80 FR 52368 - Notice of Lithium Battery Safety Public Meeting and Request for Information

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary of Transportation

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 167 (August 28, 2015)

Page Range		52368-52371
FR Document		2015-21416

The U.S. Department of Transportation, including the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Office of Hazardous Materials Safety and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's (PHMSA) Office of Hazardous Materials Safety, announce a public meeting seeking input on risk mitigation strategies to enhance the safe transport of lithium batteries by air. The meeting will include a discussion on pertinent safety recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) International Multidisciplinary Lithium Battery Transport Group. The Department also invites comments and supporting data to be posted to the docket. Information presented at the public meeting or submitted to the docket will be used to help inform the Department as it prepares to participate in relevant ICAO Panel meetings this fall, including the ICAO Dangerous Goods Panel (DGP) meeting, currently scheduled for October 19-30, 2015. As is customary, another public meeting will be held prior to the upcoming ICAO DGP meeting.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 167 (Friday, August 28, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 167 (Friday, August 28, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52368-52371]
From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-21416]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary of Transportation

[Docket No. DOT-OST-2015-0169]

Notice of Lithium Battery Safety Public Meeting and Request for
Information

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Federal
Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of lithium battery safety public meeting and request for
information.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Transportation, including the Federal
Aviation Administration's (FAA) Office of Hazardous Materials Safety
and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's
(PHMSA) Office of Hazardous Materials Safety, announce a

[[Page 52369]]

public meeting seeking input on risk mitigation strategies to enhance
the safe transport of lithium batteries by air. The meeting will
include a discussion on pertinent safety recommendations of the
International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) International
Multidisciplinary Lithium Battery Transport Group. The Department also
invites comments and supporting data to be posted to the docket.
Information presented at the public meeting or submitted to the docket
will be used to help inform the Department as it prepares to
participate in relevant ICAO Panel meetings this fall, including the
ICAO Dangerous Goods Panel (DGP) meeting, currently scheduled for
October 19-30, 2015. As is customary, another public meeting will be
held prior to the upcoming ICAO DGP meeting.

DATES: The public meeting will be held on September 18, 2015, from 1:00
p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Written comments also may be submitted to docket
no. DOT-OST-2015-0169 at www.regulations.gov.
Meeting Information: The public meeting will be held at the U.S.
Department of Transportation Headquarters, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.,
Washington, DC 20590. The Department requests that attendees pre-
register for this meeting by completing the form at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RZWHJMR. Failure to pre-register may delay your
access to the DOT Headquarters building. If participants are attending
in person, arrive early to allow time for security checks necessary to
obtain access to the building. Conference call-in and ``live meeting''
capability will be provided for the meeting. Conference call connection
information will be provided to those who register and indicate that
they will participate via conference call. An agenda will be posted to
the docket prior to the meeting.
We are committed to providing equal access to this meeting for all
participants. If you need alternative formats or other reasonable
accommodations, please call (202) 267-9432 or email 9-AWA-ASH-ADG-HazMat@faa.gov with your request by close of business on September 10,
2015.
A panel of representatives from the FAA and PHMSA will be present.
The meeting is intended to be informal, non-adversarial, and to
facilitate the public comment process. No individual will be subject to
questioning by any other participant. Government representatives on the
panel may ask questions to clarify statements. Unless otherwise stated,
any statement made during the meetings by a panel member should not be
construed as an official position of the U.S. government. The meeting
will be open to all persons, subject to the capacity of the meeting
room and phone lines available for those participating via conference
call. Every effort will be made to accommodate all persons wishing to
attend. We will try to accommodate all speakers, subject to time
constraints.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: 202-493-2251.
Mail: Dockets Management System; U.S. Department of
Transportation, Dockets Operations, M-30, Ground Floor, Room W12-140,
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
Hand Delivery: To U.S. Department of Transportation,
Dockets Operations, M-30, Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Instructions: Include
the agency name and docket number DOT-OST-2015-0169 for this Notice at
the beginning of your comment. Note that all comments received will be
posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov including any
personal information provided. If sent by mail, comments must be
submitted in duplicate. Persons wishing to receive confirmation of
receipt of their comments must include a self-addressed stamped
postcard.
Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of any
written communications and comments received into any of our dockets by
the name of the individual submitting the document (or signing the
document, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor
union, etc.). You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement at
http://www.dot.gov/privacy.
Docket: You may view the public docket through the Internet at
http://www.regulations.gov or in person at the Docket Operations office
at the above address (See ADDRESSES).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions for FAA regarding the
meeting can be directed to Janet McLaughlin, Director, Office of
Hazardous Materials Safety, ADG-2, Federal Aviation Administration, 800
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
9432; email: 9-AWA-ASH-ADG-HazMat@faa.gov. Questions regarding the
meeting for PHMSA can be directed to Shane Kelley, Assistant
International Standards Coordinator, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration, PHH-10, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Washington, DC
20590; telephone: (202) 366-8553; email: shane.kelley@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The transportation by air of lithium cells and batteries to, from,
or within the United States, and on U.S. registered aircraft operating
anywhere in the world is subject to the U.S. Hazardous Materials
Regulations (U.S. HMR).\1\ The U.S. HMR authorize the use of the ICAO
Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air
(ICAO TI) subject to certain conditions and limitations provided all or
part of the transportation is by air.\2\ Representatives from the FAA
and PHMSA participate in meetings of the ICAO DGP--the international
body responsible for the ICAO TI. In consultation with the DOT, FAA,
and other relevant government agencies, PHMSA works to periodically
harmonize the provisions of the U.S. HMR with international regulatory
approaches, including the ICAO TI.
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\1\ 49 CFR parts 171-180.
\2\ Lithium batteries are regulated as Class 9 miscellaneous
hazardous materials per the ICAO TI and the U.S. HMR.
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Safety Issue

