[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 34 (Wednesday, February 22, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11372-11375]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03397]


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

POSTAL SERVICE


Revision to Mailing Standards for the Transport of Lithium 
Batteries

AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.

[[Page 11373]]


ACTION: Notice of prospective revision of standards; invitation to 
comment.

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

SUMMARY: The Postal Service is preparing to revise Publication 52, 
Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail, in various sections to 
provide new mailing standards for lithium batteries. Prior to making 
these revisions, the Postal Service believes that it is appropriate to 
invite comments regarding the nature and scope of the contemplated 
changes.

DATES: The Postal Service must receive written comments on or before 
March 24, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written comments to the manager, Product 
Classification, U.S. Postal Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW., Room 4446, 
Washington, DC 20260-5015. If sending comments by email include the 
name and postal address of the commenter and send to 
[email protected], with a subject line of ``ATTN: Lithium 
Batteries.'' Faxed comments are not accepted. You may inspect and 
photocopy all written comments, by appointment only, at USPS[supreg] 
Headquarters Library, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW., 11th Floor North, 
Washington, DC 20260. These records are available for review Monday 
through Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., by calling 202-268-2906.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Lassiter (202) 268-2914, or 
Kevin Gunther (202) 268-7208.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Overview

    Pursuant to the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal 
Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]), section 601.8.2, 
Publication 52 provides mailing standards specific to hazardous, 
restricted and perishable items and materials, including lithium 
batteries. As discussed in more detail below, the Postal Service is 
preparing to make revisions to Publication 52 in order to align its 
mailing standards for shipments of lithium batteries with the 
regulations of the applicable regulatory agencies. The Postal Service 
believes these changes are necessary to facilitate the movement of 
mailpieces containing lithium batteries in USPS networks, including 
contracted transportation services obtained from commercial sources.

Pending Revisions to Publication 52

    Specifically, the Postal Service finds that it will be necessary to 
make revisions in order to align with the proposed changes to lithium 
battery transportation from the Department of Transportation (DOT), 
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), and to 
maintain consistency with international regulations and standards. In 
addition, the Postal Service intends to revise Publication 52 to align 
with the International Civil Aviation Organization's Technical 
Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (ICAO 
Technical Instructions) with regard to the transportation of lithium 
batteries by air.

PHMSA Rulemaking

    On September 7, 2016 (81 FR 61742), PHMSA issued a notice of 
proposed rulemaking [Docket Number 2015-0273 (HM-215N)] titled 
``Hazardous Materials: Harmonization with International Standards 
(RRR)'' with the intention to maintain consistency with international 
regulations and standards by incorporating various amendments, 
including changes to proper shipping names, hazard classes, packing 
groups, special provisions, packaging authorizations, air transport 
quantity limitations, and vessel stowage requirements. In its proposed 
final rule, PHMSA relates its intent to harmonize its Hazardous 
Materials Regulations (HMR) with recent changes made to the 
International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, the ICAO Technical 
Instructions, and the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport 
of Dangerous Goods--Model Regulations.
    Because of concerns for the exposure to risk associated with 
hazardous materials in its networks, the Postal Service accepts only a 
fraction of the materials regulated by PHMSA. As a result, the Postal 
Service expects few of the revisions addressed by PHMSA in its recent 
proposed rulemaking to have an impact on Postal Service mailing 
standards. With regard to lithium batteries, the Postal Service 
generally accepts only those cells and batteries eligible for the 
PHMSA's exceptions for smaller cells and batteries under 49 CFR 
173.185(c). In this notice, the Postal Service addresses only those 
revisions directly related to the transportation of lithium batteries, 
and only those expected to directly impact the movement of lithium 
batteries in Postal Service networks.

PHMSA Proposed Rule

    The revisions discussed in the PHMSA proposed rule having direct 
effect on Postal Service networks include:
     PHMSA replaces the existing text marking requirements in 
49 CFR 173.185(c)(3) with a standard lithium battery mark (shown below) 
for use in all transport modes, and removes the requirement in 49 CFR 
173.185(c)(3) for shippers to provide an alternative document.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN22FE17.000


[[Page 11374]]


     PHMSA creates a new section containing a new Class 9 
hazard warning label for lithium batteries. The label (shown below) 
consists of the existing Class 9 label with the addition of a figure in 
the lower half depicting a group of batteries with one broken and 
emitting a flame. The label is intended to appear on packages 
containing lithium batteries required to display hazard warning labels, 
and is intended to better communicate the specific hazards posed by 
lithium batteries.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN22FE17.001

     PHMSA amends 49 CFR 173.185(c)(2) and (c)(3)(i) to specify 
that outer packaging used to contain small lithium batteries must be 
rigid and of adequate size so the handling mark can be affixed on one 
side without the mark being folded. PHMSA provides a limited exception 
to the rigid outer packaging requirement when ``the cell or battery is 
afforded equivalent protection by the equipment in which it is 
contained.''
     PHMSA modifies 49 CFR 175.185 to clarify the definition of 
a consignment of hazardous materials as ``one or more packages of 
hazardous materials accepted by an operator from one shipper at one 
time and at one address, receipted for in one lot and moving to one 
consignee at one destination address.'' PHMSA also expands the 
requirement in 49 CFR 173.185(c)(3) for lithium battery marks to appear 
on packages containing small lithium cells or batteries, or lithium 
cells or batteries packed with, or contained in, equipment when there 
are more than two packages in the consignment. PHMSA states that this 
requirement does not apply to a package containing button cell 
batteries installed in equipment (including circuit boards), or when 
there are not more than two packages in the consignment and the package 
contains no more than four lithium cells or two lithium batteries 
installed in the equipment.

