# AT&T — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 11-0213  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2011-10-18

11-0213 response to AT&T concerning 173.159.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE
u.s. Department Washington. DC 20590
of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous
. Materials Safety
Administration
ocr 1 8 2011
Mr. Jim La Port
AT&T
1670 Axtell
Troy, MI 48084
Ref. No.: 11-0213
Dear Mr. La Port:
This responds to your September 1, 2011 request for clarification on the shipment of electric
storage batteries under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180).
Specifically you ask if electric storage batteries that also meet the definition of a hazardous
substance (e.g. sulfuric acid) may continue to utilize the exception in § 173 .159( e) without
regard to the additional requirements applicable to hazardous substances provided the
batteries otherwise conform to the requirements in § 173.1 59(e)(l) - (e)(4).
The answer is yes. When transported by highway or rail, electric storage batteries containing
electrolyte or corrosive battery fluid are not subject to any other requirements ofthe HMR, if
all ofthe requirements of § 173.159(e)(I) through (e)(4) are met.
I hope this answers your inquiry. If you need additional assistance, please contact the
Standards and Rulemaking Division at (202) 366-8553.
Sincerely,
~5~
Ben Supko
Acting Chief, Standards Development
Standards and Rulemaking Division

<<<PAGE 2>>>

DrakefordJ Carolyn (PHMSA)
From: Mcintyre, Joan (PHMSA)
Sent: Friday, September 02, 2011 8:27 AM
To: Drakeford, Carolyn (PHMSA)
Cc: Foster, Glenn (PHMSA)
Subject: Question for interp log in,
-----Original Message----From:
LA PORTE} JAMES J [mailto:jI7454@att.com]
Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2011 3:25 PM
To: McIntyre, Joan (PHMSA)
Subject: Re: Another Question
Joan,
Here is an another question.
Electric storage batteries containing electrolyte or corrosive battery fluid are excepted
from the HMR when transported in accordance with the provisions specified in § 173.159(e).
The exception in § 173.159(e) is applicable to Electric storage batteries containing
electrolyte or corrosive battery fluid and does not differentiate between spillable and nonspillable
lead acid batteries. The condition specified in § 173.159(e)(1) states that no
other hazardous materials may be transported on the same vehicle. For the purposes of this
exception, spillable and non-spillable batteries are both considered Electric storage
batteries containing electrolyte or corrosive battery fluid. Therefore, provided no other
hazardous materials are loaded in the transport vehicle with the spillable and non-spillable
electric storage batteries and all the requirements of §§ 173.159 and 173.159a are met, the
electric storage batteries would be excepted from the HMR.
With this exception in mind, if a electric battery were to be shipped and the package met or
exceeded the RQ for sulfuric acid the package would be regulated and be have to transported
as a hazardous substance even though the above exception exists.
As noted, the determination for a single package even if palletized. See DOT interpretation
(http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/portal/site/PHMSA/menuitem.ebdc7a8a7e39f2e55cf2031050248a0c/?vgnext
oid=eff2c0515d544110VgnVCM100000ged07898RCRD)
Please advise.
Jim La Porte
1

<<<PAGE 3>>>

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2011/110213.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `ea617ea503da7dfc8bed84b818a9b9b01dc26e9376599fbe5fb77ff0077e6b11`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T10:34:48.158Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-11-0213`

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