{"operation":"document","citation":"14-0246","title":"Wiley Rein LLP — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2015-07-07","effective_on":null,"summary":"14-0246 response to Wiley Rein LLP concerning 173.185.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-14-0246.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-14-0246.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-14-0246","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2015/140246.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\n1200 New Jersey Avenue SE\nWashington. DC 20590\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\nJUL 0.72015\nMr. George A. Kerchner\nSenior Regulatory Analyst\nWiley Rein LLP\n1776 K Street, NW\nWashington, DC 20006\nReference No. 14-0246\nDear Mr. Kerchner:\nThis is in response to your December 22, 2014 letter and December 23, 2014 e-mail\nrequesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-\n180) regarding packaging provisions that prescribe short circuit protection for lithium cells\nand batteries transported for disposal or recycling. Further, you ask whether damaged or\ndefective lithium cells and batteries contained in equipment in conformance with\nrequirements prescribed in § 173.185(f) are authorized for transport in commerce under the\nHMR. In your letter, you state that recent revisions to § 173.185 may not align with the 18th\nrevised edition of the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous\nGoods (UN Model Regulations) and Amendment 37-14 of the International Maritime\nDangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code). We have paraphrased your questions and answered\nthem in the order you provided.\nQ1. Please confirm that the type of short circuit protection, if any, required under\n§ 173.185(d) for packages of lithium cells and batteries intended for disposal or\nrecycling would include, but is not limited to, the short circuit protection requirements\nfor packages prescribed in Packing Instruction P909 of the IMDG Code and the UN\nModel Regulations.\nAl.\nYour understanding is correct. Section 173.185(d) provides exceptions for packages\nof lithium cells and batteries intended for disposal or recycling. However, the\nconditions in § 173.185(b), such as short circuit protection, continue to apply. Further,\nthe detailed short circuit protection methods prescribed in Packing Instruction P909 of\nthe IMDG Code and the UN Model Regulations satisfy the short circuit protection\nrequirements of § 173.185(b) of the HMR.\nThe HMR require lithium cells or batteries, including lithium cells or batteries packed\nwith, or contained in, equipment, to be packaged in a manner to prevent short circuits,\nmovement within the outer package and accidental activation of the equipment.\nLithium cells or batteries must be placed in non-metallic inner packagings that\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\ncompletely enclose the cells or batteries, and separate the cells or batteries from\ncontact with equipment, other devices, or conductive materials (e.g., metal) in the\npackaging (§ 173.185(b)).\nPacking Instruction P909 contains similar requirements and describes methods to\nprevent short circuits and a dangerous evolution of heat including: individual\nprotection of the battery terminals, inner packaging to prevent contact between cells\nand batteries, batteries with recessed terminals or the use of non-conductive, non-\ncombustible cushioning material to fill empty space between cells and batteries in the\npackaging.\nQ2. Please confirm that damaged or defective lithium cells and batteries contained in\nequipment in conformance with requirements prescribed in § 173.185(f) are\nauthorized for transport in commerce under the HMR.\nA2. The answer is yes, provided the applicable conditions prescribed in § 173.185(f)(1) -\n(f)(3) are met.\nI hope this satisfies your request. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.\nSincerely,\nDuane AT 1\nDuane A. Pfund\nInternational Standards Coordinator\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\n:\nEdmonsm\n173.185 (d)\nGoodall, Shante CTR (PHMSA)\nLithian Cell → Battaries\nFrom:\nBetts, Charles (PHMSA)\n14-0246\nSent:\nTuesday, December 23, 2014 10:09 AM\nTo:\n'GKerchner@wileyrein.com'; PHMSA HM InfoCenter; Goodall, Shante CTR (PHMSA)\nCc:\nLeary, Kevin (PHMSA); Dodd, Alice (PHMSA)\nSubject:\nRe: Request for Interpretation Letter on Shipping Lithium Batteries for Disposal or\nRecycling and Damaged/Defective Lithium Batteries Contained in Equipment\nShante-\nPlease log and assign for handling.\nThanks,\nCharles\nFrom: Kerchner, George [mailto: GKerchner@wileyrein.com]\nTo: PHMSA HM InfoCenter\nSent: Tuesday, December 23, 2014 09:13 AM Eastern Standard Time\nCc: Leary, Kevin (PHMSA); Betts, Charles (PHMSA)\nSubject: Request for Interpretation Letter on Shipping Lithium Batteries for Disposal or Recycling and\nDamaged/Defective Lithium Batteries Contained in Equipment\nAttached is a request for an interpretation letter on PHMSA's HM-224F lithium battery final rule related to the transport\nof damaged/defective lithium batteries and short circuit protection requirements for lithium batteries shipped for\ndisposal or recycling.