Announcements from regulatory agencies of the US Government in the Federal Register can have a significant impact on your business.  Therefore it’s important for you to continuously monitor Federal Register publications for announcements applicable to your operations.  I can help you to do this.

Sometimes an announcement in the Federal Register calls for a more thorough explanation than just what is conveyed by the headline.  That is the point of this article.  Here I will briefly summarize, and provide access to more information, on a specific Federal Register announcement:  Hazardous Materials: Transportation of Lithium Batteries.

What agency is making the announcement?

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), one of many administrations within the US Department of Transportation.

When was this announced in the Federal Register?

Friday, February 20, 2015

Any other dates I need to know?

PHMSA is extending the mandatory compliance date – except for transportation by air – of its final rule published August 6, 2014 (Docket No. HM-224F) from February 6, 2015 to August 7, 2015.

What type of action is this?

Final rule; extension of compliance date.

What regulations may be impacted?

49 CFR Parts 171, 172, 173, and 175

How is the announcement identified?

Hazardous Materials: Transportation of Lithium Batteries Pages 9217 – 9218 [FR DOC # 2015-03500]

I don’t have all day.  Can you sum it up for me and I’ll determine if I need to read the whole thing?

In a final rule published August 6, 2014 PHMSA announced new rules regarding the transportation of lithium batteries by all modes:  aircraft, vessel, motor vehicle, & rail.  This final rule established a mandatory compliance date of February 6, 2015.  Based on comments from the regulated community PHMSA has decided to extend the mandatory compliance date for this final rule from its original date of February 6, 2015 to August 7, 2015 for all modes of transportation except aircraft.  In other words:

• The mandatory compliance date for the final rule of February 6, 2015 has not changed for the transportation of lithium batteries as cargo on an aircraft.
• The new mandatory compliance date of this final rule for transportation by vessel, motor vehicle, & rail is August 7, 2015.

Where can I look for more information?

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