The transportation of lithium batteries by air continues to raise
significant safety concerns. Lithium batteries are known to be highly
flammable and capable of self-ignition. Ignition of lithium batteries
can be caused by a short circuit, overcharge, exposure to extreme
temperatures, mishandling, or a defect. Once a battery is induced into
such a state, either by internal failure or by external means such as
heating or physical damage, the battery can generate sufficient heat to
cause adjacent batteries to go into thermal runaway.
Testing conducted by the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center
(FAA Tech Center) has shown that heat and flames generated from thermal
runaway in a single package can spread to adjacent packages. According
to the International Coordinating Council of Aerospace Industries
Association (ICCAIA), Boeing, and other aircraft manufacturers, once an
event like this occurs, the fire suppression capabilities of an
aircraft may be exceeded,

[[Page 52370]]

potentially leading to a catastrophic loss of the aircraft because of a
fire that cannot be contained.\3\
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\3\ A copy of the working paper submitted to the ICAO DGP
Working Group Meeting held from April 27-May 1, 2015 is available at
http://www.icao.int/safety/DangerousGoods/DGPWG15/DGPWG.15.WP.004.5.en.pdf.
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The FAA Tech Center research and findings, available at http://www.fire.tc.faa.gov, support the ICCAIA's and aircraft manufacturers'
assessments. A fundamental concern highlighted by the FAA Tech Center's
research is that the cargo compartment fire protection standards were
not designed to address the unique hazards associated with the
transport of lithium batteries. Specific safety concerns include:
The potential for propagation of thermal runaway between
cells or batteries in a package and between adjacent packages of
batteries;
The potential for uncontrolled lithium battery fires to
overwhelm the capability of existing aircraft cargo fire protection
systems, leading to a catastrophic failure of the airframe; and
The potential for venting of combustible gases from
lithium ion cells in thermal runaway, which could collect in an
enclosed environment and cause an explosion even in the presence of a
suppression agent.