\nThe issues addressed in the letter impact the new lithium battery regulations that take effect on February 6,\n2015. Therefore, your immediate attention to this matter is greatly appreciated.\nThank you.\nWiles\nGeorge A. Kerchner\nSenior Regulatory Analyst\nWiley Rein LLP\nWashington, DC 20006\n1776 K Street NW\nTel: 202.719.4109 | Fax: 202.719.7049\nwww.wileyrein.com\nEmail: GKerchner@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 of this\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\n1\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nsending an e-mail to Information@wileyrein.com. As part of our environmental efforts, the firm is WILEY\nGREEN(™). Please consider the environment before printing this email.\n\n<<<PAGE 5>>>\n\nWiley\nHenr\nLLF\n1776K STREET NW\nDecember 22, 2014\nGeorge A. Kerchner\nWASHINGTON, DC 20006\nSenior Regulatory Analyst\nFAX\nPHONE\n202.719.7000\n202.719.4109\n202.719.7049\ngkerchner@wileyrein.com\nMCLEAN, VA 22102\n7925 JONES BRANCH DRIVE\nDelivered Via Email\nphmsa.hm-infocenter@dot.gov\nPHONE\nFAX\n703.905.2800\n703.905.2820\nU.S. Department of Transportation\nwww.wileyrein.com\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\nOffice of Hazardous Materials Standards/Attn: PHH-10\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.\nWashington, DC 20590-0001\nRe: Request for Interpretation on Shipping Lithium Batteries for Disposal or\nRecycling; Damaged/Defective Lithium Batteries Contained in Equipment\nI am writing for an interpretation on two issues associated with PHMSA's HM-\n224F lithium battery final rule published August 6, 2014 related to the transport of\ndamaged/defective lithium batteries and short circuit protection requirements for\nlithium batteries shipped for disposal or recycling.\nThe first issue relates to the type of packaging and short circuit protection required\nfor lithium cells and batteries shipped for disposal or recycling in accordance with\n49 CFR 173.185(d) in the U.S. hazardous materials regulations. This new provision\nhas caused some uncertainty regarding what packaging can be used to comply with\nthe general short circuit protection requirements and how it aligns with the\ninternational dangerous goods regulations. For example, the new Packing\nInstruction P909 from the 18\" Revised Edition of the UN Model Regulations and\n2014 Edition of the IMDG Code authorizes the following packaging to prevent\nshort circuits in transport:\n1. Cells and batteries shall be designed or packed to prevent short circuits\nand the dangerous evolution of heat.\n2. Protection against short circuits and the dangerous evolution of heat\nincludes, but is not limited to:\n- individual protection of the battery terminals,\n- inner packaging to prevent contact between cells and batteries,\n- batteries with recessed terminals designed to protect against short\ncircuits, or\n- the use of a non-conductive and non-combustible cushioning material to\nfill empty space between the cells or batteries in the packaging.\n\n<<<PAGE 6>>>\n\nWiley\nKein\nLLP\nDecember 22, 2014\nPage 2\nWe assume it was PHMSA's intent when it published the HM-224F final rule to\nauthorize the type of short circuit protection listed above for lithium cells and\nbatteries shipped for disposal or recycling in accordance with 49 CFR 173.185(d).\nReg. 46031.) The packaging provides adequate protection during transport to\nprevent short circuits and reduces the possibility of damage to the cells and batteries\nthat could lead to an incident. In addition, the packaging would harmonize the U.S.\nhazardous materials regulations with the IMDG Code, UN Model Regulations and\nTransport Canada's proposed amendments to the TDG Regulations. Harmonization\nof these regulations facilitates the movement of waste lithium cells and batteries to,\nfrom and within the U.S.\nTherefore, we request confirmation from PHMSA that the type of short circuit\nprotection authorized under the new 49 CFR 173.185(d) provision includes, but is\nnot limited to, those examples listed above from Packing Instruction P909 of the\n2014 IMDG Code and UN Model Regulations.\nThe second issue relates to whether damaged or defective lithium cells and batteries\ncontained in equipment are authorized for transport in accordance with the new\nprovision found at 49 CFR § 173.185(f) of the U.S. hazardous materials regulations.\nWe understand it was PHMSA's intent to authorize shipments of damaged or\ndefective lithium cells and batteries contained in equipment in order to harmonize\nthe U.S. hazardous materials regulations with similar provisions and Packing\nInstruction P908 in the 2014 IMDG Code, 18' Revised Edition of the UN Model\nRegulations and Transport Canada's proposed amendments to the TDG\nRegulations.\nTherefore, we request confirmation from PHMSA that damaged or defective lithium\ncells and batteries contained in equipment are authorized for transport in accordance\nwith the new 49 CFR § 173.185(f) provision.\nThank you for your assistance.\nSincerely,\nGeorge A. Kerchner\nGeorge A. Kerchner","truncated":false,"body_characters":9978}