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U.S . Departmen l Q^^ ^ ^ ^ ,^ g Regiona l Counsel , _p O Bo x 9^00 7 O f Transpo^olio

n Western-Pacifi c Regio n X:PARTiviEN

T OF Lo s Angeles , California90009-200 7 In'J^L'li.^Mi^n'' " "Afs'8P0RTAT!0N 010 ) 725-712 8 Telephon e Administration - T. ^ OP^RATiGNP'^ ) 725-681 6 Facsimil e MA R1 3 201 2 ?Hi / MA R2 3 P 3M b CERTIFIE D MAI L - RETUR N RECEIP T REQUESTE D Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n SO O Independenc e Avenue , S W Washington , D C 2059 1 '-MA R 2 0 Tflf i Attn : Hearin g Docke t

Clerk , AGC-43 0 Wilbu r Wrigh t Building—Roo m2\V100 0 Facsimile : (202 ) 493-502 0 

# HEARJM G DOCKE T Re : I n th e Matte r

o f Westove r Corporatio n /^Di(^-ft\OA'Cf P ' C>^^^4 3 CaseNo . 20I0WP70O14 5 ' r-r^^t^^n ^ . s -r^O^e ^ : Enclose dherewit h pleas e findacop y o f areques t

fo r hearin g an dth e origina l an don e cop y o f th e Complain t

i n th e above-reference dproceeding . Th e FA A request s tha t th e hearin g i n thi s matte r b e hel di n th e Gardena , California , an d expect s tha t

th e hearin g wil l las t

on e (l)day . Pleas e addres s al l communication s for th e FA A t o th e undersigned , at : Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n Western-Pacifi c Region , AWP-7.4 , Pos t Offic e Bo x 92007 , Lo s Angeles , C A 90009-2007 ; Telephone : (310 ) 725

- 7128 , Facsimile : (310 ) 725-6S16 . Sincerely , "NaomiTsud a Regiona l Counse l

ne y Adolp h me y Enclosed : Reques t fo r Hearin g Complain t Certificat e o f

Sen'ic e Enclosures ; Reques t

fo r Hearing , Complaint , Certificat e o f Servic e NOT E T O RESPONDENT : SECTIO N 13.20 9 O F TH E C P RULE S O F PRACTIC E REQUIRE S THA T A WRITTE N ANSWE RT O TH E COMPLAIN T B E FILE D NO T LATE RTHA N 3 0 DAY S AFTE RSERVIC E O F THI S COMPLAINT . A S A N ALTERNATIV E T O FILIN G A N ANSWER , A MOTIO N MA Y B E FILE D PURSUAN T T O SECTIO N 13.208(D ) O RSECTIO N 13.21 8 (F ) (1-4 ) O F TH E RULE S O F PRACTICE . cc : AWP^74 0Howar d Bittman , Attorne y a t La w

Mailin g address ; P.O . Bo x 4370 , Boulder , C O 8030 6 Offic e address : 111 3 Spruc e Street . Boulder , C O Phone : 303-444-8349 : fax : 30 3 444-108 9 Email : howardbillman[awoffice(S).comcast.net •-.• . \ i , L i..''..H..- i -:Oi . I . ' Februar y 29 , 201 2 Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n 80 0 Independenc e Ave. , S W Washington , D.C . 2059 1 Attn. : Hearin g Docke t Cler k - AG C 43 0 Wilbu rWrigh t Building - Roo m 2W100 0 Re ; Cas e # 2010WP700145AA/estove rCorporatio n REQUES T FO R HEARIN G Pe r(attached ) FINA L NOTIC E O F PROPOSE D FINA L PENALT Y date d Februar y 16 , 201 2 an d receive d b y Westove rCorporatio n o n Februar y 21 , 2012 , Westove r Corporatio n hereb y request s tha t a hearin g b e se t o n th e issue s raise d therein . Westove rfurthe rrequest s tha t sai d hearin g b e conducte d i n Denver , Colorad o wher e Westover' s busines s an d office s ar e located . Howar d Bittma n Colorad o Atty . Re g # 477 3 —^Attorneyfo rWestove rCorp'oratio n Of : Courtne y Adolp h Offic e o f Regiona l Counse l P\qrBo)r92007--^...^^

