New Mailing Standards for Lithium Batteries, 3996-3998 [2015-01346]
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3996
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 16 / Monday, January 26, 2015 / Notices
Market dominant class
Price adjustment authority
(%)
Package Services .................
Special Services ...................
1.964
0.234
Notice at 5.
Nature of adjustments. Most of the
planned adjustments entail increases to
market dominant rates and fees;
however, in a few instances, the Postal
Service proposes either no adjustment
or a decrease. In addition, price
adjustments for products within classes
vary from the average, sometimes
substantially. See, e.g., id. at 17, 21
(Table 5 showing range for First-Class
Mail products) and (Table 7 showing
range for Standard Mail products).
Proposed classification changes. The
Postal Service proposes numerous
classification changes in its Notice. Id.
at 53–55. It identifies the impact on the
MCS in Attachment A, Part I and Part
II.
Calendar year promotions. The Postal
Service seeks approval for the following
four promotions for the periods
indicated:
• Earned Value Reply Mail Promotion
(May–July 2015);
• Advanced and Emerging
Technology Promotion (May–October
2015);
• Color Transpromo Promotion
(June–November 2015); and
• Mail Drives Mobile Engagement
Promotion (July–December 2015).
Id. at 7–8.
Note to all interested persons. The
Notice and related filings, including
library references, provide important
additional details concerning the
planned adjustments, mailing
promotions, and classification changes.
The Commission strongly encourages
interested persons to carefully review
the Notice and all related filings,
including new MCS language relating to
changes corresponding to the exigent
surcharges, and to monitor the
Commission’s Web site for additional
information, including potential
revisions to the Notice.
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
III. Initial Administrative Actions
Public notice. The Commission
hereby provides public notice of the
Postal Service’s filing and pursuant to
rule 3010.14 establishes Docket No.
R2015–4 to consider the planned price
adjustments in rates and fees for market
dominant postal products and services,
as well as the related classification
changes, identified in the Postal
Service’s January 15, 2015 Notice. The
Commission invites comments from
interested persons on whether the
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:48 Jan 23, 2015
Jkt 235001
Notice is consistent with 39 U.S.C. 3622
and the requirements of 39 CFR part
3010. Comments are due no later than
February 4, 2015.
Availability of documents. The
Commission has posted the public
portions of the Postal Service’s filing on
its Web site at https://www.prc.gov. The
Commission will post revisions to the
filing (if any) or other documents the
Postal Service submits in this docket on
its Web site, along with related
Commission documents, comments, or
other submissions, unless such filings
are the subject of an application for nonpublic treatment. The Commission’s
policy on access to documents filed
under seal appears in 39 CFR part 3007.
Public Representative. Pursuant to 39
U.S.C. 505, the Commission appoints
James Waclawski to represent the
interests of the general public (Public
Representative) in this proceeding.
IV. Ordering Paragraphs
It is ordered:
1. The Commission establishes Docket
No. R2015–4 to consider planned price
adjustments in rates and fees for market
dominant postal products and services
and related classification changes
identified in the Postal Service’s January
15, 2015 Notice.
2. Comments on the planned price
adjustments and related classification
changes are due no later than February
4, 2015.
3. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, James
Waclawski is appointed to serve as an
officer of the Commission (Public
Representative) to represent the
interests of the general public in this
proceeding.
5. The Commission directs the
Secretary of the Commission to arrange
for prompt publication of this notice in
the Federal Register.
By the Commission.
Shoshana M. Grove,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015–01238 Filed 1–23–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710–FW–P
POSTAL SERVICE
New Mailing Standards for Lithium
Batteries
Postal ServiceTM.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Postal Service will revise
Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted,
and Perishable Mail (Publication 52), in
various sections to provide new
standards for the mailing of lithium
batteries. Publication 52 was developed
to provide expanded requirements for
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00057
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
the mailing of hazardous, restricted, and
perishable materials.
DATES: Effective date: March 2, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joan
Hall (212) 330–5332 or Kevin Gunther
(202) 268–7208.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview
U.S. Postal Service® Publication 52
provides mailing standards specific to
hazardous, restricted and perishable
items and materials. Pursuant to the
Mailing Standards of the United States
Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual
(DMM®) 601.8.2, Publication 52 applies
to the mailability of hazardous
materials, including lithium batteries.
Revisions to Publication 52
The Postal Service is making these
revisions in order to align with the
Department of Transportation (DOT),
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration (PHMSA) recent
changes to regulations for the
transportation of lithium batteries.