DGP Multidisciplinary Working Group on Lithium Batteries

In 2014, the ICAO DGP recognized that finding solutions to increase
the safety of lithium battery transportation would require a
multidisciplinary approach involving a wide range of experts, including
those from the fields of dangerous goods (hazardous materials),
aircraft operations, airworthiness, and battery manufacturing. This
layered approach involves battery design, packaging standards, quantity
limits, container capabilities, and fire suppression systems that can
establish conditions in which lithium batteries may be transported
without posing an unacceptable risk.
To that end, in 2014, the ICAO Air Navigation Bureau organized two
International Multidisciplinary Lithium Battery Transport Coordination
Meetings. The first was held from February 4-6, 2014, in Atlantic City,
NJ, and the second was held from September 9-11, 2014, in Cologne,
Germany. Discussions during the first meeting focused primarily on
lithium metal batteries and the report from the first meeting,
including recommendations, can be found at: http://www.icao.int/safety/DangerousGoods/DGP/ICAO.LB.COORDINATION.Meeting.Report.pdf.
The second multidisciplinary working group meeting continued the
work from the February 2014 meeting and developed fourteen
recommendations related to enhancing the safety of air transportation
of lithium batteries. These recommendations were forwarded by the
multidisciplinary group to the ICAO Dangerous Goods, Flight Operations,
and Airworthiness Panels for consideration. The report from the second
meeting, including all of the recommendations, can be found at: http://www.icao.int/safety/DangerousGoods/Second%20International%20Multidisciplinary%20Lithium%20Bat/ICAO.LB.COORDINATION.2ndMeeting.Report.pdf.
In April 2015, the ICAO DGP reviewed the recommendations of the
multidisciplinary working group and prioritized the following efforts:
(1) Developing a performance-based provision to limit the probability
of propagation of thermal runaway between cells; (2) limiting lithium-
ion cells to a 30% state of charge during transport as an interim means
to reduce the probability of propagation of thermal runaway between
cells; and (3) developing a performance-based packaging standard.
On July 28, 2015, a third multidisciplinary working group meeting
was convened to facilitate a focused discussion on the prioritized
recommendations and develop options for addressing the recommendations
for consideration by the ICAO DGP during the October 2015 meeting
regarding (1) performance-based packaging standards; (2) system safety
assessments for cargo aircraft; and (3) short term/interim actions that
may be necessary.

Recommendations for Consideration by the ICAO DGP in October 2015

As a result of the July 2015 meeting of the multidisciplinary
group, draft performance criteria were discussed to improve the air
transportation of lithium batteries. In addition, the working group
considered a recommendation that would require operators to perform
safety risk assessments in order to establish whether they can manage
the risk associated with the transport of lithium batteries as cargo on
passenger or all cargo aircraft. With respect to the performance
criteria, the group favored an approach that would provide layers of
mitigation options to meet the performance criteria. The determination
of how to meet the performance criteria could be tailored to individual
circumstances and informed by a rigorous safety assessment. Finally the
group discussed additional measures that could be taken while a
performance standard is being developed.
The draft performance criteria are based on the principle that the
hazardous effects associated with thermal runaway must remain within
the package. The criteria specify that no hazardous quantities of flame
and no hazardous fragments can exit the package. The surface
temperature of the package also must be limited to prevent thermal
runaway from spreading to adjacent packages and igniting adjacent
packing material. Specific test methods remain to be developed.
The group recommended the following draft performance criteria, to
be met at either the package level or the battery/cell level:
No hazardous amount of flame would be allowed outside of
the package.
The external surface temperature of the package would not
exceed the amount that would ignite packaging material or cause
batteries or cells in adjacent packages to go into thermal runaway.
No hazardous fragments would be able to exit the package
and the package would need to maintain its structural integrity.
The quantity of flammable vapor would need to be less than
the amount of gas, that when mixed in air and ignited could cause a
pressure rise in a [2.8 m3 compartment] volume that could dislodge the
aircraft cargo compartment liners [3.44 kPa-6.89 kPa (.5 psi-1 psi)].
In addition to these criteria, the working group also considered
whether performance criteria were necessary to address the risk
associated with an external fire potentially compromising a package;
however, there was no consensus reached on whether this should be part
of a performance standard. The group recognized that the development of
the means for compliance with the performance criteria could be done by
either an ICAO working group or an external standards development
organization.
Additionally, the group recommended that operators perform a safety
risk assessment in order to establish if they could manage safely the
risks associated with the transport of lithium batteries as cargo on
passenger or all-cargo aircraft. In order to perform a safety risk
assessment, information on the types and quantities of lithium
batteries and cells being transported would need to be considered. The
very limited capabilities of the fire protection system

