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# 20i2 hh • '"" ::> In the Matter of

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# DOCKEWestover Corporation, .. ,'

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.. ...... Respondent Attorney for Respondent Howard Bittman, FAA Case Number: 2010WP700145 P.O. Dox 4370 Boulder, Co. 80306 Phone: 303-444-8349 Fax: 303-444-1089 

### e-mail: howardbittmanlawoffice@comcast.net 

### ANSWER TO COMPLAINT
Respondent Westover Corporation submits the following Answer to the Complaint filed by the Federal Aviation Administration 

### as follows: 1. Westover, a small business, admits that on or about August 17, 20I0, an employee of Respondent shipped two Eagle Pilcher Carefree Rechargeable 

### 12 volt Lead Acid Batteries 

### in a fiberboard box via 

### UPS from its main facility in Denver, Colorado to a facility in California. 

### The**shi~ment** was prepared by Respondent employee 

### Jenell Cordova who properly placed the two batteries in the package, separated by 

### a piece 

### of rigid foam with sufficient sheets ofnon-couducti:vc foam on top ofthc batteries 

### in order to prevent them from moving, to protect the batteries' terminals 

### and to prevent the possibility ofa short circuit There was no air waybill but a UPS shipping label was affixed to the outside ofthe package. In so doing, Westover was relyingon l.the then applicable provisions ofPacking Instruction 806 ofInternational Civil Aviation Organization ("lCAO'') Technical Instructions forthe Safe Transport ofDangerous Goods by Air: "Batteries must be protected against short circuits and must be securely packed 

### in strong outer packagings" and 2. The items' Material Data Safety Sheet ("'MSDS") which stated: "Cardree batteries having met the related conditions arc EXEMPT from hazardous goods regulation for the purpose oftransportation by DOT, and IATAIICAO, IMDG and therefore are unrestricted for all modes oftransportation." 2. Westover 1s not a hazma/ employi!ror hazmal shippt!r as the referenced shipmentwas unique. Westover normally has batteries shipped as needed directly from a vendor. 3. Westover is without**~umcient** information 10 admit or deny the allegations set forth in paragraphs 7 and 8 ofthe Complaint and thus denies same. Westover affirmatively asserts that there was no short circuir, but possibly a leak ofbattery acid which interacted05/04/2012 13:49 FAX 2024935142 FAA + OMS**~** 002/003

with packaging material and which was fully contained within the packaging, i.e. there was no release ofhazardous materials
4. Westover denies that 

### itviolated the statutory provisions cited in section 

### II ofthe Complaint and further denies that it is liable 

### tor civil penalties 

### inthe amounts claimed in section 

### ITT ofthe Complaint. Westover denies that a civil penalty of$91,000 is appropriate, to wit: Westoverhas no history ofviolations; 

### Had the tenn "non-spillable" beenprinted on the packaging, the package would have been in

### full compliance; Westover relied on 

### a MSDS indicating that the shipment was unregulated; Westover 

### is a small business concern; Westover does not nonnally shiphazardous material ofany kind- this wa<; a one·

### tim~ event.
5. Westover denies any allegation set forth in the complaint not specifically admitted herein. 

### WHEREFORE, Respondent Westover Corporation prays that the Complaint

### be dismissed and that this matter 

### b.e fairly resolved in the interests of justice. Westover further prays that any hearing on this ma!,ter be set in Denver, Colorado

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# Ret~lly-**su~~~·-**

. . . Howard Bittman


### CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby ct:rtify that I have placed a true and correct copy ofthe foregoing dirccicd Lo: Federal Aviation AdministTation 800 Tndependcnce Ave. SW Washington, D.C. 20591 Attn: Hearing Docketing Clerk AGC- 430 Wilbur Wright Bldg- Room 2WIOOO 

### And Courtney Adolph FAA 

### P.O. Box 92007 I,os Angeles, Ca. 90009-200705/04/2012 13:48 FAX 2024835142 

# l,1 '/ i I 

### this day of

### April, 2012 FAA

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