{"operation":"document","citation":"12-0019","title":"Council on the Safe Transportation of Hazardous Articles, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2012-02-08","effective_on":null,"summary":"12-0019 response to Council on the Safe Transportation of Hazardous Articles, Inc. concerning 171.8, 175.10.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-12-0019.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-12-0019.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-12-0019","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2012/120019.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE\nof Transportation Washington, DC 20590\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\nMr. Tom Ferguson, PG. CHMl'vL DGSA\nTechnical Consultant '£8 8201\nCouncil on the Safe Transportation of Hazardous Articles, Lnc.\n7803 Hill HOllse Court\nFairfax Station, V A 22039\nRef. No. 12-00\\9\nDear Mr. Ferguson:\nThis responds to your January 18. 2012 request for written clarification of the Hazardous\nNlaterials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts L 71-180) applicable to the exceptions\nprovided for portable electronic devices powered by lithium ion batteries calTied on an\naircraft. Specifically, you ask whether the aggregate equivalent lithium content (AELC)\n..;tated in § 175.lO(a)( 18)(ii) for up two lithium ion batteries is limited to 25 grams per\nbattery.\nThe answer is yes. Although AELC is not defined in the HMR. its meaning is equivalent\nto the definition of aggregate lithium content, which is defined as ··the sum of the grams of\nlithium content or equivalent lithium content contained by the cells comprising a battery.\"\n*\nL 71.8. Based on this definition. the 25g limit applies to each battery and not the total\nbetween the batteries. While we revised the text of § 175.1O(a)( 18)(ii) (formerly\nsubparagraph (17)) in Final Rule 72 FR 44930 (Apr. 9,2007), our interpretation that each\nbattery may have an AELC up to 25 grams remains the same. Therefore. a passenger or\n~rew member may carry up to two lithium ion batteries if the AELC of each battery does\nnot exceed 25 grams. Spare batteries must be carried in carry-on baggage only.\nThank you for bringing this matter to our attention. We have created a table outlining the\n*\napplicability of the exceptions stated in\n175.lO(a)(lS). See Appendix A attached. We will\nalso consider clarifying this issue in a rulemaking action. Please contact us if we can be of\nfurther assistance.\nSincerely,\n.fc. Dr. Mag y EI-Sibaie\nAssociate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nAppendix A\nThe following table identifies the exceptions for portable electronic devices stated in\n*\n175.IO(a)(l8):\nType of Battery (Used to power portable\nelectronic devices. see\n§ 175.10(a)( 18))\nCarry-on Baggage Checked Baggage\nJ\nI\nInstalled in \n equipment Spares Installed in\nequipment\nSpares\nLithium ion (Small*)\n(Rechargeable lithium, lithium polymer, LIPO) as \n lIsed in small consumer \n electronics. such as cell\nphones. cameras.\nPDAs. and most laptops. \n (* 8 grams or less\nequivalent lithium content\nper battery)\nILithium ion (Medium*)\n(Typically extended-life\nbatteries)\n('~ More than 8 grams but \n not more than 25 grams \n equivalent lithium content\nper battery)\nYES YES (Protected from\nshort circuit)\nYES NO\n, I\nYES YES YES Limit two (2) Limit two (2) Limit two (2)\nbatteries per batteries per batteries per\npassenger. passenger and passenger\nprotected from\nshort circuit\nNO\nLithium metal*\n(As used in small consumer electronics such as \n cameras. LED tlashlights. \n etc. )\n(*2 grams or less lithium\nper battery)\nYES YES No limit and\nprotected from\nshort circuit\nYES NO\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nCOUNCIL ON SAFE TRANSPORTATION\nOF HAZARDOUS ARTICLES, INC\nJanuary 19, 2012\nPresident\nRobert Heinrich\nNovartis Pharmaceuticals\nRobert Heinrich@novartls,com\nFirst Vice President\nDonald Dossow\nDiversey.lnc.\ndonaid,oosso\"-®diversey,com\nSecond Vice PresidentffnasUTer\nJohn D' Aloia\nMary Kay, Inc.\njohn\"d'aJoia@rnkcorp,com\nSecretary\nJeanne Zmich\nlabelmaster\nJEANNEZ@alc·netcom\nE:tttunve Committee Member\nRidtard L''lttimer\nEli Lilly and Company\nKLattimer@lilly\"com\nBoard of Directors\nl,e'Adolph\nAmerican Airlines\nLes,Adolph@aa.com\nSean Broderick\nProcter & Gamble Distributing LLC\nBrodenck.sp@pg com\nDavid Evans\nPurolator Cooner ltd.