[[Page 52371]]

in a lithium battery fire event also would need to be considered. The
group also recommended that guidance on how to conduct and evaluate a
safety risk assessment be developed for operators. Guidance on safety
risk assessments for operators and oversight by regulators also is
expected to be addressed at the fall meeting of the ICAO Operations
Panel (Annex 6).
Finally, the group was asked to consider additional interim
measures that could reduce risk in air transport, including measures
such as forbidding the carriage of lithium ion batteries as cargo on
passenger aircraft, eliminating the exceptions for certain small
batteries in Section II of the ICAO TI lithium battery packing
instructions, and reducing the state of charge of the battery in
transport. There was no consensus reached by the group on these
additional measures and no new recommendations were developed; however,
it is expected these topics may be discussed further within the
relevant ICAO Panels this fall.

Request for Public Input

The DOT, FAA, and PHMSA request input from all industry
stakeholders and interested individuals on strategies to enhance the
safe transport of lithium batteries aboard passenger and cargo aircraft
by air, to include the foregoing options which are now under
consideration by the ICAO DGP, as well as the ICAO Operations and
Airworthiness Panels. To the extent that any of these options are
ultimately adopted as new standards or revisions to the ICAO TI,
consistent with 49 U.S.C. 5120, the Department may consider adopting
the standards or revised ICAO TI through a rulemaking action.
Therefore, the Department requests input at the upcoming public
meeting, as well as submissions to the docket on risk mitigation
strategies, information, and data to help further inform our work in
this area as we prepare to participate in the fall 2015 ICAO Panel
meetings regarding these subjects.
Specifically, the Department invites comment and recommendations,
as well as any relevant supporting data, in the following areas:
The draft performance criteria recommended by the third
multidisciplinary group and how the criteria might be met at the
packaging level or at the battery level to address the aviation fire
hazards that have been identified.
The recommendation that operators be required to perform a
safety risk assessment in order to ensure management of the risks
associated with the transport of lithium batteries as cargo on
passenger or all-cargo aircraft to an acceptable level of safety.
Additional measures which the group did not reach full
consensus on, including:
[cir] Consideration of the effects of an external fire as an
element of the performance criteria to protect against the risks of a
fire not initiated by a battery within a package.
[cir] Forbidding the carriage of lithium ion batteries as cargo on
passenger aircraft, as an interim measure.
[cir] Eliminating the exceptions for certain small batteries in
Section II of the ICAO TI lithium battery packing instructions or
alternative means to identify the types and quantities of lithium
batteries or cells being transported in order to effectively inform a
safety risk assessment.
[cir] Reducing the state of charge of the battery in transport.
Qualitative and quantitative information on the potential
impacts of implementing the above recommendations and/or additional
measures, such as:
[cir] Determination of the current level of exposure to these fire
hazards--Data or information on the volumes of batteries currently
transported on passenger aircraft or those utilizing the provisions of
section II of the ICAO TI.
[cir] Establishment of the current baseline--Data or information
regarding the effectiveness of the current requirements, evolution in
the market, voluntary safety actions, and emerging safety risks.
[cir] Potential benefits--Data or information providing estimates
of potential safety benefits related to the recommendations and
additional measures under consideration by ICAO, as well as
alternatives that provide comparable or greater safety benefits.
[cir] Potential costs--Data or information providing estimates of
potential costs associated with the recommendations and additional
measures under consideration by ICAO.
[cir] Studies or analysis on the effectiveness of the
recommendations and additional measures--Any studies that address how
lithium batteries in differing packaging types or at varying charge
states behave in aviation fire scenarios.

