AUGUST 2025

“Hazmat Highlights” is the FAA’s Office of Hazardous Materials Safety monthly newsletter with public updates from government sources related to the safe transportation of hazardous materials by air.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Unveils Proposed Rule to Unleash American Drone Dominance as Part of His Innovation Agenda

Keep Your Electronics in the Cabin. Here's Why:

Click on the image above to view the post on X.

Learn more at http://faa.gov/packsafe. Visit the FAA on X. 

Video Update: "Lithium Batteries: What's the Risk?"

The FAA's "Lithium Batteries: What's the Risk?" video has been updated on the Lithium Battery Resources page. View the video at Lithium Battery Resources | Federal Aviation Administration.

Video: Hazardous Materials Aviation Safety Inspectors

FAA hazardous material inspectors work hard to keep unsafe luggage and cargo off planes. Learn about their safety-critical work and take a look at FAA resources to help pack and ship safely. Click the image below to watch the video.

Visit the FAA on X.

Lithium Battery Air Incidents

Note: These are lithium battery related events involving smoke, fire, or extreme heat that the FAA is aware of and should not be considered a complete listing of all such incidents. The methods of collecting and recording these incidents and the data involved has changed over the life span of this chart as the FAA’s Office of Hazardous Materials Safety has evolved. The incident summaries included here are intended to be brief and objective. They do not represent all information the FAA has collected, nor do they include all investigative or enforcement action taken. This chart was last updated on August 15, 2025.

You can find all prior ACs, SAFOs, InFos, Orders & Notices, and other Dynamic Regulatory System (DRS) material by clicking on the buttons below.

RECENT NOTICES

Click here to visit the Federal Register.

Air Travel Consumer Reports

The Air Travel Consumer Report is a monthly product of the Department of Transportation's Office of Aviation Consumer Protection. The report is designed to assist consumers with information on the quality of services provided by the airlines. 

Click here to read the July 2025 Air Travel Consumer Report.

Visit DOT's Air Travel Consumer Reports webpage.

PHMSA INTERPRETATIONS

You can find all PHMSA Interpretations by clicking here.

Hazardous Materials Deregulatory NPRMs

On July 1, 2025, PHMSA published 17 new Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) documents in the Federal Register. These NPRMs are part of a DOT-led effort to eliminate outdated, unnecessary, and overly burdensome regulatory requirements within the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR). The comment period for these NPRMs closes on September 2, 2025. This list of NPRMs includes: 