\ndevans2@Purolator.oom\nAmy Fischesser\nSun Ch~micill Corporation\namy.fiscnesser@na.sunchemcom\nAlicia Gaines\nAbbott Laboratories\nalicia_gaines@abbott,oom\nJames Jahnke\n~tertk and Co\njamesjahnke@mertkcom\nDave Madsen\nAutoUv.lot.\nDave.~n@autDliv.com\nChristopher PaJabrica, CPM~ CHMM\nMays Chemical Co.\nchrisp@mayschem.com\nDan Wieten\nToyota Motor Sales. USA. Inc.\ndan _ wieten@toyota.com\nGeneral Counsel\nRichard Schwei.zer. PLLC\nJanuary 18, 2012\nMagdy EI-Sibaie, PhD\nAssociate Administrator, Hazardous Materials Safety\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\nUS Department of Transportation\n1200 New Jersey Ave., SE\nEast Bldg. Second Floor\nWashington, DC 20590-0001\nDear Dr. EI-Sibaie:\nThe Council on Safe Transportation of Hazardous Articles, Inc.\n(COSTHA) hereby submits a request for interpretation regarding 49\nCFR, Part 175, §175.10, paragraph (a)(18). Specifically, COSTHA is\nrequesting clarification as to whether the paragraph permits the\ncarriage of up to two (2) lithium ion batteries with an aggregate\nequivalent lithium content (ELC) of up to 25g each, or whether the\nparagraph permits the carriage of up to two (2) lithium ion batteries\nwith an aggregate ELC of up to 25g total between the batteries.\nCOSTHA is a not-for-profit organization representing manufacturers,\nshippers, distributors, carriers, freight forwarders, trainers, packaging\nmanufacturers and others associated with the hazardous materials\ntransportation industry. In addition to promoting regulatory compliance\nand safety in hazardous materials transportation, COSTHA assists its\nmembers and the public in evaluating the practicality and efficacy of\nlaws, rules and regulations for the safe transportation and distribution\nof hazardous materials.\nThe Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) provide specific\nprovisions for the carriage of hazardous materials in checked or carryon\nbaggage in §175.10. Paragraph (a)(18) details provisions for the\ncarriage of small electronic devices containing batteries (including\nlithium ion batteries) in baggage. The paragraph details conditions\nunder which spare lithium ion batteries are permitted, stipulating such\nbatteries may only be offered in carry-on baggage.\nWe are seeking an interpretation regarding the highlighted section\nbelow from 175.1 0(a)(18)(ii) as originally written. The way the industry\nhas interpreted this is that each battery (of 2) can have an aggregate\nequivalent lithium battery content of between 8-25 grams. FAA is\nstating that the two batteries in aggregate must be less than 25 grams.\nThe Council on Safe Transportation of Hazardous Articles, Inc.\n7803 Hill House Court Fairfax Station, VA 22039 Phone: 703/451-4031 Fax: 703/451-4207\nmail@costha.com www.costha.com\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\n49 CFR 175.10(a)(18) reads as follows:\n(18) Except as provided in §173.21 of this subchapter, portable electronic devices (for\nexample, watches, calculating machines, cameras, cellular phones, lap-top and\nnotebook computers, camcorders, etc.) containing cells or batteries (including lithium\ncells or batteries) and spare batteries and cells for these devices, when carried by\npassengers or crew members for personal use. Each spare battery must be individually\nprotected so as to prevent short circuits (by placement in original retail packaging or by\notherwise insulating terminals, e.g. , by taping over exposed terminals or placing each\nbattery in a separate plastic bag or protective pouch) and carried in carry-on baggage\nonly. In addition, each installed or spare battery must not exceed the following:\n(i) For a lithium metal battery, a lithium content of not more than 2 grams per\nbattery; or\n(ii) For a lithium-ion battery, an aggregate equivalent lithium content of not more\nthan 8 grams per battery, except that up to two batteries with an aggregate\nequivalent lithium content of more than 8 grams but not more than 25 grams may\nbe carried.