Issued in Washington, DC, on August 24, 2015.
Kathryn B. Thomson,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2015-21416 Filed 8-27-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-9X-P

52370 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 167 / Friday, August 28, 2015 / Notices

potentially leading to a catastrophic loss Goods/DGP/ICAO.LB.COORDINATION. circumstances and informed by a
of the aircraft because of a fire that Meeting.Report.pdf. rigorous safety assessment. Finally the
cannot be contained.3 The second multidisciplinary working group discussed additional measures
The FAA Tech Center research and group meeting continued the work from that could be taken while a performance
findings, available at http:// the February 2014 meeting and standard is being developed.
www.fire.tc.faa.gov, support the developed fourteen recommendations The draft performance criteria are
ICCAIA’s and aircraft manufacturers’ related to enhancing the safety of air based on the principle that the
assessments. A fundamental concern transportation of lithium batteries. hazardous effects associated with
highlighted by the FAA Tech Center’s These recommendations were thermal runaway must remain within
research is that the cargo compartment forwarded by the multidisciplinary the package. The criteria specify that no
fire protection standards were not group to the ICAO Dangerous Goods, hazardous quantities of flame and no
designed to address the unique hazards Flight Operations, and Airworthiness hazardous fragments can exit the
associated with the transport of lithium Panels for consideration. The report package. The surface temperature of the
batteries. Specific safety concerns from the second meeting, including all package also must be limited to prevent
include: of the recommendations, can be found thermal runaway from spreading to
• The potential for propagation of at: http://www.icao.int/safety/ adjacent packages and igniting adjacent
thermal runaway between cells or DangerousGoods/Second packing material. Specific test methods
batteries in a package and between %20International%20Multidisciplinary remain to be developed.
adjacent packages of batteries; %20Lithium%20Bat/ICAO.LB. The group recommended the
• The potential for uncontrolled COORDINATION.2ndMeeting. following draft performance criteria, to
lithium battery fires to overwhelm the Report.pdf. be met at either the package level or the
capability of existing aircraft cargo fire In April 2015, the ICAO DGP battery/cell level:
protection systems, leading to a reviewed the recommendations of the • No hazardous amount of flame
catastrophic failure of the airframe; and multidisciplinary working group and would be allowed outside of the
• The potential for venting of prioritized the following efforts: (1) package.
combustible gases from lithium ion cells Developing a performance-based • The external surface temperature of
in thermal runaway, which could provision to limit the probability of the package would not exceed the
collect in an enclosed environment and propagation of thermal runaway amount that would ignite packaging
cause an explosion even in the presence between cells; (2) limiting lithium-ion material or cause batteries or cells in
of a suppression agent. cells to a 30% state of charge during adjacent packages to go into thermal
DGP Multidisciplinary Working Group transport as an interim means to reduce runaway.
the probability of propagation of • No hazardous fragments would be
on Lithium Batteries
thermal runaway between cells; and (3) able to exit the package and the package
In 2014, the ICAO DGP recognized developing a performance-based would need to maintain its structural
that finding solutions to increase the packaging standard. integrity.
safety of lithium battery transportation On July 28, 2015, a third • The quantity of flammable vapor
would require a multidisciplinary multidisciplinary working group would need to be less than the amount
approach involving a wide range of meeting was convened to facilitate a of gas, that when mixed in air and
experts, including those from the fields focused discussion on the prioritized ignited could cause a pressure rise in a
of dangerous goods (hazardous recommendations and develop options [2.8 m3 compartment] volume that
materials), aircraft operations, for addressing the recommendations for could dislodge the aircraft cargo
airworthiness, and battery consideration by the ICAO DGP during compartment liners [3.44 kPa–6.89 kPa
manufacturing. This layered approach the October 2015 meeting regarding (1) (.5 psi–1 psi)].
involves battery design, packaging performance-based packaging standards; In addition to these criteria, the
standards, quantity limits, container (2) system safety assessments for cargo working group also considered whether
capabilities, and fire suppression aircraft; and (3) short term/interim performance criteria were necessary to
systems that can establish conditions in actions that may be necessary. address the risk associated with an
which lithium batteries may be external fire potentially compromising a
transported without posing an Recommendations for Consideration by package; however, there was no
unacceptable risk. the ICAO DGP in October 2015 consensus reached on whether this
To that end, in 2014, the ICAO Air As a result of the July 2015 meeting should be part of a performance
Navigation Bureau organized two of the multidisciplinary group, draft standard. The group recognized that the
International Multidisciplinary Lithium performance criteria were discussed to development of the means for
Battery Transport Coordination improve the air transportation of compliance with the performance
Meetings. The first was held from lithium batteries. In addition, the criteria could be done by either an ICAO
February 4–6, 2014, in Atlantic City, NJ, working group considered a working group or an external standards
and the second was held from recommendation that would require development organization.
September 9–11, 2014, in Cologne, operators to perform safety risk Additionally, the group recommended
Germany. Discussions during the first assessments in order to establish that operators perform a safety risk
meeting focused primarily on lithium whether they can manage the risk assessment in order to establish if they
metal batteries and the report from the associated with the transport of lithium could manage safely the risks associated
first meeting, including batteries as cargo on passenger or all with the transport of lithium batteries as
Lhorne on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