On August 6, 2014, PHMSA issued a
final rule (79 FR 46012–46040) titled
‘‘Hazardous Materials: Transportation
of Lithium Batteries’’ in which it
describes new requirements governing
the shipment of lithium cells and
batteries for both air and surface
transportation. In this final rule,
PHMSA revises hazard communication
and packaging provisions for lithium
batteries and harmonizes the Hazardous
Materials Regulations (HMR) with
applicable provisions of the United
Nations (UN) Model Regulations, the
International Civil Aviation
Organization’s Technical Instructions
for the Safe Transport of Dangerous
Goods by Air (ICAO Technical
Instructions) and the International
Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG)
Code.
With these revisions, the Postal
Service aligns with PHMSA and the
other regulatory entities noted above
with regard to:
1. Use of terminology describing
lithium content with watt-hours for
lithium-ion cells and batteries;
2. Adoption of separate shipping
descriptions for lithium metal batteries
and lithium-ion batteries;
3. New requirements for the transport
of small lithium cells and batteries
contained in equipment; and
4. New marking requirements and
options for lithium batteries installed in
equipment packaged with equipment
and shipped without equipment.
In the development of mailing
standards for lithium cells and batteries
in air transportation, the Postal Service
E:\FR\FM\26JAN1.SGM
26JAN1
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 16 / Monday, January 26, 2015 / Notices
Definitions
The Postal Service also adds a new
definitions section and revises its
terminology with regard to lithium cells
and batteries to better reflect what is
commonly used in the industry and by
other regulatory agencies.
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Quantities
With this revision, the Postal Service
will not require markings or
documentation for parcels containing
button cell lithium batteries installed in
equipment (including circuit boards) or
no more than four (4) lithium cells or
two (2) lithium batteries installed in
equipment. For these shipments, the
Postal Service will allow the optional
use of an applicable DOT-approved
lithium battery handling labels in either
domestic air or surface transportation.
The Postal Service will require markings
and documentation as described in this
final rule for lithium batteries installed
in equipment in domestic air
transportation when the number of cells
exceeds four (4) up to the allowable
limit for air transportation of eight (8)
cells.
The Postal Service will continue to
allow mailings of lithium metal or
lithium-ion batteries packaged with the
equipment they operate, and lithiumion batteries packaged without
equipment (individual batteries) in
domestic air transportation. In these
instances, mailpieces must not contain
more than eight (8) lithium cells or two
(2) batteries. Cells and batteries must be
within the applicable USPS limitations
for lithium metal content or watt-hour
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:48 Jan 23, 2015
Jkt 235001
International
The Postal Service clarifies that labels
commonly used with other
transportation providers are not
permitted on mailpieces containing
lithium batteries installed in equipment,
when these mailpieces are intended for
international mail. It has been a
common practice for some high volume
lithium battery shippers to preprint
DOT-approved lithium battery handling
labels on all of their packaging,
including those intended for
international mail. When mailing to
international destinations, including
APO/FPO/DPO (Army Post Office, Fleet
Post Office, Diplomatic Post Office)
destinations, mailpieces containing
lithium batteries installed in equipment
must not include any markings or labels
that identify the mailpiece contents as
lithium batteries. The Postal Service
also defines a category of very small
lithium metal and lithium-ion cells and
batteries that, when installed in the
equipment they operate, are mailable in
international mail without regard to
quantity.
rating, and mailpieces must bear
markings and be accompanied by
documentation as described below.
Mailers should also note that for the
purposes of mailability, when a
limitation of eight (8) cells or two (2)
batteries is applicable, the mailpiece is
restricted to a maximum of either 8 cells
or 2 batteries, not both.
e. Mailpieces containing lithium
metal batteries not installed in, or
packaged with equipment must also
bear a ‘‘Surface Mail Only, Lithium
Metal Batteries — Forbidden for
Transportation Aboard Passenger
Aircraft’’ or ‘‘Surface Mail Only,
Primary Lithium Batteries — Forbidden
for Transportation Aboard Passenger
Aircraft’’ marking.
f. Mailers may use a DOT-approved
lithium battery handling label, in
domestic air or surface transportation, to
meet these marking requirements,
provided all required elements are
included.
