Document ID: PHMSA-2019-0098-0001
Agency: phmsa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Request for Nominations: Lithium Battery Safety Advisory Committee
Posted Date: 2019-05-14T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 93 (Tuesday, May 14, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21411-21412]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-09878]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket No. PHMSA-2019-0098; Notice No. 2019-05]

Hazardous Materials; Lithium Battery Safety Advisory Committee 
Nominations

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), 
Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Request for Member Nominations for the Lithium Battery Safety 
Advisory Committee.

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SUMMARY: PHMSA is seeking nominations for individuals to serve as 
members on the Lithium Battery Safety Advisory Committee (the 
Committee). This is a safety advisory committee mandated by section 
333(d) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 and established in 
accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) of 1972. The 
committee will facilitate communication among manufacturers of lithium 
ion and lithium metal cells and batteries, manufacturers of products 
incorporating both large and small lithium ion and lithium metal 
batteries, air carriers, and the Federal Government. This communication 
will promote the safe transportation of lithium ion and lithium metal 
cells and batteries and improve the effectiveness and economic and 
social impacts of related regulation. No later than 180 days after the 
establishment of the Committee, the Committee shall submit to the 
Secretary and the appropriate committees of Congress a report that 
describes and evaluates the steps being taken in the private sector and 
by international regulatory authorities to implement and enforce 
requirements relating to the safe transportation of bulk shipments of 
lithium ion cells and batteries. The Committee will also identify any 
areas of regulatory requirements for which there is consensus that 
greater attention is needed.

DATES: Nominations must be received on or before June 4, 2019.

ADDRESSES: All nomination material should be emailed to the Advisory 
Committee's Program Manager, Lindsey Constantino, at 
lithiumbatteryFACA@dot.gov or mailed to the Pipeline and Hazardous 
Materials Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, PHH-4, E23- 
442, Washington, DC 20590, to the attention of Lindsey Constantino, 
Advisory Committee Program Manager, PHH-4.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lindsey Constantino, International 
Transportation Specialist (PHH-4), U.S. Department of Transportation, 
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue SE., East Building, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001, 
Telephone 202-366-0665, lithiumbatteryFACA@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Advisory Committee Background

    The Committee is a statutorily mandated advisory committee that 
provides a mechanism for:
    (a) Facilitating communication among manufacturers of lithium ion 
and lithium metal cells and batteries, manufacturers of products 
incorporating both large and small lithium ion and lithium metal 
batteries, air carriers, and the Federal Government, regarding the safe 
transportation of lithium ion and lithium metal cells and batteries and 
the effectiveness and economic and social impacts of the regulation of 
such transportation.
    (b) Providing the Secretary, the Federal Aviation Administration 
(FAA), and PHMSA with timely information about new lithium ion and 
metal battery technology and transportation safety practices and 
methodologies.
    (c) Providing a forum for the Secretary to distribute information 
on this topic, as well as engage Committee members in discussions 
concerning the related activities of the Department of Transportation.
    A complete list of duties for the Committee is outlined in section 
333(d)(2) of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018. This committee is 
established in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 
U.S.C. App. 2.

II. Membership

    The Committee will consist of representatives from:
    (a) Large volume manufacturers of lithium ion and lithium metal 
cells and batteries;

[[Page 21412]]

    (b) domestic manufacturers of lithium ion and lithium metal 
batteries or battery packs;
    (c) manufacturers of consumer products powered by lithium ion and 
lithium metal batteries;
    (d) manufacturers of vehicles powered by lithium ion and lithium 
metal batteries;
    (e) marketers of products powered by lithium ion and lithium metal 
batteries;
    (f) cargo air service providers based in the United States;
    (g) passenger air service providers based in the United States;
    (h) pilots and employees of air service providers described in 
bullets (f) and (g);
    (i) shippers of lithium ion and lithium metal batteries for air 
transportation;
    (j) manufacturers of battery-powered medical devices or batteries 
used in medical devices;
    (k) employees of the Department of Transportation, including 
employees of FAA and PHMSA;
    (l) representatives of such other Government departments and 
agencies as the Secretary determines appropriate; and
    (m) any other individuals the Secretary determines are appropriate 
to comply with Federal law.

III. Terms of Participation

     All Group members must be able to attend a minimum of two 
meetings each year in Washington, DC, and other designated locations, 
or by teleconference.
     Members serve without compensation, although travel 
expenses, including per diem, may be eligible for reimbursement 
consideration based on budget availability.
     A member appointed for his or her individual views or 
advice must be appointed as a Special Government Employee (SGE). Other 
members will serve as Representatives or Regular Government Employees. 
SGEs are subject to certain Federal conflict of interest laws.

IV. Nomination Procedures

    The PHMSA Administrator, on behalf of the Secretary, is seeking 
individual nominations for committee members, preferably executive 
level leadership, with diverse experiences and expertise in research 
and development; academia; human factors; lithium battery 
manufacturing; lithium battery testing; packaging manufacture and 
testing; air cargo safety; risk management; or other related experience 
in manufacturing or transporting lithium batteries by air. Any 
interested person may nominate one or more qualified individuals for 
membership on the Committee. Self-nominations are also accepted.
     Nominations must include a current, complete resume 
including business and home address, telephone number, email address, 
education, relevant professional or business experience, present 
occupation, and membership status in other working groups or advisory 
committees, past or present.
     Nominations must include a short biography identifying 
each nominee's qualifications and expertise.
     Nominations must include an indication of the category the 
individual nominated most identifies with, based on the list provided 
in paragraph II Membership. If an individual preforms functions in 
multiple categories, please choose the most relevant category.
     Nominations should highlight relevant experience on panels 
that have dealt with transportation safety, lithium battery safety, air 
transportation safety, or detail the nominee's interest in the subject 
matter that will be considered by the committee.
     Nominations must acknowledge that the nominee is aware of 
the nomination unless self-nominated.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on May 8, 2019.
William S. Schoonover,
Associate Administrator, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2019-09878 Filed 5-13-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-60-P