recommendations, can be found at: cargo aircraft. With respect to the cargo on passenger or all-cargo aircraft.
http://www.icao.int/safety/Dangerous performance criteria, the group favored In order to perform a safety risk
an approach that would provide layers assessment, information on the types
3 A copy of the working paper submitted to the
of mitigation options to meet the and quantities of lithium batteries and
ICAO DGP Working Group Meeting held from April
27–May 1, 2015 is available at http://www.icao.int/
performance criteria. The determination cells being transported would need to be
safety/DangerousGoods/DGPWG15/DGPWG.15.WP of how to meet the performance criteria considered. The very limited
.004.5.en.pdf. could be tailored to individual capabilities of the fire protection system

VerDate Sep<11>2014 14:19 Aug 27, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00126 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\28AUN1.SGM 28AUN1

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 167 / Friday, August 28, 2015 / Notices 52371

in a lithium battery fire event also the transport of lithium batteries as DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
would need to be considered. The group cargo on passenger or all-cargo aircraft
also recommended that guidance on to an acceptable level of safety. Bureau of Transportation Statistics
how to conduct and evaluate a safety • Additional measures which the [Docket ID Number: DOT–OST–2014–0031]
risk assessment be developed for group did not reach full consensus on,
operators. Guidance on safety risk including: Agency Information Collection;
assessments for operators and oversight Æ Consideration of the effects of an Activity Under OMB Review; Airline
by regulators also is expected to be external fire as an element of the Service Quality Performance—Part 234
addressed at the fall meeting of the performance criteria to protect against
ICAO Operations Panel (Annex 6). AGENCY: Office of the Assistant
the risks of a fire not initiated by a Secretary for Research and Technology
Finally, the group was asked to
battery within a package. (OST–R), Bureau of Transportation
consider additional interim measures
that could reduce risk in air transport, Æ Forbidding the carriage of lithium Statistics (BTS), DOT.
including measures such as forbidding ion batteries as cargo on passenger ACTION: Notice.
the carriage of lithium ion batteries as aircraft, as an interim measure.
Æ Eliminating the exceptions for SUMMARY: In compliance with the
cargo on passenger aircraft, eliminating
certain small batteries in Section II of Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
the exceptions for certain small batteries
the ICAO TI lithium battery packing U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice
in Section II of the ICAO TI lithium
instructions or alternative means to announces that the Information
battery packing instructions, and
identify the types and quantities of Collection Request (ICR) abstracted
reducing the state of charge of the
lithium batteries or cells being below is being forwarded to the Office
battery in transport. There was no
transported in order to effectively of Management and Budget (OMB) for
consensus reached by the group on
inform a safety risk assessment. re-instatement of an expired collection.
these additional measures and no new
The ICR describes the nature of the
recommendations were developed; Æ Reducing the state of charge of the
information collection and its expected
however, it is expected these topics may battery in transport.
burden. The Federal Register Notice
be discussed further within the relevant • Qualitative and quantitative with a 60-day comment period soliciting
ICAO Panels this fall. information on the potential impacts of comments on the following collection of
Request for Public Input implementing the above information was published on June 15,
recommendations and/or additional 2015 (80 FR 34198). There were no
The DOT, FAA, and PHMSA request measures, such as:
input from all industry stakeholders and comments.
interested individuals on strategies to Æ Determination of the current level
DATES: Written comments should be
enhance the safe transport of lithium of exposure to these fire hazards—Data submitted by September 28, 2015.
batteries aboard passenger and cargo or information on the volumes of
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
aircraft by air, to include the foregoing batteries currently transported on
passenger aircraft or those utilizing the Cecelia Robinson, Office of Airline