Markings
In addition to the marking
requirements currently described in
Publication 52, lithium cells or batteries
mailed with (but not installed in)
equipment or mailed without
equipment (individual batteries) must
be enclosed in strong outer packaging,
and must be marked with:
a. An indication that the package
contains ‘‘lithium metal’’ or ‘‘lithiumion’’ cells or batteries, as appropriate.
b. An indication that the package is to
be handled with care and that a
flammable hazard exits if the package is
damaged.
c. An indication that special
procedures must be followed in the
event the package is damaged, to
include inspection and repacking, if
necessary.
d. A telephone number for additional
information.
PO 00000
Frm 00058
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Documentation
In addition to the marking
requirements noted above, mailpieces
containing lithium batteries packaged
with equipment or mailed without
equipment must be accompanied by a
document that includes the following:
a. An indication that the package
contains ‘‘lithium metal’’ or ‘‘lithiumion’’ cells or batteries, as appropriate.
b. An indication that the package is to
be handled with care and that a
flammable hazard exits if the package is
damaged.
c. An indication that special
procedures must be followed in the
event the package is damaged, to
E:\FR\FM\26JAN1.SGM
26JAN1
EN26JA15.001
aligns with PHMSA regulations
applicable to passenger aircraft, as
Postal Service products eligible for
transportation by air continue to have
the potential to be placed on passenger
aircraft.
3997
3998
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 16 / Monday, January 26, 2015 / Notices
include inspection and repacking, if
necessary.
d. A telephone number for additional
information.
The specific revisions to Publication
52, Hazardous, Restricted, and
Perishable Mail referenced in this notice
will be published in Postal Bulletin
22408 on February 5, 2015, and can be
viewed at https://about.usps.com/postalbulletin. These revisions are expected to
be incorporated into the Publication 52
on March 2, 2015. Publication 52 is
provided in its entirety on Postal
Explorer® at https://pe.usps.com/text/
pub52/welcome.htm.
Stanley F. Mires,
Attorney, Federal Requirements.
[FR Doc. 2015–01346 Filed 1–23–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710–12–P
RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD
Agency Forms Submitted for OMB
Review, Request for Comments
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Railroad
Retirement Board (RRB) is forwarding
an Information Collection Request (ICR)
to the Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Office of
Management and Budget (OMB). Our
ICRdescribes the information we seek to
collect from the public. Review and
approval by OIRA ensures that we
impose appropriate paperwork burdens.
The RRB invites comments on the
proposed collections of information to
determine (1) the practical utility of the
collections; (2) the accuracy of the
estimated burden of the collections; (3)
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information that is the
subject of collection; and (4) ways to
minimize the burden of collections on
respondents, including the use of
automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
Comments to the RRB or OIRA must
contain the OMB control number of the
ICR. For proper consideration of your
comments, it is best if the RRB and
OIRA receive them within 30 days of
the publication date.
1. Title and purpose of information
collection: Application for Benefits Due
But Unpaid at Death; OMB 3220–0055.
Under Section 2(g) of the Railroad
Unemployment Insurance Act, benefits
that accrued but were not paid because
of the death of the employee shall be
paid to the same individual(s) to whom
benefits are payable under Section
6(a)(1) of the Railroad Retirement Act.
The provisions relating to the payment
of such benefits are prescribed in 20
CFR 325.5 and 20 CFR 335.5.
The RRB provides Form UI–63,
Application for Benefits Due But
Unpaid at Death, to those applying for
the accrued sickness or unemployment
benefits unpaid at the death of the
employee and for obtaining the
information needed to identify the
proper payee. One response is requested
of each respondent. Completion is
required to obtain a benefit.
Previous Requests for Comments: The
RRB has already published the initial
60-day notice (79 FR 66002 on
November 6, 2014) required by 44
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited
no comments.
Information Collection Request (ICR)
Title: Application for Benefits Due but
Unpaid at Death.
OMB Control Number: 3220–0055.
Form(s) submitted: UI–63.
Type of request: Extension without
change of a currently approved
collection.
Affected public: Individuals or
Households.
Abstract: The collection obtains the
information needed by the Railroad
Retirement Board to pay benefits
accrued under section 2(g) of the
Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act,
but not paid because of the death of the
employee.
Changes proposed: The RRB proposes
no changes to Form UI–63.
The burden estimate for the ICR is as
follows:
Annual
responses
Form No.
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
UI–63 ...........................................................................................................................................
2. Title and Purpose of information
collection: Medicare; OMB 3220–0082.
