{"operation":"document","citation":"12-0031","title":"Wiley Rein LLP — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2012-05-09","effective_on":null,"summary":"12-0031 response to Wiley Rein LLP concerning 173.185.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-12-0031.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-12-0031.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-12-0031","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2012/120031.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\n1200 New Jersey Av.enue SE\nWashington. DC 20590\nMAY 0 9 2G12\nMr. George Kerchner\nSenior Regulatory Analyst\nWiley Rein LLP\n1776 K Street, NW\nWashington, DC 20006\nRef. No. 12-0031\nDear Mr. Kerchner:\nThis responds to your January 24, 2012 email requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials\nRegulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) and the International Civil Aviation Organization\nTechnical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (ICAO Technical\nInstructions) applicable to the transport of lithium batteries. Your questions are paraphrased and\nanswered below:\nQ 1: May a lithium battery be placed directly into a UN 4G fiberboard box without any inner\npackaging in accordance with the requirements of§ 173.185(a)(4)?\nA1: No. As provided by§ 173.185(a)(4), each lithium battery must be packed in an inner\npackaging in such a manner as to prevent short circuits, including movement which could lead to\nshort circuits. The inner packaging must be packed within a suitable outer packaging, such as a\nUN 4G fiberboard box, that conforms to the requirements of Part 178 subparts L and M at the\nPacking Group II performance level.\nQ2. May a lithium battery be placed directly into a UN 4G fiberboard box without any inner\npackaging in accordance with the requirements of Packing Instruction 965, Section I ofthe\nICAO Technical Instructions?\nA2. No. Similar to the requirements of§ 173.185(a)(4), Packing Instruction 965, Section I of\nthe ICAO Technical Instructions requires each lithium battery to be placed in inner packagings\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nthat completely enclose the battery, then placed in an outer package. The completed package\nmust meet the performance requirements at the Packing Group II performance level.\nI hope this information is helpful. If you have further questions, please contact this office.\nSincerely,\n&-rs~\nBen Supko\nActing Chief, Standards Development\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nDrakeford, Carol\nFrom: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)\nSent:\nTo:\nSubject: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 12:52 PM\nDrakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA)\nFW:Interp Letters Inner Packaging Requirements for Lithium Batteries\nFrom: Kerchner, George [mailto:GKerchner@wileyrein.coml\nSent: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 12:05 PM\nTo: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)\nCc: Leary, Kevin (PHMSA)\nSubject: Inner Packaging Requirements for Lithium Batteries\nHi Carolyn.\nWe received the following request for a letter of interpretation.\nThanks,\nVictoria\nVictoria Lehman\nHazmat Information Center (HMIC)\nhttp://phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/info-center\n(202) 366-1035\nI am writing for a clarification on whether a lithium battery, as an article, is required to be placed inside an inner packaging\nto comply with 49 CFR 173.185(a)(4) and ICAO Technical Instruction Packing Instruction 965, Section I.\nIt is generally recognized that batteries are articles and as such may not require a separate inner packaging to comply\nwith the combination packaging requirements in 49 CFR 173.185(a)(4). However, the way this provision and PI 965,\nSection I are written, it appears that an inner packaging may in fact be required for lithium batteries. Therefore, I would\nappreciate answers to the following questions:\n1. 2. May a lithium battery be placed directly in a 4G fiberboard box without any inner packaging and still be compliant\nwith the requirements 49 CFR 173.185(a)(4 )?\nMay a lithium battery be placed directly in a 4G fiberboard box without any inner packaging and still be compliant\nwith the requirements found in PI 965, Section I of the ICAO technical Instructions (2011-2012 Edition)?\nThank you.\nGeorge A. Kerchner\nSenior Regulatory Analyst\n1\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nWiley Rein LLP\n1776 K Street, NW\nWashington, DC 20006\nOffice 202.719.4109\nCell443.223.0604\ngkerchner@wileyrein.com\nNOTICE: This message (including any attachments) from Wiley Rein LLP may constitute an attorney-client\ncommunication and may contain information that is PRIVILEGED and CONFIDENTIAL and/or ATTORNEY\nWORK PRODUCT. If you are not an intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination ofthis\nmessage is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please do not read, copy or forward\nthis message. Please permanently delete all copies and any attachments and notify the sender immediately by\nsending an e-mail to Information(mwileyrein.com. As part of our environmental efforts, the firm is WILEY\nGREEN<™l. Please consider the environment before printing this email.\n2","truncated":false,"body_characters":4557}