[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 165 (Thursday, August 25, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 53056-53057]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-21443]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 20


Outbound International Mailings of Lithium Batteries

AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.

ACTION: Final rule with comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Postal Service is revising the Mailing Standards of the 
United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM[supreg]) 
section 135.6, to incorporate new maximum limits for the outbound 
mailing of lithium batteries. This is consistent with recent amendments 
to the Universal Postal Union (UPU) Convention.

DATES: Effective Date: October 3, 2011. We must receive your comments 
on or before September 26, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written comments to the manager, Product 
Classification, U.S. Postal Service[supreg], 475 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., 
Room 4446, Washington, DC 20260-5015. You may inspect and photocopy all 
written comments at USPS[reg] Headquarters Library, 475 L'Enfant Plaza, 
SW., 11th Floor N, Washington, DC between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday 
through Friday. E-mail comments, containing the name and address of the 
commenter, may be sent to [email protected], with a subject 
line of ``International Lithium Batteries.'' Faxed comments are not 
accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rick Klutts at 813-877-0372.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Postal Service is making this change to 
be consistent with the amendments to the UPU Convention and regulations 
as announced in International Bureau Circulars 114 and 115, dated June 
14, 2011. The amendments affect UPU Convention Article 15 and Article 
16, Article RL 131 of the letter post regulations, and RC 120 of the 
parcel post regulations regarding the mailing of certain lithium cells 
and batteries. Additional details about this UPU change can be found 
at: http://pe.usps.com/FRN/IB_Circ_114-115.pdf.
    This final rule describes the requirements established for 
mailpieces containing equipment with lithium metal or lithium-ion 
batteries in accordance with Packing Instruction 967, Section II, or 
Packing Instruction 970, Section II, as applicable when mailed 
internationally or to an APO, FPO or DPO location. These instructions 
can be found in the current edition of the Technical Instruction for 
the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air as published by the 
International Civil Aviation Organization.
    This final rule allows limited quantities of lithium batteries 
typically used in consumer products, including many electronic devices, 
to be safely transported in the international mailstream.
    The Postal Service will also make parallel changes to other USPS 
publications that make reference to the international mailing of 
lithium batteries such as Mailing Standards of the United States Postal 
Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[reg]) and Publication 52, Hazardous, 
Restricted, and Perishable Mail.
    The Postal Service hereby adopts the following changes to Mailing 
Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail 
Manual (IMM), which is incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal 
Regulations. See 39 CFR 20.1.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 20

    Foreign relations, International postal services.

    Accordingly, 39 CFR Part 20 is amended as follows:

PART 20--[AMENDED]

0
1. The authority citation for 39 CFR Part 20 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. 552(a); 13 U.S.C. 301-307; 18 U.S.C. 1692-
1737; 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 403, 404, 407, 414, 416, 3001-3011, 3201-
3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 3622, 3626, 3632, 3633, and 5001.


0
2. Revise the following sections of Mailing Standards of the United 
States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM), as follows:

Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International 
Mail Manual (IMM)

1 International Mail Services

* * * * *

130 Mailability

* * * * *

135 Mailable Dangerous Goods

* * * * *
    [Insert new 135.6 as follows:]


135.6  Batteries.


135.61  General.

    Only lithium batteries under 62 and 63 that are properly installed 
in the equipment they operate may be sent internationally. Lithium 
batteries packed with equipment and lithium batteries sent separately 
from equipment are prohibited. Damaged or recalled batteries are 
prohibited and may not be mailed internationally under any 
circumstances.


135.62  Primary Lithium (Non-Rechargeable) Cells and Batteries.

    Small consumer-type primary lithium cells or batteries (lithium 
metal or lithium alloy) like those used to power cameras and 
flashlights are mailable in a single shipment with the following 
restrictions:
    a. The batteries must be installed in the equipment being shipped.
    b. Each shipment may contain a maximum of four lithium cells or two 
lithium batteries.
    c. The lithium content must not exceed 1 gram (g) per cell.

[[Page 53057]]

    d. The total aggregate lithium content must not exceed 2 g per 
battery.
    e. The batteries installed in the equipment must be protected from 
damage and short circuit.
    f. The equipment must be equipped with an effective means of 
preventing it from being turned on or activated.
    g. The equipment must be cushioned to prevent movement or damage 
and be contained in a strong enough sealed package to prevent crushing 
of the package or exposure of the contents during normal handling in 
the mail.


135.63  Secondary Lithium-ion (Rechargeable) Cells and Batteries.

    Small consumer-type lithium-ion cells and batteries like those used 
to power cell phones and laptop computers are mailable in a single 
shipment with the following restrictions:
    a. The batteries must be installed in the equipment being shipped.
    b. Each shipment may contain a maximum of four lithium-ion cells or 
two lithium-ion batteries.
    c. The lithium content must not exceed 20 Watt-hour rating (Wh) per 
cell.
    d. The total aggregate lithium content must not exceed 100 Wh per 
battery.
    e. Each battery must bear the ``Watt-hour'' or ``Wh'' marking on 
the battery to determine if it is within the limits defined in items c 
and d.
    f. The batteries installed in the equipment must be protected from 
damage and short circuit.
    g. The equipment must be equipped with an effective means of 
preventing it from being turned on or activated.
    h. The equipment must be cushioned to prevent movement or damage 
and be contained in a strong enough sealed package to prevent crushing 
of the package or exposure of the contents during normal handling in 
the mail.
* * * * *
    We will publish an amendment to 39 CFR Part 20 to reflect these 
changes.

Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 2011-21443 Filed 8-24-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P