Under Section 7(d) of the Railroad
Retirement Act (RRA), the Railroad
Retirement Board (RRB) administers the
Medicare program for persons covered
by the railroad retirement system. The
RRB uses Form AA–6, Employee
Application for Medicare; Form AA–7,
Spouse/Divorced Spouse Application
for Medicare; and Form AA–8, Widow/
Widower Application for Medicare; to
obtain the information needed to
determine whether individuals who
have not yet filed for benefits under the
RRA are qualified for Medicare
payments provided under Title XVIII of
the Social Security Act.
Further, in order to determine if a
qualified railroad retirement beneficiary
who is claiming supplementary medical
insurance coverage under Medicare is
entitled to a Special Enrollment Period
(SEP) and/or premium surcharge relief
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:48 Jan 23, 2015
Jkt 235001
because of coverage under an Employer
Group Health Plan (EGHP), the RRB
needs to obtain information regarding
the claimant’s EGHP coverage, if any.
The RRB uses Form RL–311–F,
Evidence of Coverage Under An
Employer Group Health Plan, to obtain
the basic information needed to
establish EGHP coverage for a qualified
railroad retirement beneficiary.
Completion of the forms is required to
obtain a benefit. One response is
requested of each respondent.
Previous Requests for Comments: The
RRB has already published the initial
60-day notice (79 FR 66003 on
November 6, 2014) required by 44
U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited
no comments.
Information Collection Request (ICR)
Title: Medicare.
OMB Control Number: 3220–0082.
Form submitted: AA–6, AA–7, AA–8
and RL–311–F.
PO 00000
Frm 00059
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
25
Time
(minutes)
Burden
(hours)
7
3
Type of request: Extension without
change of a currently approved
collection.
Affected public: Individuals or
Households; Businesses or other for
profits.
Abstract: The Railroad Retirement
Board administers the Medicare
program for persons covered by the
railroad retirement system. The forms in
the collection obtain both information
needed to enroll non-retired employees
and survivor applicants in the plan and
information from railroad employers
needed to determine if a railroad
retirement beneficiary is entitled to a
special enrollment period when
applying for supplemental medical
coverage under Medicare.
Changes proposed: The RRB proposes
no changes to Forms AA–6, AA–7, AA–
8 or RL–311–F.
The burden estimate for the ICR is as
follows:
E:\FR\FM\26JAN1.SGM
26JAN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 16 (Monday, January 26, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3996-3998]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-01346]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
POSTAL SERVICE
New Mailing Standards for Lithium Batteries
AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Postal Service will revise Publication 52, Hazardous,
Restricted, and Perishable Mail (Publication 52), in various sections
to provide new standards for the mailing of lithium batteries.
Publication 52 was developed to provide expanded requirements for the
mailing of hazardous, restricted, and perishable materials.
DATES: Effective date: March 2, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joan Hall (212) 330-5332 or Kevin
Gunther (202) 268-7208.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Overview
U.S. Postal Service[supreg] Publication 52 provides mailing
standards specific to hazardous, restricted and perishable items and
materials. Pursuant to the Mailing Standards of the United States
Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) 601.8.2, Publication
52 applies to the mailability of hazardous materials, including lithium
batteries.
Revisions to Publication 52
The Postal Service is making these revisions in order to align with
the Department of Transportation (DOT), Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) recent changes to regulations
for the transportation of lithium batteries.
On August 6, 2014, PHMSA issued a final rule (79 FR 46012-46040)
titled ``Hazardous Materials: Transportation of Lithium Batteries'' in
which it describes new requirements governing the shipment of lithium
cells and batteries for both air and surface transportation. In this
final rule, PHMSA revises hazard communication and packaging provisions
for lithium batteries and harmonizes the Hazardous Materials
Regulations (HMR) with applicable provisions of the United Nations (UN)
Model Regulations, the International Civil Aviation Organization's
Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air
(ICAO Technical Instructions) and the International Maritime Dangerous
Goods (IMDG) Code.
With these revisions, the Postal Service aligns with PHMSA and the
other regulatory entities noted above with regard to:
1. Use of terminology describing lithium content with watt-hours
for lithium-ion cells and batteries;
2. Adoption of separate shipping descriptions for lithium metal
batteries and lithium-ion batteries;
3. New requirements for the transport of small lithium cells and
batteries contained in equipment; and
4. New marking requirements and options for lithium batteries
installed in equipment packaged with equipment and shipped without
equipment.
