By Rose Electronics – Oct 2010 – The Department of Transportation has proposed new regulations for air shipment of lithium batteries that would designate small lithium batteries and cells as Class 9 materials to be handled as potentially hazardous. Only “extremely small lithium batteries and cells” shipped in limited quantities and packed with or contained in equipment would be expected. These changes were developed by DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) in coordination with the FAA. The notice of Proposed Rule Making 75 FR 1302-NPRM: Transportation of Lithium Batteries. The DOT’s Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration concerning the safe transportation of lithium batteries – Docket # PHMSA-2009-0095 (HM-224F). Exceptions are only retained for batteries with lithium content at or below 0.3 grams or a rating of 3.7 Wh (watt-hour) or less. Because the impact will be > $100M, this is expected to go before Congress for review. HR4016 is the related legislation. These changes, if enacted, will have serious repercussions on the ability to transport lithium batteries, and will also result in major cost and delivery implications.
Proposed Rules for Li Batteries Will Cause Serious Impact