^ Los'Angeles , Califorhi a 90009-200 7

^ ^ HOWAR D BITTMAN ( ^U.S . DEPARTMEN T O F TRANSPORTATIO N FEDERA L AVIATIO N ADMINISTTRATIO N

FAA DOCKE T NO T ASSIGNE D I n th e Matte r

of : FAA CAS E NO . 2010WP700 J 4 5 Westove r Corporatiou , Responden t JUDG E NO T ASSIGNE D COMPLAIN T Th e Complainan t

files it s Complaint , pursuan t t o Rul e 20 8 o f

th e Rule s o f

Practic e (14C.F.R . § 13.208) , an dstate s a s follows : I . Respondent , Westove r

Corporatioo , wa s advise dtliroug h aFina l Notic e o f Proposed.Civi l Penalty . that-theFederaLAviation-Administration(FAA)proposedto~asses s a " civi l penalty i

n th e amoun t

o f $91,000.00 . O

n Februar y 29 , 2012 , Counse l fo r Responden t submitte dawritte n reques t for ahearing . II . 1 . O n or about Augus t 17 , 2010 , Travi s Morse , a n employe e for

th e Respondent , offere da n undeclare dshipmen t

to Unite dParce l Servic e ("UPS") i fo r second-da y air transportatio n fromDenver , Colorad o t o consigne e Westove r Control s Corp. , Newbur y Park , California , o n ai r waybil l number

I Z SO X 09 4 0 2 441 6 603 2 (refen'e dto hereinafte r

a s "shipment") . Th e shipmen t wa s prepare db y Respondent' s employe e Jenel l Cordova .2 . Th e shipmen t consiste do f

on e (1 ) fiberboardbo x containin g tw o (2 ) loos e Eagl e Riche r Carefre e Rechargeabl e Lea dAci dBatteries , CF-I2V7.2 , andonl y (1 ) styiofoampiec e andon e (1 ) shee t o f paper . 3 . "Eagl e Piche r

Carefre e Rechargeabl e Lea dAci dBatteries , CF-12V7.2 " ar e a hazardou s material , i

n accordanc e wit

h th e Hazardou s Material s Tabl e i n Titl e 4 9 o f th e Cod e o f

Federa l Regulation s (4 9 C.F.R.) , Sectio n 172.101 . Theirprope r shippin g nam e i s "batteries , wet , non-spillable , electri c storage " andhav e a n identificatio n numbe r

o f UN2S00 , andar

e i n Hazar dClas s 8 , packin g grou p III . 4 . Responden t

offere dth e shipmen t

fo r ai r transportatio n i

n commerc e whe n i

t wa s no t properl y classed , described , packaged , marked , labeled , andi n conditio n fo

r shipmen t a s require do r

authorize db y applicabl e requirement s i n Subchapte r

C o f Chapte r 1 o f 4 9 C.F.R. , or

a n exemptio n o r

special pennit , approval , o r registratio n issue dunder

Subchapte r

C or Subchapte r

A o f Chapte r I . To wit :

a . Th e shippin g paper s didnot includ e any classificatio n o r descriptio n o f

th e material s bein g shipped . b . Th e shipmen t

wa s no t properl y package di

n orde r to preven t

adangerou s evolutio n o f

heat , shor

t circuits , andto preven t

damag e to th e battery terminals .

c . Hazardou s material marking s were no t visibl e o n th e exterio r

o f th e shipmen t box .d . Hazardou s materia l label s were no t visibl e o n th e exterio r

o f th e shipmen t box . 5 . Responden t

offere dth e shipmen t

when emergenc y respons e infonnation , conformin g t o 4 9 C.F.R . par

t 172 , subpart

G , wa s ho t

immediatel y availabl e fo r us e a t al l time s th e hazardou s materia l wa s present . Responden t offere dth e shipmen t

whe n i t di d no t provid e a n emergenc y respons e telephon e numbe r fo r us e i n th e even t

