# United Parcal Service — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation **Citation:** 15-0021 **Type / status:** guidance / guidance **Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration **Effective:** Not stated **Published:** 2015-08-12 15-0021 response to United Parcal Service concerning 173.185. ## Document text <<>> U.S. Department of Transportation Washington. DC 20590 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE Pipeline and Hazardous Administration Materials Safety AUG 1 2 2015 Samuel S. Elkind United Parcel Service Corporate Regulated Goods Manager 55 Glenlake Parkway, NE Atlanta, GA 30328-3474 Ref. No. 15-0021 Dear Mr. Elkind: This responds to your January 27, 2015 letter requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically, you request clarification on hazard communication requirements in § 173.185(c)(3)(ii) regarding lithium cells or batteries. Section 173.185(c)(3)(ii) requires that shipments of lithium cells or batteries in several configurations must be accompanied by a document that contains information specified in the regulations. You state that some customers suggest the provisions in § 173.185(c) (3)(ii) may be satisfied by enclosing the document within the package containing the lithium cells or batteries. You state that you are aware of the opinion voiced by PHMSA representatives at public meetings that the document is intended to be used away from the package. Finally, you state that you are aware that when you tender a shipment of lithium cells or batteries to a commercial airline for transport to its final destination, the document must be furnished to the interline air carrier. You seek clarification whether a document contained inside a package would satisfy the requirements of § 173.185 (c)(3)(ii). While not recommended by PHMSA, it is not prohibited to place the document in the package in accordance with requirements in § 173.185(c)(3)(ii). This document may also be transmitted attached to the package (for example, in an accessible pouch affixed to the package) or may be transmitted separately to the carrier in a manner that permits the information to be produced as a paper document without delay. I hope this satisfies your inquiry. If you need additional assistance, please contact this Office at 202-366-8553. Sincerely, irk Der Kindere Acting Chief, Standards Development Branch Standards and Rulemaking Division <<>> boothe 173185(0)(3)611 Lathium Cells & BatteRies 45 - 0021 55 Glenlake Parkway, NE Atlanta, GA 30328-3474 Ups January 27, 2015 Mr. Charles Betts Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE - PHH-10 • East Building, Second Floor Washington, DC 20590 Re: Lithium Battery Documentation - 49 CFR 173.185(c) (3)(ii) Dear Mr. Betts: In accordance with 49 CFR 173.185(c)(3)(ii), shipments of lithium cells or batteries in several configurations must be accompanied by a document that contains information specified in the regulations. In discussions with some customers, UPS has become aware of a number of innovative guidance. suggestions for means of complying with this requirement and, for one in particular, UPS seeks PHMSA's Some customers have suggested that the provisions of 49 CFR 173.185(c)(3)(ii) may be satisfied by enclosing the document within the package containing the lithium cells or batteries. UPS is aware of the • opinion voiced by PHMSA representatives at some public meetings that the document is intended to be used away from the package. UPS is further aware that when UPS must tender a shipment of lithium cells or batteries to a commercial airline for carriage to its final destination, the document must be furnished to the interline air carrier. Accordingly, UPS seeks clarification whether a document contained inside a package would satisfy the requirements of 49 CFR 173.185(c)(3)(i). Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely, donnelleD Samuel S. Elkind Corporate Regulated Goods Manager ## Provenance - Official: Yes - Source: - Source ID: `phmsa` - SHA-256: `bf0acbda20c23db7093ffa68e420ad84f7d0b315f290c9d3d172fe80e31a8cac` - Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z - Exported: 2026-08-24T05:18:13.734Z - Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-15-0021` ### Source metadata ```json { "materialSubtype": "interpretation", "interpretationArea": "hazardous_materials", "representation": "full_text_from_official_pdf", "companies": [ "United Parcal Service" ], "individuals": [ "Mr. Samuel S. Elkind" ], "refIds": [ "15-0021" ], "catalogDates": [ "2015-08-12" ], "catalogParts": [ 173 ], "catalogRowCount": 1, "sourceRecordUrls": [ "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/node/55916" ], "linkedAttachmentUrls": [], "unavailableResponseUrls": [], "duplicateRepresentationUrls": [], "citedSections": [ "173.185", "173.185(c)(3)(ii)" ], "catalogPageUrls": [ "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/173185" ], "pdfUrls": [ "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2015/150021.pdf" ], "representations": [ { "viewUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2015/150021.pdf", "detailUrl": null, "detailHtmlPath": null, "pdfUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2015/150021.pdf", "pdfArtifactPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/15-0021-5174bd56e8.pdf", "pdfArtifactSha256": "87bbca142b8391ead3f2dc1b1a03b88ef65e828d1d8016c523f8e3ed5ea2a82f", "extractedTextPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/15-0021-5174bd56e8.v2.txt", "extractedTextSha256": "2d1d24ff7ad4d497b90bd6c0c36704e89227bc7585c9a917b552d4aded328754", "pageCount": 2, "extractionVersion": 2 } ], "caveat": "Interpretations apply regulations to the facts presented and do not create independently enforceable requirements.", "jurisdiction": "US" } ```