[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 175 (Friday, September 9, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 55799]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-23054]



[[Page 55799]]

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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 20


Outbound International Mailings of Lithium Batteries

AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.

ACTION: Final rule; withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: The Postal Service is withdrawing a final rule that would 
incorporate new maximum limits for the outbound mailing of lithium 
batteries to international, or APO, FPO or DPO locations. The Postal 
Service also withdraws the corresponding Code of Federal Regulations 
revision to reflect these new limits.

DATES: The final rule published on August 25, 2011 (76 FR 53056-56057), 
is withdrawn effective September 9, 2011.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a final rule with comment period 
published in the Federal Register on August 25, 2011, the Postal 
Service provided new maximum limits for mailpieces containing equipment 
with lithium metal or lithium-ion batteries that were to be effective 
October 3, 2011. These revisions were consistent with recent amendments 
to the Universal Postal Union (UPU) Convention and regulations as 
announced in International Bureau Circulars 114 and 115, dated June 14, 
2011, that affected UPU Convention Articles 15 and 16, Article RL 131 
of the letter post regulations, and Article RC 120 of the parcel post 
regulations.
    The withdrawal of the revisions is necessary because of a notice to 
the UPU from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) on 
August 19, 2011, requesting that the UPU delay implementation of the 
aforementioned amendment until the UPU revisions could be reviewed by 
the ICAO Dangerous Goods Panel, and if approved, incorporated into The 
Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air 
manual. Therefore, the UPU has informed its member countries that the 
date of newly adopted UPU amendments for lithium batteries will be the 
subject of further notice based on the decision of the panel and any 
changes to the ICAO Technical Instructions.
    Accordingly, the Postal Service withdraws its final rule published 
on August 25, 2011. The Postal Service also withdraws the revision to 
39 CFR 20.1 whereby a new section 135.6 was added to the Mailing 
Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail 
Manual (IMM[supreg]) to describe the new maximum limits for the 
outbound mailing of lithium batteries to international, or APO, FPO or 
DPO locations. The parallel changes that were to be made to other USPS 
publications are also withdrawn.

Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 2011-23054 Filed 9-8-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P