In the development of mailing standards for lithium cells and
batteries in air transportation, the Postal Service
[[Page 3997]]
aligns with PHMSA regulations applicable to passenger aircraft, as
Postal Service products eligible for transportation by air continue to
have the potential to be placed on passenger aircraft.
Definitions
The Postal Service also adds a new definitions section and revises
its terminology with regard to lithium cells and batteries to better
reflect what is commonly used in the industry and by other regulatory
agencies.
International
The Postal Service clarifies that labels commonly used with other
transportation providers are not permitted on mailpieces containing
lithium batteries installed in equipment, when these mailpieces are
intended for international mail. It has been a common practice for some
high volume lithium battery shippers to preprint DOT-approved lithium
battery handling labels on all of their packaging, including those
intended for international mail. When mailing to international
destinations, including APO/FPO/DPO (Army Post Office, Fleet Post
Office, Diplomatic Post Office) destinations, mailpieces containing
lithium batteries installed in equipment must not include any markings
or labels that identify the mailpiece contents as lithium batteries.
The Postal Service also defines a category of very small lithium metal
and lithium-ion cells and batteries that, when installed in the
equipment they operate, are mailable in international mail without
regard to quantity.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN26JA15.001
Quantities
With this revision, the Postal Service will not require markings or
documentation for parcels containing button cell lithium batteries
installed in equipment (including circuit boards) or no more than four
(4) lithium cells or two (2) lithium batteries installed in equipment.
For these shipments, the Postal Service will allow the optional use of
an applicable DOT-approved lithium battery handling labels in either
domestic air or surface transportation. The Postal Service will require
markings and documentation as described in this final rule for lithium
batteries installed in equipment in domestic air transportation when
the number of cells exceeds four (4) up to the allowable limit for air
transportation of eight (8) cells.
The Postal Service will continue to allow mailings of lithium metal
or lithium-ion batteries packaged with the equipment they operate, and
lithium-ion batteries packaged without equipment (individual batteries)
in domestic air transportation. In these instances, mailpieces must not
contain more than eight (8) lithium cells or two (2) batteries. Cells
and batteries must be within the applicable USPS limitations for
lithium metal content or watt-hour rating, and mailpieces must bear
markings and be accompanied by documentation as described below.
Mailers should also note that for the purposes of mailability, when a
limitation of eight (8) cells or two (2) batteries is applicable, the
mailpiece is restricted to a maximum of either 8 cells or 2 batteries,
not both.
Markings
In addition to the marking requirements currently described in
Publication 52, lithium cells or batteries mailed with (but not
installed in) equipment or mailed without equipment (individual
batteries) must be enclosed in strong outer packaging, and must be
marked with:
a. An indication that the package contains ``lithium metal'' or
``lithium-ion'' cells or batteries, as appropriate.
b. An indication that the package is to be handled with care and
that a flammable hazard exits if the package is damaged.
c. An indication that special procedures must be followed in the
event the package is damaged, to include inspection and repacking, if
necessary.
d. A telephone number for additional information.
e. Mailpieces containing lithium metal batteries not installed in,
or packaged with equipment must also bear a ``Surface Mail Only,
Lithium Metal Batteries -- Forbidden for Transportation Aboard
Passenger Aircraft'' or ``Surface Mail Only, Primary Lithium Batteries
-- Forbidden for Transportation Aboard Passenger Aircraft'' marking.
f. Mailers may use a DOT-approved lithium battery handling label,
in domestic air or surface transportation, to meet these marking
requirements, provided all required elements are included.
Documentation
In addition to the marking requirements noted above, mailpieces
containing lithium batteries packaged with equipment or mailed without
equipment must be accompanied by a document that includes the
following:
a. An indication that the package contains ``lithium metal'' or
``lithium-ion'' cells or batteries, as appropriate.
b. An indication that the package is to be handled with care and
that a flammable hazard exits if the package is damaged.
c. An indication that special procedures must be followed in the
event the package is damaged, to
[[Page 3998]]
include inspection and repacking, if necessary.
d. A telephone number for additional information.
The specific revisions to Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted,
and Perishable Mail referenced in this notice will be published in
Postal Bulletin 22408 on February 5, 2015, and can be viewed at https://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin. These revisions are expected to be
incorporated into the Publication 52 on March 2, 2015. Publication 52
is provided in its entirety on Postal Explorer[supreg] at https://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/welcome.htm.
Stanley F. Mires,
Attorney, Federal Requirements.
[FR Doc. 2015-01346 Filed 1-23-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P