\nOur researchshows that the language adopted in the Final Rule HM-228 published in the\nFederal Register on March 22, 2006 stated:\n(17) Except as provided in Sec. 173.21 of this subchapter, consumer electronic and\nmedical devices (watches, calculators, cameras, cellular phones, lap-top computer,\ncamcorders, and hearing aids, etc.) containing lithium cells or batteries, and spare\nlithium batteries and cells for these devices, when carried by passengers or crew\nmembers in carry-on or checked baggage for personal use. In addition, each installed or\nspare battery must conform to the following;\n(i) The lithium content of the anode ofeach cell, when fully charged, is not more\nthan 5 g; and\n(ii) The aggregate lithium content of the anodes of each battery, when fully\ncharged, is not more than 25g.\nOn August 9, 2007, the Final Rule HM-224E was published. HM-224E modified the previous\nsubparagraph (ii) to include two (2) spare lithium ion batteries.\n(17) Except as provided in Sec. 173.21 of this subchapter, portable electronic devices\n(for example, watches, calculating machines, cameras, cellular phones, lap-top and\nnotebook computers, camcorders, etc.) containing cells or batteries (including lithium\ncells or batteries) and spare batteries and cells for these devices, when carried by\npassengers or crew members for personal use. Each spare battery must be individually\nprotected so as to prevent short circuits (by placement in original retail packaging or by\notherwise insulating terminals, e.g., by taping over exposed terminals or placing each\nbattery in a separate plastic bag or protective pouch) and carried in carry-on baggage\nonly. In addition, each installed or spare battery must not exceed the following:\n(i) For a lithium metal battery, a lithium content of not more than\n2 grams per battery; or\n(ii) For a lithium-ion battery, an aggregate equivalent lithium content of not more\nthan 8 grams per battery, except that up to two batteries with an aggregate\nequivalent lithium content of more than 8 grams but not more than 25 grams may\nbe carried.\nThe Council on Safe Transportation of Hazardous Articles, Inc.\n7803 Hill House Court, Fairfax Station, VA 22039 703/451-4031 FAX: 703/451-4207\nmail@costha.com www.costha.com\n\n<<<PAGE 5>>>\n\nHowever. when HM-224E was adopted, the word \"each\" was removed or omitted from the final\nlanguage. Some have interpreted the removal as intentional and implying the 25g ELC limit\napplies to the combined ELC of the two (2) batteries.\n[Note: The paragraph number changed from (a)(17) to (a)(18) in the Final Rule HM215K\npublished in the Federal Register on January 19, 2011.]\n§171.B - Definitions provides details on what is meant by the terms Equivalent Lithium Content\n(ELC) and Aggregate Lithium Content:\nEquivalent lithium content means, for a lithium-ion cell, the product ofthe rated\ncapacity, in ampere-hours, of a lithium-ion cell times 0.3, with the result expressed in\ngrams. The equivalent lithium content of a battery equals the sum of the grams of\nequivalent lithium content contained in the component cells of the battery.\nAggregate lithium content means the sum of the grams of lithium content or equivalent\nlithium content contained by the cells comprising a battery.\nCOSTHA believes the current language in §175.10(a)(1B)(ii) permits the carriage of two (2)\nspare lithium ion batteries in carry-on baggage, each with an ELC up to 25g. We believe this\ninterpretation is supported by the definitions in §171.B for Aggregate lithium content which refers\nto the lithium content of a single battery, not multiple batteries. Further, we believe this\ninterpretation is supported by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)'s \"Batteries Carried by\nAirline Passengers Frequently Asked Questions\" document issued on January 9, 200B\n(attached for your reference), and PHMSA's SafeTravel.DOT.GOV website regarding lithium ion\nbatteries in carry-on baggage.\nAs this interpretation has implications onpending FAA approval of multiple US air carriers'\nHazardous Materials Transport and Training Programs, we request PHMSA provide guidance\non this issue in an expeditious manner.\nWe appreciate your assistance in clarifying PHMSA's intent in regards to this rule.\nSincerely,\nTom Ferguson, DGSA\nTechnical ConSUltant\nThe Council on Safe Transportation of Hazardous Articles,Jnc.\n7803 Hill House Court, Fairfax Station, VA 22039 703/451-4031 FAX: 703/451-4207\nmail@costha.com www.costha.com","truncated":false,"body_characters":12061}