PHMSA corrects errors on lithium batteries transport rule
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration on Jan. 4 issued an additional final rule (.pdf file) to correct errors in a final rule published last year.
The original final rule (.pdf file), issued Jan. 14, 2009, amended the Hazardous Materials Regulations in an effort to maintain alignment with international standards by making changes to proper shipping names, hazard classes, packing groups, air transport quantity limitations and more. The revisions also addressed safety transportation of batteries and battery-powered devices.
According to the most recent Federal Register notice, PHMSA received two appeals to the final rule from Dangerous Goods Transport Consulting Inc. and HMT Associates LLC. Both organizations were concerned with the provisions of the final rule applicable to the transport of fuel cell cartridges. PHMSA said the changes will ensure lithium batteries are designed to withstand normal transportation conditions and packaged to reduce the possibility of damage that could lead to an unsafe incident.
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