Lithium Battery Safety Act of 2016

To promote the safe manufacture, use, and transportation of lithium batteries and cells, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Lithium Battery Safety Act of 2016 2. Restrictions on shipment of lithium batteries in air transportation (a) Repeal Section 828 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 ( 49 U.S.C. 44701 (b) Review (1) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall— (A) initiate a comprehensive review of the existing regulations under part 171–181 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, and any applicable regulations under title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, regarding the air transportation, including passenger-carrying and cargo aircraft, of lithium batteries and cells; and (B) based on the review under subparagraph (A), take any additional appropriate action to sufficiently mitigate risks posed by lithium batteries and cells to safe air transport. (2) Considerations In conducting the review under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider whether the existing regulations and the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air are sufficient to mitigate the safety risk posed to air transportation by carriage of lithium batteries and cells. 3. Lithium battery safety working group (a) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the President shall establish a lithium battery safety working group to promote and coordinate efforts related to the promotion of the safe manufacture, use, and transportation of lithium batteries and cells. (b) Composition (1) In general The working group shall be composed of at least 1 representative from each of the following: (A) Consumer Product Safety Commission. (B) Department of Transportation. (C) National Institute on Standards and Technology. (2) Additional members The working group may include not more than 4 additional members with expertise in the safe manufacture, use, or transportation of lithium batteries and cells. (3) Subcommittees The President, or members of the working group, may— (A) establish working group subcommittees to focus on specific issues related to the safe manufacture, use, or transportation of lithium batteries and cells; and (B) include in a subcommittee the participation of nonmember stakeholders with expertise in areas that the President or members consider necessary. (c) Report Not later than 1 year after the date it is established under subsection (a), the working group shall— (1) research— (A) additional ways to decrease the risk of fires and explosions from lithium batteries and cells; (B) additional ways to ensure uniform transportation requirements for both bulk and individual batteries; and (C) new or existing technologies that could reduce the fire and explosion risk of lithium batteries and cells; and (2) transmit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives (d) Exemption from FACA The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the working group. (e) Termination The working group, and any working group subcommittees, shall terminate 90 days after the date the report is transmitted under subsection (c).

Summary: Lithium Battery Safety Act of 2016 This bill amends the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 to repeal the prohibition against new Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations for the transportation by aircraft of lithium metal cells or batteries or lithium ion cells or batteries that are more stringent than the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air, as amended. DOT shall: initiate a comprehensive review of existing and any other applicable regulations regarding the air transportation, including passenger-carrying and cargo aircraft, of lithium batteries and cells; and take any additional action appropriate to mitigate sufficiently the risks posed by lithium batteries and cells to safe air transport. The President shall establish a lithium battery safety working group to promote and coordinate efforts related to the promotion of the safe manufacture, use, and transportation of lithium batteries and cells. The working group shall research: additional ways to decrease the risk of fires and explosions from lithium batteries and cells, additional ways to ensure uniform transportation requirements for both bulk and individual batteries, and new or existing technologies that could reduce the fire and explosion risk of lithium batteries and cells.