PHMSA lithium battery advisory committee withdrawal OPEI has participated in the U.S. Department of Transportation - Lithium Battery Air Safety Advisory Committee - since the onset of the committee in 2019, with the goal to submit formal Congressional recommendations. However, the Executive Administration has paused all work to federal advisory committees. Therefore, the final April Committee meeting was cancelled ahead of the statutory sunset deadline of May 9, 2025. The pause brought the committee’s work to an abrupt closure without any final recommendations. However, there is interest amongst the group to continue work under an ad hoc capacity which is being spearheaded by UL Standards Engagement (ULSE). (ATTACHMENT) Throughout the committee’s six-year history, some of the biggest challenges that emerged included how to manage lithium battery incidents on board the aircraft, noncompliance of battery shipments, and a gap in public passenger awareness and how to properly mitigate it. Federal Aviation Administration data and independent studies all illustrate that there are now more than two thermal runaway incidents per week in the aviation ecosystem and the FAA data shows a 2024 increase in the number of lithium-ion battery related incidents. The Ad Hoc Committee - Congressional recommendations include: 1. Inadequate Performance of Fire Containment Products a. Recommendation: Fire containment devices that meet UL 5800 performance standards should be on U.S. passenger and cargo carriers (those classified as part 121 aircraft). 2. Non-Compliance in Battery Shipments a. Recommendation: Provide greater surveillance and enforcement of the existing and soon-to-be implemented state of charge requirements for battery shipments (ICAO Doc 9284). 3. Lack of Public Awareness Increases the Risk of Continued Incidents a. Recommendation: Collaborate with airlines, UL Standards & Engagement, TSA, FAA, and other stakeholders to improve passenger communications and education with respect to lithium battery risks and thermal runaway prevention measures. Lastly, ULSE is leading a separate coalition of government agencies and former advisory committee stakeholders, including OPEI, to launch a national passenger awareness campaign. Their goal is to target air travel passengers with messaging to increase awareness of safe practices for traveling with rechargeable devices by advocating: Know the Risk, Reduce the Risk, and Address the Risk. The campaign is expected to launch in Q4 of 2025, as outlined in the Ad Hoc Groups recommendations, and will rely on industry support to help spread the awareness. Action requested: None
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