FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, September 7,
2000
Contact: Patricia Klinger
Tel: 202-366-4831
RSPA 21-00
DOT Issues Safety Advisory on
Transportation of Lithium Batteries
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) today is advising the public of the potential dangers in transporting lithium batteries.
"This action supports the administrations commitment to safety as the highest transportation priority. Issuing an advisory notice is an important step in ensuring the public's safety while we continue to conduct research and work with industry and others to provide a long-term safety solution, RSPAs administrator Kelly Coyner said. RSPA, as well as DOTs Federal Aviation Administration, is presently reevaluating the hazards posed by lithium batteries in air transportation, as well as other modes of transportation, and the safety measures necessary to protect the public."
On April 28, 1999, at Los Angeles International Airport, a shipment of two pallets of primary (non-rechargeable) batteries containing lithium metal caught fire after being off-loaded. The packages were damaged during unloading. This is believed to have initiated the subsequent fire. Currently, domestic and international regulations exempt packages containing some types of lithium batteries from all hazard communication requirements (i.e., marking, labeling, and shipping papers).
The advisory notice is being issued to:
The advisory notice is published in today's Federal Register.
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