Increasing access to thermal runaway suppression tools

(a) Lithium fire safety grants Section 5107 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (j) Lithium fire safety grants The Secretary shall establish a competitive grant program making grants available to volunteer or career fire departments, or combination of such fire departments, for— (1) equipment, including blankets to suppress thermal runaway, portable fire suppression agents, and other equipment that the Secretary determines is appropriate, to support the suppression of thermal runaway resulting from the transportation of lithium-ion cells or batteries; (2) field-deployed residual-energy assessment and cell-integrity diagnostics; (3) environmental monitoring suites and runoff control to assist with cleanup after a thermal runaway event; and (4) access and containment tools, over-pack systems, and packaging for damaged, defective, or recalled lithium-ion batteries or cells. (k) Timing of grant process The Secretary shall ensure that the process for each grant awarded under this section provides for the following: (1) A period of 90 days for entities to submit to the Administrator applications for such a grant. (2) Selection of the recipients of grants not later than 180 days after the date on which solicitation of such grants is initiated.. (b) Timing The Secretary of Transportation shall finalize grant eligibility requirements and begin soliciting applications for the grant program established under section 5107(j) of title 49, United States Code, not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.