international shipping descriptions that may be used.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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HMR Shipping Description International Shipping
Description
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Lithium battery............... UN3090 Lithium ion UN3480
batteries
including
lithium ion
polymer
batteries.
.......... Lithium metal UN3090
batteries
including
lithium alloy
batteries.
Lithium batteries contained in UN3091 Lithium ion UN3481
equipment. batteries
contained in
equipment
including
lithium ion
polymer
batteries.
.......... Lithium metal UN3091
batteries,
contained in
equipment
including
lithium alloy
batteries.
Lithium batteries packed with UN3091 Lithium ion UN3481
equipment. batteries packed
with equipment
including
lithium ion
polymer
batteries.
.......... Lithium metal UN3091
batteries packed
with equipment
including
lithium alloy
batteries.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
II. Approval
Regulatory Authority
Authority is granted under 49 CFR 172.101(l)(2) to persons who
offer lithium metal and lithium ion cells and batteries for
transportation in commerce, and persons who transport lithium metal and
lithium ion cells and batteries in commerce, to use the following
hazardous materials descriptions and UN identification numbers as
alternatives to the hazardous materials descriptions and UN
identification numbers set forth in the 49 CFR 172.101 Hazardous
Materials Table, as applicable:
Lithium ion batteries contained in equipment including UN3481
lithium ion polymer batteries...............................
Lithium ion batteries including lithium ion polymer batteries UN3480
Lithium ion batteries packed with equipment including lithium UN3481
ion polymer batteries.......................................
Lithium metal batteries contained in equipment including UN3091
lithium alloy batteries.....................................
Lithium metal batteries including lithium alloy batteries.... UN3090
Lithium metal batteries packed with equipment including UN3091
lithium alloy batteries.....................................
For the convenience of the user of this approval, the complete entries
with the authorized alternative hazardous materials descriptions and UN
identification numbers are as follows:
[[Page 42954]]
Sec. 172.101 Hazardous Material Table
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Hazardous Packaging (Sec. 173.***) Quantity limitations Vessel stowage
materials Hazard Special ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Symbols descriptions and class or Identification PG Label codes provisions (Sec. Passenger Cargo
proper shipping division Nos. 172.102) Exceptions Non-bulk Bulk aircraft/ aircraft Location Other
names rail only
(1) (2)............. (3)........ (4)............ (5)........ (6)........ (7)............. (8A)....... (8B)....... (8C)....... (9A)....... (9B)....... (10A) (10B)
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Lithium ion 9.......... UN3481......... II......... 9.......... 29, 188, 189, 185........ 185........ None....... See A104... 35 kg...... A. ..........
batteries 190, A54, A55,
contained in A104.
equipment
including
lithium ion
polymer
batteries.
Lithium ion 9.......... UN3480......... II......... 9.......... 29, 188, 185........ 185........ None....... See A100... 35 kg gross A. ..........
batteries 189,190, A54,
including A55, A100.
lithium ion
polymer
batteries.
Lithium ion 9.......... UN3481......... II......... 9.......... 29, 188, 189, 185........ 185........ None....... See A103... 35 kg gross A. ..........
batteries 190, A54, A55,
packed with A103.
equipment
including
lithium ion
polymer
batteries.
Lithium metal 9.......... UN3091......... II......... 9.......... 29, 188, 189, 185........ 185........ None....... See A101... 35 kg...... A. ..........
batteries 190, A54, A55,
contained in A101, A104.
equipment
including
lithium alloy
batteries.
Lithium metal 9.......... UN3090......... II......... 9.......... 29, 188, 185........ 185........ None....... Forbidden. 35 kg gross A. ..........
batteries 189,190, A54, See A100.
including A55, A100.
lithium alloy
batteries.
Lithium metal 9.......... UN3091......... II......... 9.......... 29, 188, 189, 185........ 185........ None....... See A101... 35 kg gross A. ..........
batteries 190, A54, A55,
packed with A101, A103.
equipment
including
lithium alloy
batteries.
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[[Page 42955]]
Conditions for Approval
This notice of approval does not provide relief from any other
requirements of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (49 CFR Parts 171-
180) except as stated herein. Lithium metal batteries continue to be
prohibited onboard passenger-carrying aircraft except as provided in
Special Provision A101 of Sec. 172.101(c)(2). This approval is
effective August 25, 2009 until terminated by the Associate
Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety.
Modes of Transportation Authorized
Motor vehicle, passenger and cargo aircraft, cargo vessel, and
rail.
General Provisions
Failure by any person using this approval to comply with the terms
and conditions of this approval or the HMR may result in suspension or
termination of the authority to use this approval. Failure to comply
may also subject persons to penalties prescribed in 49 U.S.C. 5123 and
5124.
Issued in Washington, DC, on August 18, 2009.
Robert Richard,
Acting Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety.
[FR Doc. E9-20343 Filed 8-24-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-P