The Federal Maritime Commission released a notice of the filing of the following agreements under the Shipping Act of 1984. Interested parties may submit comments on the agreement by email to Secretary@fmc.gov, or by mail to the Secretary, Federal Maritime Commission, Washington, DC 20573, within 12 days of publication in the Federal Register, that is, by April 1.

Acting Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Michael Khouri was designated chairman of the agency by President Donald Trump on March 7, the FMC said in a news release.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is issuing an interim final rule amending requirements for shipping lithium ion cells and batteries on passenger and cargo aircraft. The interim final rule “prohibits the transport of lithium ion cells and batteries as cargo on passenger aircraft; requires lithium ion cells and batteries to be shipped at not more than a 30 percent state of charge aboard cargo-only aircraft when not packed with or contained in equipment; and limits the use of alternative provisions for small lithium cell or battery shipments to one package per consignment,” PHMSA said. A limited exception is included for replacement batteries for medical devices on passenger aircraft. The interim final rule is intended to align the U.S. Hazardous Materials regulations with the 2015-16 edition of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air. The new regulations take effect March 6, and comments on the interim final rule may be submitted until May 6.