[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 16 (Monday, January 26, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3996-3998]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-01346]


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POSTAL SERVICE


New Mailing Standards for Lithium Batteries

AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Postal Service will revise Publication 52, Hazardous, 
Restricted, and Perishable Mail (Publication 52), in various sections 
to provide new standards for the mailing of lithium batteries. 
Publication 52 was developed to provide expanded requirements for the 
mailing of hazardous, restricted, and perishable materials.

DATES: Effective date: March 2, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joan Hall (212) 330-5332 or Kevin 
Gunther (202) 268-7208.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Overview

    U.S. Postal Service[supreg] Publication 52 provides mailing 
standards specific to hazardous, restricted and perishable items and 
materials. Pursuant to the Mailing Standards of the United States 
Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) 601.8.2, Publication 
52 applies to the mailability of hazardous materials, including lithium 
batteries.

Revisions to Publication 52

    The Postal Service is making these revisions in order to align with 
the Department of Transportation (DOT), Pipeline and Hazardous 
Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) recent changes to regulations 
for the transportation of lithium batteries.
    On August 6, 2014, PHMSA issued a final rule (79 FR 46012-46040) 
titled ``Hazardous Materials: Transportation of Lithium Batteries'' in 
which it describes new requirements governing the shipment of lithium 
cells and batteries for both air and surface transportation. In this 
final rule, PHMSA revises hazard communication and packaging provisions 
for lithium batteries and harmonizes the Hazardous Materials 
Regulations (HMR) with applicable provisions of the United Nations (UN) 
Model Regulations, the International Civil Aviation Organization's 
Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air 
(ICAO Technical Instructions) and the International Maritime Dangerous 
Goods (IMDG) Code.
    With these revisions, the Postal Service aligns with PHMSA and the 
other regulatory entities noted above with regard to:
    1. Use of terminology describing lithium content with watt-hours 
for lithium-ion cells and batteries;
    2. Adoption of separate shipping descriptions for lithium metal 
batteries and lithium-ion batteries;
    3. New requirements for the transport of small lithium cells and 
batteries contained in equipment; and
    4. New marking requirements and options for lithium batteries 
installed in equipment packaged with equipment and shipped without 
equipment.
    In the development of mailing standards for lithium cells and 
batteries in air transportation, the Postal Service

[[Page 3997]]

aligns with PHMSA regulations applicable to passenger aircraft, as 
Postal Service products eligible for transportation by air continue to 
have the potential to be placed on passenger aircraft.

Definitions

    The Postal Service also adds a new definitions section and revises 
its terminology with regard to lithium cells and batteries to better 
reflect what is commonly used in the industry and by other regulatory 
agencies.

International

    The Postal Service clarifies that labels commonly used with other 
transportation providers are not permitted on mailpieces containing 
lithium batteries installed in equipment, when these mailpieces are 
intended for international mail. It has been a common practice for some 
high volume lithium battery shippers to preprint DOT-approved lithium 
battery handling labels on all of their packaging, including those 
intended for international mail. When mailing to international 
destinations, including APO/FPO/DPO (Army Post Office, Fleet Post 
Office, Diplomatic Post Office) destinations, mailpieces containing 
lithium batteries installed in equipment must not include any markings 
or labels that identify the mailpiece contents as lithium batteries. 
The Postal Service also defines a category of very small lithium metal 
and lithium-ion cells and batteries that, when installed in the 
equipment they operate, are mailable in international mail without 
regard to quantity.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN26JA15.001

Quantities

    With this revision, the Postal Service will not require markings or 
documentation for parcels containing button cell lithium batteries 
installed in equipment (including circuit boards) or no more than four 
(4) lithium cells or two (2) lithium batteries installed in equipment. 
For these shipments, the Postal Service will allow the optional use of 
an applicable DOT-approved lithium battery handling labels in either 
domestic air or surface transportation. The Postal Service will require 
markings and documentation as described in this final rule for lithium 
batteries installed in equipment in domestic air transportation when 
the number of cells exceeds four (4) up to the allowable limit for air 
transportation of eight (8) cells.
    The Postal Service will continue to allow mailings of lithium metal 
or lithium-ion batteries packaged with the equipment they operate, and 
lithium-ion batteries packaged without equipment (individual batteries) 
in domestic air transportation. In these instances, mailpieces must not 
contain more than eight (8) lithium cells or two (2) batteries. Cells 
and batteries must be within the applicable USPS limitations for 
lithium metal content or watt-hour rating, and mailpieces must bear 
markings and be accompanied by documentation as described below. 
Mailers should also note that for the purposes of mailability, when a 
limitation of eight (8) cells or two (2) batteries is applicable, the 
mailpiece is restricted to a maximum of either 8 cells or 2 batteries, 
not both.

Markings

    In addition to the marking requirements currently described in 
Publication 52, lithium cells or batteries mailed with (but not 
installed in) equipment or mailed without equipment (individual 
batteries) must be enclosed in strong outer packaging, and must be 
marked with:
    a. An indication that the package contains ``lithium metal'' or 
``lithium-ion'' cells or batteries, as appropriate.
    b. An indication that the package is to be handled with care and 
that a flammable hazard exits if the package is damaged.
    c. An indication that special procedures must be followed in the 
event the package is damaged, to include inspection and repacking, if 
necessary.
    d. A telephone number for additional information.
    e. Mailpieces containing lithium metal batteries not installed in, 
or packaged with equipment must also bear a ``Surface Mail Only, 
Lithium Metal Batteries -- Forbidden for Transportation Aboard 
Passenger Aircraft'' or ``Surface Mail Only, Primary Lithium Batteries 
-- Forbidden for Transportation Aboard Passenger Aircraft'' marking.
    f. Mailers may use a DOT-approved lithium battery handling label, 
in domestic air or surface transportation, to meet these marking 
requirements, provided all required elements are included.

Documentation

    In addition to the marking requirements noted above, mailpieces 
containing lithium batteries packaged with equipment or mailed without 
equipment must be accompanied by a document that includes the 
following:
    a. An indication that the package contains ``lithium metal'' or 
``lithium-ion'' cells or batteries, as appropriate.
    b. An indication that the package is to be handled with care and 
that a flammable hazard exits if the package is damaged.
    c. An indication that special procedures must be followed in the 
event the package is damaged, to

[[Page 3998]]

include inspection and repacking, if necessary.
    d. A telephone number for additional information.
    The specific revisions to Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, 
and Perishable Mail referenced in this notice will be published in 
Postal Bulletin 22408 on February 5, 2015, and can be viewed at http://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin. These revisions are expected to be 
incorporated into the Publication 52 on March 2, 2015. Publication 52 
is provided in its entirety on Postal Explorer[supreg] at http://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/welcome.htm.

Stanley F. Mires,
Attorney, Federal Requirements.
[FR Doc. 2015-01346 Filed 1-23-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P