options which are now under Information, RTS–42, Room E34–410,
consideration by the ICAO DGP, as well provisions of section II of the ICAO TI.
OST–R, BTS, 1200 New Jersey Avenue
as the ICAO Operations and Æ Establishment of the current SE., Washington, DC 20590–0001,
Airworthiness Panels. To the extent that baseline—Data or information regarding Telephone Number (202) 366–4405, Fax
any of these options are ultimately the effectiveness of the current Number (202) 366–3383 or EMAIL
adopted as new standards or revisions requirements, evolution in the market, cecelia.robinson@dot.gov.
to the ICAO TI, consistent with 49 voluntary safety actions, and emerging Comments: Send comments to the
U.S.C. 5120, the Department may safety risks. Office of Information and Regulatory
consider adopting the standards or Æ Potential benefits—Data or Affairs, Office of Management and
revised ICAO TI through a rulemaking information providing estimates of Budget, 725–17th Street NW.,
action. Therefore, the Department potential safety benefits related to the Washington, DC 20503, Attention: OST
requests input at the upcoming public recommendations and additional Desk Officer.
meeting, as well as submissions to the measures under consideration by ICAO, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OMB
docket on risk mitigation strategies, as well as alternatives that provide Approval No. 2138–0041.
information, and data to help further comparable or greater safety benefits. Title: Airline Service Quality
inform our work in this area as we Æ Potential costs—Data or Performance –Part 234.
prepare to participate in the fall 2015 information providing estimates of Form No.: BTS Form 234
ICAO Panel meetings regarding these potential costs associated with the Type of Review: Re-instatement of an
subjects. recommendations and additional expired collection.
Specifically, the Department invites measures under consideration by ICAO. Respondents: Large certificated air
comment and recommendations, as well Æ Studies or analysis on the carriers that account for at least 1
as any relevant supporting data, in the effectiveness of the recommendations percent of domestic scheduled
following areas: and additional measures—Any studies passenger revenues.
• The draft performance criteria that address how lithium batteries in Number of Respondents: 14.
recommended by the third Total Number of Annual Responses:
differing packaging types or at varying
multidisciplinary group and how the 168.
charge states behave in aviation fire Estimated Time per Response: 20
criteria might be met at the packaging scenarios.
Lhorne on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

level or at the battery level to address hours.
the aviation fire hazards that have been Issued in Washington, DC, on August 24, Total Annual Burden: 3,360 hours.
2015.
identified. Needs and Uses
• The recommendation that operators Kathryn B. Thomson,
be required to perform a safety risk General Counsel. Consumer Information
assessment in order to ensure [FR Doc. 2015–21416 Filed 8–27–15; 8:45 am] Part 234 gives air travelers
management of the risks associated with BILLING CODE 4910–9X–P information concerning their chances of

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Document Created: 2015-12-15 11:04:30
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 11:04:30

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of lithium battery safety public meeting and request for information.
Dates		The public meeting will be held on September 18, 2015, from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Written comments also may be submitted to docket no. DOT-OST-2015-0169 at www.regulations.gov.
Contact		Questions for FAA regarding the meeting can be directed to Janet McLaughlin, Director, Office of Hazardous Materials Safety, ADG-2, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267- 9432; email: [email protected] Questions regarding the meeting for PHMSA can be directed to Shane Kelley, Assistant International Standards Coordinator, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, PHH-10, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Washington, DC 20590; telephone: (202) 366-8553; email: [email protected]
FR Citation		80 FR 52368

80 FR 52368 - Notice of Lithium Battery Safety Public Meeting and Request for Information

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATIONOffice of the Secretary of Transportation

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 167 (August 28, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary of Transportation