o f a n emergenc y involvin g th e hazardou s material . 6 . A s describe dabove . Responden t wa s ahaima t

employer , andJenel l Cordov awa s a haznui t employee , a s thos e term s arc define di n 4 9 C.F.R . § 171.8 . Responden t offere dth e sliipmen t

fo r ai r transportatio n whe n Ms . Cordov adi dno t hav e recurren t general awareness/familiarization , function-specific , security awareness , safety , etc . trainin g i n accordanc e with subpar t H o f par t 17 2 o f 4 9 C.F.R . 7 . O n Augus t 18 , 2010 , UP S transporte dth e shipmen t b y ai r fro mDenver , Colorad o t

o it s sortin g facilit

y i n Ontario , California , wher e UP S employee s observe dsmok e emanatin g fro

mth e shipmen t

an ddiscovere dtha

t th e shipmen t

containe dhazardou s materials . 8 . Furthe r

inspectio n o f

th e shipmen t

b y a n FAA Specia l Agen t

reveale dtha t

eac h o f th e fou r (4 ) battery terminal s wa s unprotecte dan dthat metal fromeac h o f

th e fou r battery tenninal s ha

dmelted . Residu e (white ) fro mburnin g wa s observe dnea r eac h terminal . Further , tw o scorc h mark s were obsen'c do n th e shee t o f pape r tha t wa s i n th e box .B y reaso n o f th e foregoin g fact s andcircumstances . Responden t violate dth e followin g Departmen l o f

Transportatio n Hazardou s Material Regulafion s (Titl e 49 , Par t 17 1 et seq. . Cod e o f Federal Regulations) :

a . 4 9 C.F.R . § 171.2(e) , whic h state s tha t n o perso n ma y offe

r hazardou s material fo

r transportatio n unles s th e hazardou s materia l i s properl y classed , described , packaged , marked , labeled , andi n conditio n fo

r shipmen t a s require do r

authorize db y applicabl e requirement s o f th e Hazardou s Material s Regulations , o r

a n exemption , approval , o r registratio n issue dunder th e Hazardou s Material s Regulations ;

b . 4 9 C.F.R . § 172.200(a) , i n that i t offeredahazardou s material fo r transportatio n withou t

properl y describin g th e hazardou s material o n shippin g papers ;

c . 4 9 C.F.R . § 172.300(a) , whic h state s tha t eac h perso n wh o offer s ahazardou s material fo

r transportatio n shal l mar

k eac h package , freigh

t container , and transport vehicl e containin g th e hazardou s materia l i n th e manne r

require db y thi s subpart ;

d . 4 9 C.F.R . § 172.400(a) , whic h state s tha t excep t a s specifie di

n §172.400a , eac h perso n wh o offer s fo r transportatio n o r

transport s ahazardou s materia l i n an y o f th e followin g package s o r containmen t

devices , shal l labe l th epackag e o r containmen t

devic e wit

h label s specifie dfo

r th e material i

n th e §172.10 1 tabl e an

di n thi s subpart : (1 ) non-bul k package ;

e . 4 9 C.F.R . § 172.600(c) , whic h state s tha t n o perso n t o who mthi s subpar t applie s ma

y offe r fo r transportation , accep t

fo r transportation , transfer , stor e o r olhenvis e handl e durin g transportatio n ahazardou s materia l unless : (1 ) Emergenc y respons e infonnafio n conformin g t o this subpart i s immediatel y

' availabl e fo

r us e a t all time s th e hazardou s materia l i s present ; and(2 ) Emergenc y respons e infonnation , includin g th e emergenc y respons e (elepJion e number , require db y thi s subpart i s immediatel y availabl e t o an y perso n who , a s arepresentativ e o f aFederal , stat e o r

local governmen t agency , respond s to a

n inciden t involvin g ahazardou s material , or i s conductin g a

n investigatio n whic h involve s ahazardou s material ;

f 4 9 C.F.R . § 172.702(a) , whic h state s i n relevan t part tha t ahazmat employe r shal l ensur e tha

t eac h o f it s hazma

t employee s i s traine di

n accordanc e wit

h th e requirement s prescribe di n thi s subpart ;

