# Lockheed Martin - Sippican — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 11-0223
- **title:** Lockheed Martin - Sippican — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation
- **source type:** guidance
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** guidance
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2011-10-27
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** 11-0223 response to Lockheed Martin - Sippican concerning 172.101.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-11-0223.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-11-0223.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-11-0223
- **source url:** https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2011/110223.pdf
**body:**

<<<PAGE 1>>>

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE
u.s. Department Washington. DC 20590
of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety
Administration
OCT 2 7 2D11
Mr. Matthew Sears
EHS Department
Lockheed Mar tin - Sippican
7 Barnabas Rd.
Marion, MA 02738
Ref. No.: 11-0223
Dear Mr. Sears:
This responds to your September 1, 2011 request for clarification on use of an overpack for
the shipment of lithium batteries under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR
Parts 171-180). Specifically you ask ifthe 35 kg weight limitation for lithium metal batteries
contained in equipment, UN3091 , in column 9B ofthe § 172.101 hazardous materials table
and packing instruction 970 ofthe International Civil Aviation Organizations Technical
Instructions for the Safe Transport ofDangerous Goods by Air (ICAO Technical Instructions)
apply to the weight of individual packages or to the gross weight of all packages contained on
the pallet.
The quantity limitations in the HMR apply to the weight of lithium batteries per package. The
quantity limitations in the 2011-2012 ICAO Technical Instructions apply to the weight of
lithium batteries per piece ofequipment. Multiple packages consolidated onto a pallet would
constitute an overpack as defined by the HMR and the ICAO Technical Instructions, and the
gross weight ofthe overpack may exceed 35 kg.
I hope this answers your inquiry. If you need additional assistance, please contact the
Standards and Rulemaking Division at (202) 366-8553.
Sincerely,
BenSupko
Acting Chief, Standards Development
Standards and Rulemaking Division

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Lockheed Marrin Sippican, Inc.
Seven Barnabas Road Marion, MA 02738
Telephone 508·748·1160
Darral Relerford
Special Pennits and Approvals PHH-31
PHMSA
U.S Department ofTransportation
1200 New Jersey Ave
SE East Building, Room E23-418
Washington, DC 20590
Re: Lockheed Martin Sippican, Inc. - Request for interpretation to ship lithium metal
batteries contained in equipment UN 3091 without a Competent Authority
Approval Letter .
Dear Mr. Relerford:
On behalf of Lockheed Martin Sippican, Inc. (Lockheed), we are writing you to request
an interpretation, so that we would be able to ship lithium metal batteries contained in
equipment UN 3091. without an Competent Authority Approval Letter but instead foHow
the proper shipping requirements as outlined in 49 CFR 172.101, ICAO packing
instruction 970 and 49 CFR 173.25
Lockheed consolidates an individually packaged product (EMA TT) contained within a
UN approved package and marked accordingly, and then secures it onto a pallet with
straps tor ease of transportation. Depending on the needs of our customers we may ship
one (1) individually packaged EMA TT, or up to thirty-six (36) individually pack<\ged
EMATTs on a pallet. Each EMATT weighs (including packaging) 15.9 kg and contains
.0810 kg oflithiwn in a lithium metal battery pack. The battery pack is also UN tested
and contains all of the required safety features including diodes and fuses.
Lockheed would like to confirm our interpretation of 49 CFR 173.25 which we
understand that when a pallet is used to consolidate packages it is considered to be an
overpack and is not subject to a 35 kg weight limitation. Therefore we wOl,lld not be
required to have a Competent Authority approval to ship EMA TIs.
Also attached is a June 28, 2007 interpretation letter which we beHeve applies to our
situation. However we wanted to confinn with your off1ce that we will he shipping
EMA TTs proper1y.

<<<PAGE 3>>>

Should you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to call me at (774) 553 6584
or write me at the address above.
~_~_~rely,
\) \ V \;J~ ..Q~--
Matthew Sears
Environmental, Health, and Safety Engineer
Attacrhment
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