{"operation":"document","citation":"Unnumbered PHMSA interpretation","title":"44 Blue Productions LLC — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2018-05-18","effective_on":null,"summary":"Unnumbered PHMSA interpretation response to 44 Blue Productions LLC concerning 175.10.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-160174.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-160174.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-160174","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/interpretations/58506/160174.pdf","body":"<<>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nMAY 1 8 2018\nWashington, DC 20590\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\nMark Hamaguchi\nVice President of Production Management\n44 Blue Productions LLC\n3900 W. Alameda Avenue\n7h Floor\nBurbank, CA 91505\nReference No. 16-0174\nDear Mr. Hamaguchi:\nThis letter is in response to your October 21, 2016, email requesting clarification of the\nHazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to exceptions for\npassengers, crewmembers, and air operators under § 175.10. Specifically, you ask about the\nquantity of nickel metal hydride batteries permitted in checked baggage.\nIn accordance with § 175.10(a)(18), the HMR authorize the carriage of portable electronic\ndevices containing dry cells or batteries and spare dry cells or batteries for these devices, when\ncarried by passengers or crew members for personal use. Provided each spare battery is\nindividually protected to prevent damage and short circuit, there would be no quantity or watt\nin checked or carry-on baggage.\nhour limitations on nickel metal hydride batteries that passengers or crew members could carry\nSome examples of packaging methods to prevent short circuiting may include: packaging each\nbattery in fully enclosed inner packages made of non-conductive material, packaging batteries in\na manner to prevent contact with other batteries, devices or conductive materials, and ensuring\nexposed terminals or connectors are protected with non-conductive caps, non-conductive tape, or\nby other appropriate means.\nIn addition to the transportation safety requirements pertaining to these devices, there may be\nadditional security requirements issued by the Transportation Security Administration.\n\n<<>>\n\nI hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.\nSincerely,\n7, Alense Tosan\nT. Glenn Foster\nChief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<>>\n\nZehman\n175,10\nGoodall, Shante CTR (PHMSA)\nExceptions\nFrom:\nSent:\nRivera, Jordan CTR (PHMSA)\n16-0174\nTo:\nFriday, October 21, 2016 4:23 PM\nSubject:\nHazmat Interps\nFW: 44 Blue Productions- Nickel Metal Hydride Batteries\nHi Shante/Alice,\nPlease submit this as a letter of interpretation. I spoke with Mr. Hamaguchi.\nPlease let me know if you have any questions.\nThanks,\nJordan\nSent: Friday, October 21, 2016 4:00 PM\nFrom: Mark Hamaguchi [mailto:mhamaguchi@44blue.com]\nTo: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)\nCc: Ed Brotherton\nSubject: Re: 44 Blue Productions- Nickel Metal Hydride Batteries\nThank you Jordan.\nEd mentioned that there are no restrictions but / wanted it in writing for our records.\nMark Hamaguchi\n44 Blue Productions LLC\n3900 W. Alameda Ave.,\n7th Floor\nBurbank, CA 91505\n818-760-4442\nThank you,\nMark\nMark Hamaguchi |V.P. of Production Management|44 Blue Productions, Inc. [818.760.4442| www.44blue.com\n44 BLUE\nFrom: \"INFOCNTR (PHMSA)\" < INFOCNTR.INFOCNTR@dot.gov>\nDate: Friday, October 21, 2016 at 12:37 PM\nTo: Mark Hamaguchi \nSubject: RE: 44 Blue Productions- Nickel Metal Hydride Batteries\nDear Mark,\n1\n\n<<>>\n\n. We have received your request for a written letter of interpretation regarding the hazardous materials regulations (49\nCFR Parts 171-180). The hazardous materials regulations are available at the following URL:\nhttp://phmsa.dot.gov/regulations\nIn order to process your request, please respond to this email with your full contact information (mailing address,\ntelephone number). You may contact the Hazardous Materials Information Center at +1 202-366-4488 with questions.\nPlease allow a minimum of 8 weeks before contacting the Office of Hazardous Materials Standards (OHMS) for a status\non written letters of interpretations. Delivery time of a written interpretation can vary markedly based on topic\nappropriate response.\ncomplexity and the depth of review necessary by OHMS Divisions and modal administrations (e.g., FAA) to ensure an\nSincerely,\nJordan, Hazardous Materials Specialist\nwith 49 CFR 105.20. http://phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/regs/interps\nAn e-mail response from this office is considered informal guidance. Formal guidance may be requested in accordance\nFrom: Mark Hamaguchi [mailto:mhamaguchi@44blue.com]\nTo: INFONTR (PHMSA\nent: Friday, October 21, 2016 2:33 Pr\nCc: Ed Brotherton\nSubject: Re: 44 Blue Productions- Nickel Metal Hydride Batteries\nHello PHMSA,\nHope this email finds you well.\nMy Tech Manager, Ed Brotherton, spoke with Jordan at your organization yesterday. We were interested in finding out if\nthere are restrictions on the quantity that is allowed for CHECK- IN BAGGAGE on passenger planes. FAA Special Agent Judy\nAnn Regan confirmed that Nickel Metal Hydride batteries should be fine to be checked-in but suggested 1 reconfirm with your\norganization.\nCan you assist... see below:\nOctober 20,2016\nU.S. Department of Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\nEast Building, 2nd Floor\n1200 New Jersey Ave., SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nDear Hazardous Material Department,\n2\n\n<<>>\n\nAs mentioned in our voice-mail, 44 Blue Productions, LLC produces a variety of television series all over the\ncountry. In doing so, we travel with camera, audio and lighting gear that use a variety of battery types. Since\nlithium batteries have been causing problems and have travel restrictions, we've been researching alternative\noptions for batteries that are allowed to be checked-in as baggage on passenger aircrafts. In speaking with\nthe FAA, it seems that Nickel Metal Hydride batteries are acceptable to be checked-in on passenger planes\nwithout restrictions. We would like to request a written interpretation of regulation 175.10 (a) 18 regarding\nthe number (quantity) of Nickel Metal Hydride batteries that are allowed in checked baggage.\nWe have been working with FAA Special Agent Judy Ann Regan with our research and she suggested\ncontacting you to re-confirm.\nShould you have any questions or require additional information, please feel free to reach out to me.\nLook forward to hearing from you.\nThank you,\nMark Hamaguchi\nVice President, Production Management\n818-760-4442\nMark Hamaguchi | V.P. of Production Management| 44 Blue Productions, Inc. |818.760.4442| www.44blue.com\n44 BLUE\nFrom: Ed Brotherton \nDate: Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at 11:45 AM\nTo: Mark Hamaguchi \nSubject: Email address to the Hazmat Info Center\nInfocntr@dot.gov\nEd Brotherton | Technical Manager |44 Blue Productions, Inc. |818.760.4442 ext. 133| www.44blue.com\n44 BLUE\n3","truncated":false,"body_characters":6597}