g . 4 9 C.F.R . § 172.704(a) , whic h state s tha t hazmat employe e trainin g mus t includ e th e following : (4 ) Security Awarenes s Training . N o late r than th e dat e o f th e first schedule drecurren t

trainin g afte

r Marc h 25 , 2003 , andi n n o cas e late r than Marc h 24 , 2006 , eac h hazma t employe e mus t

receiv e trainin g tha t provide s a

n awarenes s o f

security risk s associate dwit h hazardou s material s transportatio n andmethod s designe dto enhanc e transportatio n security . Thi s trainin g mus t als o includ e acomponen t coverin g ho w t orecogniz e andrespon dt o possibl e security thi'cats . Afte r Marc h 25 , 2003 , new hazmat

employee s mus t

receiv e th e security awarenes s trainin g require d b y thi s paragrap h withi n 9 0 day s afte r employment ;

h . 4 9 C.F.R . § 172.704(c)(2) , whic h state s tha t ahazmat employe e shal l receiv e th e trainin g require di

n thi s subpar

t a t leas t every thre e (3 ) years ;

i . 4 9 C.F.R . § 172.704(d) , whic h state s tha t arecordo f

cuiTen l training , inclusiv e o f

th e precedin g thre e years , i n accordanc e wit

h thi s sectio n shal l b e create dandretaine db y eac h hazma t employe r

for a s lon g a s tha

t employe e i s employe db y tha t

employe r a s ahazmat

employe e an dfo

r 9 0 day s thereafter . Th e recordshal l include : (1 ) Th e hazma t employee' s name ; (2 ) Th e mos t recen t trainin g completio n dat e o f th e hazma

t employee' s training ; (3 ) A description , copy , o r

th e locatio n o f

th e trainin g material s use dto mee t th e requirement s i

n paragrap h (a ) o f

thi s section ; (4 ) Th e nam e andaddres s o f th e perso n providin g th e (raining ; an d(5 ) Certificatio n tha

t th e hazma

t employe e ha s bee n traine dandtested , a s require db y thi s subpart ; j . 4 9 C.F.R . § 173.21(c) , whic h state s tha t unles s otherwis e provide di n thi s subchapter , th e offerin g fo r transportatio n o r

transportatio n o f

th e followin g i s forbidden : (c ) Electrical device s whic h are likel y t o creat e spark s o r generat e adangerou s quantity o f heat , unles s package di

n amanne r

whic h preclude s suc h a

n occurrence ;k . 4 9 C.F.R . § 173.159(a) , whic h state s tha t electri c storag e batteries , containin g electrolyt e aci dor

alkalin e coiTosiv c batter y fluid(we t batteries) , ma

y no t b e packe dwit

h othe r material s excep t

a s provide di

n paragraph s (g ) an

d(h ) o f this sectio n andi

n § § 173.22 0 and173.222 ; andan y batter y or battery

powere ddevic e mus t

b e prepare dandpackage dfo r transport i n amanne r

to prevent ; (1 ) A dangerou s evolutio n o f hea t {i.e. , a n amoun t o f hea t sufficient t o b e dangerou s to packagin g o r personal safet

y to includ e charrin g o f packaging, meltin g o f

packaging , scorchin g o f

packaging, o r

othe r evidence) ; (2 ) Shor t circuits , including , bu t

no t limite dto : (i ) Packagin g eac h battery o r eac h battery-powere ddevic e whe n practicable , i n full y enclose dinne r packaging s mad e o f

non-conductiv e material ; (ii ) Separatin g o r packagin g batterie s an

dbattery-powere ddevice s i n amanne r t o preven t

contac t wit h othe r batteries , device s o r

conductiv e material s (e.g. , metal ) i n th e packagings ; o r

(iii ) Ensurin g expose dtenninal s are protecte dwit h non conductiv e caps,'non-conductiv e tape , o r b y othe r appropriat e means ; and(3 ) Damag e to lerminals . I

f no t impac t resistant , th e oute r

packagin g mus t

no t b e use da s th e sol e mean s o f protectin g th e batter y terminal s fromdamag e o r shor t circuiting . Batterie s mus t b e securel y cushione dandpacke dto preven t shiftin g whic h coul dloose n terminal cap s or reorien t th e terminals . Batterie s containe di

n device s mus t

b e securel y installed . Tennina l protectio n method s includ e but

ar e not limite dto ; (i ) Securel y attachin g cover s o f sufficient strengt h t o protec t th e tenninals ; (ii ) Packagin g th e battery i n arigidplasti c packaging ; o r