• HM-268A: Reducing Burdens on Domestic Aerosol Shippers Proposes to revise the aerosol definition in § 171.8 to remove the requirement that it contain a liquid, powder, or paste. This would let small quantities of gas be shipped in aerosol containers instead of more costly cylinders or needing a special permit, aligning with international standards—helping U.S. companies compete globally.
• HM-268B: Reducing Costs to Domestic Shippers and Carriers of Limited Quantities Proposes allowing a smaller limited quantity marking in § 172.315(a)(2), reducing packaging and labeling costs and helping carriers move more packages per trip.
• HM-268C: Reducing Burdens on Domestic Companies Using Battery-Powered Equipment in Trades Proposes updating § 173.6 to increase the amount of lithium batteries allowed under the Materials of Trade (MOTs) exception. This would help companies using battery-powered equipment, like landscapers, to transport needed tools.
• HM-268D: Hazardous Materials: Reducing Burdens to Domestic Carriers Proposes allowing emergency response information to be displayed electronically, removing the current requirement for printed copies and easing compliance for shippers. 
• HM-268E: Remove Redundant List of U.S. EPA CERCLA Hazardous Substances Proposes referencing the 40 CFR § 302.4 hazardous substance list instead of duplicating it, eliminating 27 pages of duplicative regulatory text in the 49 CFR.
• HM-268F: Reducing Burdens by Allowing Continued Use of DOT Special Permit Packaging Proposes allowing the continued use of DOT special permit packaging for its full lifespan, even if the permit is not renewed or the original holder no longer exists.
• HM-268G: Improving Efficiencies for Special Permits and Approvals Renewals Proposes removing the rule requiring special permit renewal applications sixty days before expiration. This would reduce paperwork and allow permit use provided the renewal is filed before expiration.
• HM-268H: Modernizing Payments to and From America’s Bank Account Proposes requiring electronic payment for registration fees, eliminating outdated provisions allowing certified checks to improve payment efficiency.
• HM-268I: Removing Paperwork Burdens on Domestic Motor Carriers Proposes removing the requirement in § 107.620 for motor and vessel carriers to carry paper copies of their registration. Digital verification would be allowed as an additional option, reducing unnecessary paperwork.
• HM-268J: Reduce Training Burdens for American Farmers Proposes raising the income threshold for farmers exempt from security training from $500,000 to $825,000 to reflect inflation and ease burdens on small and mid-size farms.
• HM-268K: Removing Burdensome Rail Reporting Requirements Proposes removing outdated rail regulations and reporting requirements, such as references to steam-era materials and unnecessary reporting to non-federal groups like the Bureau of Explosives. 
• HM-268L: Adopt DOT Special Permits 12412 and 11646 into the HMR Proposes adopting special permits allowing DOT-specification intermediate bulk containers (IBC) and drums to be unloaded while still on transport vehicles when specific safety control measures are followed, easing burdens for various small businesses.
• HM-268M: Adopt DOT-SP 21287 into the HMR Proposes adopting a special permit allowing small refrigerating machines with low-risk flammable gases (A2L) to be transported like non-flammable refrigerant gasses, easing compliance burdens.
• HM-268N: Adopt DOT-SP 21379 into the HMR Proposes adopting a special permit allowing large refrigerating systems with A2L gases to be transported under the same rules as systems using non-flammable refrigerant gases, reducing compliance burdens.
• HM-268O: Adopt DOT-SP 14175 into the HMR Proposes extending the requalification interval for certain gas cylinders from 5 to 10 years, reducing testing costs for companies using these cylinders.
• HM-268P: Adopt DOT-SP 21478 into the HMR Proposes allowing empty IBCs with only residue to be transported like non-bulk packages, reducing costs for the IBC reconditioning industry.
• HM-268Q: Allow Fireworks Certification Agencies (FCAs) to Approve Professional Fireworks Proposes allowing FCAs to approve both consumer and professional fireworks, speeding up approvals and easing the workload on federal staff. 

PHMSA's Newsroom

Read the latest from PHMSA's newsroom by clicking here.

Refresh Your Memory on the Liquids, Aerosols, and Gels Rules

You are allowed to bring a quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams and pastes in your carry-on bag and through the checkpoint. These are limited to travel-sized containers that are 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item. Placing these items in the small bag and separating from your carry-on baggage facilitates the screening process. Pack items that are in containers larger than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters in checked baggage.

Click here to read TSA's full Liquids, Aerosols, and Gels Rule webpage.

Aviation Workforce: Contributions and Characteristics of Selected Airport Workers

Airport service workers perform jobs both outside and inside airport terminals, like loading bags on planes, selling food, and cleaning.

Government surveys show that these workers were generally better off economically than workers in the same jobs in other industries. About 7% of airport service workers lived below the poverty line compared to 15% of workers in the same jobs in all other industries.

But, overall, airport service workers fared worse economically than air transportation workers, such as pilots, flight attendants, and mechanics. Only 4% of those workers lived below the poverty line.

Read the full article here.

RECALL: ESR HaloLock Wireless Power Banks  Date: August 14, 2025 Hazard: The lithium-ion battery in the recalled power banks can overheat and ignite, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers. Read more about this recall.

Click here to view recent recalls by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Questions about this newsletter? Contact hazmatinfo@faa.gov.

To subscribe to the FAA Hazmat Highlights Newsletter, please click here to email hazmatinfo@faa.gov.