The Federal Aviation Administration announced on Mar. 31 that it is proposing a $260,000 civil penalty against World Event Promotions of Coral Gables, Florida, for alleged violations of hazardous materials regulations.
The proposed penalty follows claims that World Event Promotions offered three shipments containing lithium ion battery packs to United Parcel Service for air transportation. Lithium ion batteries are considered hazardous materials due to their potential safety risks during transport.
According to the FAA, one shipment was discovered at a UPS sorting facility in Ontario, California, emitting smoke and with a burn hole in its packaging. The agency said the shipments were not accompanied by required shipping paperwork and were not properly classified, described, packaged, marked or labeled as mandated by federal regulations. The FAA also alleges that the state of charge of the lithium ion batteries exceeded 30% of their rated capacity and that emergency response information was not provided as required.
World Event Promotions has 30 days after receiving the FAA’s enforcement letter to respond to the agency.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about safe handling and documentation when transporting hazardous materials by air.
