,i #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #gibh ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,march #ab1 #bjbf,ms4 ,titus introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure1 and in addition to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,secretary of ,transportation to issue certain regulations with respect to the safe transportation of lithium-ion cells or batteries1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,thermal ,runaway ,reduction ,act of #bjbf4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,lithium-ion cell or battery ,the term lithium-ion cell or battery-- 7,a7 means a rechargeable electrochemical cell or battery in which the positive and negative electrodes are both intercalation compounds constructed with no metallic lithium in either electrode2 but 7,b7 does not include a cell or battery described in subsections 7c7 and 7g77#b7 of section #agc4ahe of title #di1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations4 7#b7 ,thermal runaway ,the term thermal runaway means an uncontrolled increase of cell temperature caused by exothermic reactions inside cells and batteries1 including lithium-ion cells or batteries4 #c4 ,requirements for safe transport of lithium-ion batteries ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,transportation shall-- 7#a7 work with the ,united ,nations ,subcommittee of ,experts on the ,transportation of ,dangerous ,goods to revise the design tests in subsection #ch4c of the ,,un ,manual of ,tests and ,criteria to develop an impact test for lithium-ion cells or batteries installed in transport units and transported under ,,un #cecf to allow improved ability to withstand forces experienced in transport accidents without going into thermal runaway2 7#b7 issue such regulations as are necessary to amend section #agc4ahe of title #di1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 to require lithium-ion cells or batteries to be offered for commercial transport at a state of charge not exceeding #cj percent of the rated capacity of such cells or batteries 7determined through the guidance and methodology under section #ch4c4b4c of the ,manual of ,tests and ,criteria of the ,united ,nations7 and authorize the transportation of lithium-ion cells or batteries at a state of charge greater than #cj percent of the rated capacity of such cells or batteries only under conditions approved by the ,associate ,administrator for ,hazardous ,materials of the ,pipeline and ,hazardous ,materials ,safety ,administration in accordance with the requirements in subpart ,h of part #ajg of such title2 7#c7 issue such regulations as are necessary or promulgate final guidance on the safe transportation of damaged1 defective1 or recalled lithium-ion cells or batteries1 and such regulations or guidance shall include guidance on the packaging1 movement1 and disposal of damaged1 defective1 or recalled lithium-ion cells or batteries2 and 7#d7 every five years review the regulations and guidelines under this section and update them1 as appropriate1 to account for other emerging batteries or cells that pose a risk of thermal runaway as a result from a fire during commercial transport4 #d4 ,grant program for innovative thermal runaway suppression strategies 7a7 ,establishment ,the ,administrator of the ,pipelines and ,hazardous ,materials ,safety ,administration shall conduct a program to provide grants to eligible entities to test and study-- 7#a7 the effectiveness of innovative technologies and methods to suppress thermal runaway in lithium-ion cells or batteries transported under ,,un #cecf in commercial transport units2 7#b7 the impact of the state of charge of a battery or cell being transported under ,,un #cecf on methods to suppress thermal runaway in lithium-ion cells or batteries2 and 7#c7 methods for emergency responders to verify the state of charge of a battery or cell being transported under ,,un #cecf experiencing thermal runaway as a result of a fire or crash during commercial transport4 7b7 ,eligibility ,facilities that specialize in fire suppression testing shall be eligible to receive grants under this section4 7c7 ,prioritization ,in issuing grants under this section1 the ,administrator shall prioritize projects that test suppression technologies that-- 7#a7 do not contain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances2 and 7#b7 are cost effective4 7d7 ,timing 7#a7 ,application period ,the ,administrator shall-- 7,a7 finalize grant eligibility requirements and begin soliciting applications not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act2 7,b7 provide #ij days for entities to submit to the ,administrator applications for such a grant2 7,c7 select recipients of grants under this section not later than #ahj days after the date on which solicitation begins under subparagraph 7,a72 and 7,d7 in any case in which a deadline under subparagraph 7,a7 or 7,c7 is not met1 submit to ,congress a report containing any reasons either such deadline was not met4 7#b7 ,grant completion ,each grant recipient shall conclude the project for which a grant is awarded not later than #ah months after funds are provided to such recipient4 7e7 ,reporting requirements ,in carrying out the program under this section1 the ,administrator shall ensure that each grant recipient1 upon conclusion of an activity funded by a grant under this section1 submits to the ,administrator a report on the findings of any tests conducted pursuant to such grant4 7f7 ,recommendations ,not later than #abj days after the receipt of all reports required under subsection 7e71 the ,administrator shall review the findings submitted by grant awardees and submit to the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate a report containing-- 7#a7 any findings related to the grant program under this section1 including which fire suppression tools and techniques were found to be most effective at suppressing thermal runaway resulting from a lithium-ion cell or battery fire2 7#b7 the impact of the state of charge of a battery on the techniques and tools studied under the grant program2 7#c7 information on the best methods to verify the state of charge of a lithium-ion battery or cell after a nonconsumptive event and how that information can inform decisions about how to safely mitigate thermal runaway2 and 7#d7 recommendations on whether1 based on such review1 updated guidance or training of the ,pipeline and ,hazardous ,materials ,safety ,administration is necessary4 7g7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated #aj1jjj1jjj for the period of fiscal years #bjbg through #bjca to carry out this section4 #e4 ,increasing access to thermal runaway suppression tools 7a7 ,lithium fire safety grants ,section #eajg of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7j7 ,lithium fire safety grants ,the ,secretary shall establish a competitive grant program making grants available to volunteer or career fire departments1 or combination of such fire departments1 for-- 7#a7 equipment1 including blankets to suppress thermal runaway1 portable fire suppression agents1 and other equipment that the ,secretary determines is appropriate1 to support the suppression of thermal runaway resulting from the transportation of lithium-ion cells or batteries2 7#b7 field-deployed residual-energy assessment and cell-integrity diagnostics2 7#c7 environmental monitoring suites and runoff control to assist with cleanup after a thermal runaway event2 and 7#d7 access and containment tools1 over-pack systems1 and packaging for damaged1 defective1 or recalled lithium-ion batteries or cells4 7k7 ,timing of grant process ,the ,secretary shall ensure that the process for each grant awarded under this section provides for the following3 7#a7 ,a period of #ij days for entities to submit to the ,administrator applications for such a grant4 7#b7 ,selection of the recipients of grants not later than #ahj days after the date on which solicitation of such grants is initiated4 4 7b7 ,timing ,the ,secretary of ,transportation shall finalize grant eligibility requirements and begin soliciting applications for the grant program established under section #eajg7;j7 of title #di1 ,united ,states ,code1 not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act4