ICAO Addenda

    ICAO published addendum number 3 to its Technical Instructions on 
January 15, 2016, and addendum number 4 on February 23, 2016 (http://www.icao.int/safety/DangerousGoods/Pages/default.aspx). In these 
addenda, ICAO announced new regulations for lithium batteries in 
international air transportation. The ICAO revisions, with an effective 
date of April 1, 2016, detailed a number of new provisions including:
     The prohibition of lithium-ion (and lithium-ion polymer) 
batteries, shipped separately from the equipment they are intended to 
operate (categorized as identification number UN3480), on passenger 
aircraft.
     The restriction of UN3480 batteries and cells shipped via 
cargo aircraft to a maximum state of charge (SOC) of no more than 30 
percent.
     The limitation of section II, UN3480 batteries and cells 
to a single package, when sent as a part of a consignment or overpack 
via cargo aircraft.
     The required use of an approved Cargo Aircraft Only (CAO) 
label on all packages of UN3480 batteries and cells transported via 
cargo aircraft.

Proposed USPS Mailing Standards

    Within the next several weeks, the Postal Service intends to revise 
Publication 52 to align with PHMSA's proposed regulations, and to 
maintain consistency with international regulations and standards. As 
such, the Postal Service contemplates the following changes:
     The Postal Service would eliminate the current text 
marking option for mailpieces required to bear, or optionally permitted 
to bear, lithium battery markings, and limit markings to DOT-approved 
lithium battery handling marks only. Mailpieces restricted to surface 
transportation only, including those containing UN3090, lithium metal 
batteries shipped separately, will continue to be required to bear the 
current text marking in addition to a DOT-approved lithium battery 
handling mark. The Postal Service would also eliminate the requirement 
for accompanying documentation with mailings of lithium batteries.
     The Postal Service would add the new DOT class 9 hazard 
warning label for lithium batteries to Publication 52, Exhibit 325.1, 
DOT Hazardous Materials Warning Labels: PROHIBITED IN THE MAIL. 
Packages containing lithium batteries that are required to bear this 
label are prohibited in USPS networks.
     The Postal Service would align its standards with PHMSA's 
proposed regulations with regard to the requirement that the outer 
packaging used to contain small lithium batteries be rigid and of 
adequate size so the handling mark can be affixed on one side without 
the mark being folded. The Postal Service would also permit the use of 
padded or poly bags when cells or batteries are afforded equivalent 
protection by the equipment in which they are contained, but limit this 
exception only to batteries meeting the USPS definition of a button 
cell battery in 349.11(e) of Publication 52.
     The Postal Service would take no action with regard to the 
requirement for lithium battery markings to appear on packages 
containing lithium cells or batteries, or lithium cells or batteries 
packed with, or contained in, equipment when there are more than two 
packages in the consignment. The Postal Service would continue to 
define a consignment in postal terms as a single parcel, making any 
action regarding this PHMSA regulation unnecessary.
    The Postal Service also expects to revise Publication 52 to align 
with the April 1, 2016, final version of the ICAO regulations described 
above. With regard to mail classes and products using air 
transportation, the Postal Service contracts with both passenger 
airlines and commercial air cargo providers. Depending on volume, 
schedules, and other operational factors, the Postal Service directs 
mail, including packages, between various air transportation providers 
as necessary. At times, such decisions are made during, or subsequent 
to the finalization and containerization of these mailpieces. 
Consequently, the Postal Service has concerns for its ability to 
reliably separate mail eligible for transport via passenger aircraft 
from that exclusive to cargo aircraft. Additionally, the Postal Service 
has noted that a number of commercial transportation providers have 
adopted procedures and policies compliant with the April 1, 2016, 
version of the ICAO regulations. To eliminate the potential for refusal 
of mail containing lithium batteries tendered to its contracted air 
carriers, the Postal Service proposes to align its mailing standards 
with the ICAO regulations. With regard to this alignment, the Postal 
Service contemplates the following changes:
     Prohibit UN3480 lithium-ion and lithium polymer batteries 
in USPS air transportation.
     Revise its quantity limitations for UN3480 lithium-ion and 
lithium polymer batteries in surface transportation to align with those 
for lithium metal batteries, changing from

[[Page 11375]]

the previous eight cells or two batteries to an aggregate mailpiece 
limit of 5 pounds (while retaining its previous battery capacity 
limitations of 20 Wh/cell and 100 Wh/battery).
    If it proceeds as planned, the Postal Service expects to provide 
for an implementation date approximately 60 days following notice of 
its adoption of these proposed revised mailing standards, and may 
entertain requests for limited extensions if necessary.

Stanley F. Mires,
Attorney, Federal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2017-03397 Filed 2-21-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P