(iii ) Constructin g th e batter y wit h tenninal s that

ar e recesse dorotherwis e protecte ds o tha t th e terminal s wil l not

b e subjecte dt o damag e if th e packag e i s dropped ; and

4 9 C.F.R . § 173.159(b) , whic h state s tha t fo r transportatio n b y aircraft ; (1 ) Th e packagin g fo

r wet batterie s mus t

incorporat e a

n acid

- o r alkaliproo f

liner , o r includ e asupplementary packagin g wit h sufficien t

strengt h an dadequatel y seale dto preven t

leakag e o f

electrolyt e fluidi

n th e even t

o f spillage ; an

d(2 ) Any battery-powere ddevice , equipmen t or vehicl e mus t

b e package dfo

r transport i n amanner

to preven t

unintenfional activatio n o r mus t hav e a n independen t

mean s o f preventin g unintentiona l activatio n {e.g. , packagin g restrict s acces s to activatio n switch , switc h cap s o r locks , recesse dswitches , trigge r locks , temperatur e sensitiv e circui t breakers , etc.) . III . 1 . I n accordanc e wit

h Sectio n 512 3 (a ) o f

Titl e 4 9 o f

th e Unite dState s Cod e (Transportation ) [(4 9 U.S.C . Sectio n 512 3 (a)] , Responden t i s liabl e fo

r acivi l penalty o f no t les s than $250.0 0 ($45 0 fo r trainin g violations) , no r

greate r tha n $50,00 0 (o r $100,00 0 fo

r violation s resultin g i

n death , seriou s illness , o r sever e injur

y t o an y person , or substantial destructio n o f property ) fo

r eac h violatio n o f

th e Departmen t

o f Transportatio n Hazardou s Material s Regulations . 2 . Unde r

th e fact s an

dcircumstance s o f

thi s case , acivi l penalty o f $91,000.0 0 i s appropriate .WHEREFOR_E , th e Complainant , respectfull y request s tha t th e Administrafiv e La

w Judg e ente r

a n orde r tha t Responden t

b e assesse dacivi l penalty i n th e amoun t

o f $91,000.00 . Respectfull y submitted , .

Courtne y Adolp h Attorne y Offic e o f th e Regional Counse l Federal Aviatio n Administratio n Western-Pacifi c Regio n DATED : Marc h 13,201 2CERTIFICAT E O F SERVIC E I hereb y certif

y tha t o n this dat e I hav e sen t b y facsimil e andplace di n th e Unite d State s mail , postag e prepaid , th e execute doriginal andon e cop y o f th e Administrator' s Complain t

date dMarc h 13 , 2012 , addresse da s follows :

Federal Aviatio n Administratio n 80 0 Independenc e Avenue , S W Wasliington , D C 2059 1 Attn : Hearin g Docke t

Clerk , AGC-43 0 Wilbu r Wrigh t Building—Roo m2WIOO 0 Facsimile : (202 ) 493-502 0

I fiirther certif y tha t o n this dat e I hav e place di n th e Unite dState s mail , postag e prepaid , certifie dmail , tru e copies o f th e Administrator' s Complain t date dMarc h 13 , 2012 , addresse da s follows ; Presiden t

---_VVestoyer_Corporafion 658 0 Federa l Blvd . Denver , CO 8022 1 and ; HowardBittman , Esq .

P.O . Bo x 437 0 Boulder , C O 8030 6 Date ; Marc h 13,201 2

Antoni aGarci a Paralega l Specialis t Offic e o f th e Regional Counse l Western-Pacifi c Regio n