Increased regulations expected for lithium batteries after UPS cargo plane crash in Dubai

The Wall Street Journal reports a United Parcel Service (UPS) cargo plane crashed in Dubai earlier this month, after an apparent cargo fire involving lithium batteries resulted onboard. This urged federal officials to tighten the restrictions on the transportation of lithium batteries even further.

Lithium batteries are used in a variety of electronic devices, ranging from cell phones to camcorders to laptops, cordless devices and more. The increased restrictions would affect most U.S. cargo carriers and could battery manufacturers and distributors to change the way they package and document shipments of lithium batteries.

Both pilots of the plane died in the crash, which prompted officials to revisit the debate over the fire hazards of lithium batteries. These batteries can burn intensely and can be extremely difficult to extinguish once on fire.

To read the full article, please visit the Wall Street Journal's website.

PHMSA proposes harmonization changes with relevant international standards

Last month, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) with regards to potential harmonization with relevant international Standards. This NPRM (HM-215K) also proposes regulations that do not harmonize with international Standards as well.

One of the more interesting proposals is with regards to limited quantities.

PHMSA is considering the adoption of international standards for limited quantities into the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR). With relative low risks in transporting limited quantities and the potential in savings and efficiency for transportation, limited quantity designations may be eliminated within three years or January 1, 2014.

To read the full NPRM, please follow this link to the official NPRM HM-215K document in PDF format.

Shipping batteries under the Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Regulations, Canada

Transport Canada recently released a bulletin in July 2010 regarding the transportation of batteries under the TDG. This bulletin includes general information, classification, requirements for shipping, cross-border shipments from the United States, upcoming changes and more.

It's important to note that not all batteries are subject to regulations of the TDG. For example, common household-type alkaline, nickel, cadmium (NiCad), nickel metal hydride (NiMH), and silver-zinc batteries are not classified as dangerous goods. Some small lithium batteries, depending on the amount of lithium they contain, may also be exempt from the TDG regulations.

The regulations do require dangerous goods to have a shipping document that includes information outlined in section 3.5 of the TDG.

For the complete bulletin, please visit Transport Canada's website.

Missing entry in 49 CFR Government Edition discovered

There have been two missing entries discovered from the 49 CFR Government Edition book published earlier this year in April. The missing entries are:

• UN3469, Paint related material, flammable corrosive
• UN3267, Corrosive liquid, basic, organic, n.o.s.

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has acknowledged many problems with the table and plans on correcting the missing entries with future harmonization or correction dockets due out.

COSTHA Comments on U.S. DOT PHMSA HM-231A NPRM Hazardous Materials

The Council On Safe Transportation of Hazardous Articles (COSTHA) recently filed comments regarding PHMSA's HM-231A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Hazardous Materials; Packages Intended for Transport by Aircraft.

To read these comments, please click on the link below:
http://www.costha.com/docs/HM-231AComments-COSTHA.pdf

Federal Aviation Administration Civil Penalties for Alleged Violations of 49 CFR

Recently, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a press release with the following proposed penalties against shippers who allegedly violated United States Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) for shipping hazardous materials. The penalties are for violations related to flammable liquids and gases. The proposed penalties range from $54,000 to $70,000 and illustrate the importance of regulatory compliance by the FAA.

For all violations in the press release, the hazardous materials were not properly classed, described, packaged, marked or labeled.

To read the full press release, please click on the link below:
http://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=11601

Batteries blamed for explosion at San Diego, CA FedEx warehouse

San Diego fire spokesman reported that two batteries in a box made contact and exploded around 6:00AM PST on Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at a FedEx warehouse.

For the full story, visit http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hp1X44kxm29_L0wLpbyEoZwOLpKQD9F2V0980