{"operation":"document","citation":"19-0084","title":"Duke Energy — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2019-10-24","effective_on":null,"summary":"19-0084 response to Duke Energy concerning 173.185.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-19-0084.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-19-0084.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-19-0084","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/docs/standards-rulemaking/hazmat/interpretations/72751/190084.pdf","body":"<<>>\n\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nOCT 2 4 2019\nCharles Denny\nDuke Energy\n410 S. Wilmington Street, NC15\nRaleigh, NC 27601\nReference No. 19-0084\nDear Mr. Denny:\nThis letter is in response to your June 19, 2019, email requesting clarification of the Hazardous\nMaterials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to lithium metal batteries\ncontained in equipment. Specifically, you provide the following scenario and ask whether the\nlithium battery mark requirement applies to your packages:\n• You state Duke Energy receives smart grid electric meters that each contain a single\nlithium metal battery with a content of :S 2 grams of lithium per battery;\n• Each smart grid electric meter containing a single lithium metal battery will be classified\nas \"UN3091, Lithium metal batteries contained in equipment, 9\";\n• Each consignment includes individual non-specification packages sent from the\nmanufacturer containing four smart grid electric meters per box, with 30 of these non-\nspecification packages shrink-wrapped together to a pallet, for a total of 120 smart grid\nelectric m~ters per pallet; and\n• You state the shipments of these smart grid electric meters will be transported by\nhighway.\nWe have paraphrased and answered your questions as follows:\nQ 1. You ask whether each package would be required to be marked with the lithium battery\nmark.\nAl. The answer is yes. Based on the information you provided, each package must display\nthe lithium battery mark as required in§ 173.185(c)(3) since there are more than two\npackages in the consignment.\nQ2. You inquire about the marking requirements if the manufacturer decides to ship all 120-\nsmart grid electric meters in one non.:specification rigid outer package (rather than four\nsmart grid electric meters per box).\n\n<<>>\n\nA2. Based on the information you provided, the outer package containing the 120 electric\nmeters must display the lithium battery mark (see § 173. l 85(c)(3)) as the package\ncontains more than two lithium batteries contained in equipment.\nI hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.\nChief, Standards Development Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n\n<<>>\n\nDodd, Alice (PHMSA)\nFrom:\nSent:\nTo:\nSubject:\nINFOCNTR (PHMSA)\nWednesday, June 19, 2019 12:28 PM\nHazmat Interps\nFW: Lithium Metal Battery in Electric Meters\nHello Alice and lkeya,\nBelow is a request for letter of interpretation.\nThanks,\nJonathon\nFrom: Denny, Chuck [mailto:Chuck.Denny@duke-energy.com]\nSent: Wednesday, June 19, 2019 10:10 AM\nTo: PHMSA HM lnfoCenter \nCc: Denny, Chuck \nSubject: Lithium Metal Battery in Electric Meters\nPHMSA,\nWe receive electric meters that each contain a single lithium metal battery (not a button cell battery) which has a\ncontent of.'.::. 2 g lithium. The smart grid meters would be considered \"lithium metal batteries contained in\nequipment.\" Individual non-specification packages from the manufacturer contain four electric meters per box. 30 non-\nspecification boxes with the electric meters are shrink-wrapped to a pallet. Each pallet contains a total of 120 meters\n(4x30). Shipments from the manufacturer are made by highway.\n• Due to there being over 2 packages per consignment (30 boxes) even if there is only one battery per box, is it\ncorrect that each box would be required to be marked with the lithium battery hazard communication marking\nidentified in 49 CFR 173.185(c)(3) when shipped by highway?\n• If the manufacturer decides to ship the 120 meters in one non-specification package (rigid outer container)\nrather than 4 meters per box, what are the marking requirements for the one package when shipped by\nhighway? Each of the 120 electric meters would contain one lithium metal battery(.'.::. 2 g lithium per battery)\nand there would only be one package for the consignment.\nThanks in advance for responding to these questions.\nDUKE\nENERGY ®\nThanks,\nCharles (Chuck) Denny, CHMM\nDuke Energy Corporation\nDOT Hazmat and Waste SME\nEnvironmental Services\nEnvironmental Programs\n1\n\n<<>>\n\n410 S. Wilmington Street, NClS\nRaleigh, NC 27601\n919-546-6716 (Office)\n980-312-4232 (Cell)\n919-546-3669 (Fax)\n2","truncated":false,"body_characters":4332}