# Railsback HazMat Safety Professionals, LLC — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation **Citation:** 24-0035 **Type / status:** guidance / guidance **Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration **Effective:** Not stated **Published:** 2024-09-25 24-0035 response to Railsback HazMat Safety Professionals, LLC concerning 173.159, 173.185. ## Document text <<>> U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 September 25, 2024 Rex Railsback HazMat/DOT Specialist Railsback HazMat Safety Professionals, LLC 312 Lawrence Ave, Lawrence, KS 66049 Reference No. 24-0035 Dear Mr. Railsback: This letter is in response to your June 3, 2024, email requesting clarification of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to the definition of a bulk packaging. You believe the answers provided in Letter of Interpretation (LOI) Ref. No. 23-0052 conflict with both the definition of bulk packaging in § 171.8 and the answers provided in LOI Ref. Nos. 15-0168R and 17-0050. Specifically, you ask whether the answers provided in LOI Ref. No. 23-0052—which states that in the instance of authorized non-specification packaging of a battery secured to a skid or pallet, the weight of the battery determines whether a package is considered bulk or non-bulk—were intended to mean that both the net mass and the maximum capacity requirements must be considered when determining if a packaging used for batteries is a bulk packaging. The answer is no. Generally, batteries and other similar articles are considered solids for the purposes of the HMR when packed in authorized packaging; however, PHMSA—in the instance of batteries secured to pallets or skids as in §§ 173.159(d)(1) and 173.185(b)(5)—maintains that the weight of the battery alone should be used to determine whether the packaging is considered bulk or non-bulk. I hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance. Sincerely, Dirk Der Kinderen Chief, Standards Development Branch Standards and Rulemaking Division <<>> Casey 24-0035 From: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) To: Dodd, Alice (PHMSA) Cc: Hazmat Interps Subject: FW: Request for written response for clarification of LOI 23-0052 Date: Monday, June 3, 2024 3:29:04 PM Dear Alice, See the attached interpretation request. Let us know if you need anything else. Best, Aminah From: Rex Railsback Sent: Monday, June 3, 2024 3:20 PM To: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) Subject: RE: Request for written response for clarification of LOI 23-0052 CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the Department of Transportation (DOT). Do not click on links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Railsback HazMat Safety Professionals, LLC 312 Lawrence Ave, Lawrence, KS 66049 Rex Railsback, HazMat/DOT Specialist 913-568-3001 rex@hazmatgeek.com www.hazmatgeek.com This electronic message and any files transmitted contains information from Railsback HazMat Safety Professionals, LLC which is privileged, confidential or otherwise the exclusive property of the sender or intended recipient. If you are not the designated recipient, please be aware that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this electronic transmission in error, please notify us by telephone 913-568-3001, or by electronic mail (by replying to the sender) and promptly destroy the original transmission. From: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) <<>> Sent: Monday, June 3, 2024 1:48 PM To: Rex Railsback Subject: RE: Request for written response for clarification of LOI 23-0052 Dear Rex, We have received your request for a written letter of interpretation regarding the hazardous materials regulations (49 CFR Parts 171-180). The hazardous materials regulations are available at the following URL: https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx? SID=1d49a3b137cb1b6fc45251074e634b44&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title49/49tab_02.tpl However, before we can submit your request for processing, please respond to this email with: Physical Mailing Address Sincerely, Aminah, Hazardous Materials Specialist An e-mail response from this office is considered informal guidance. Formal guidance may be requested in accordance with 49 CFR 105.20. https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/standards- rulemaking/hazmat/hazardous-materials-information-center From: Rex Railsback Sent: Wednesday, May 22, 2024 9:05 AM To: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) Subject: Request for written response for clarification of LOI 23-0052 CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the Department of Transportation (DOT). Do not click on links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. This is a request for a written response for clarification of LOI 23-0052, which appears to be contrary to 171.8 and previous LOIs 15-0168R and 17-0050. LOI 23-0052 states that the definition of “bulk packaging for solids” per 171.8, is that the “weight of the battery determines whether a package meeting the requirements of § 173.159(d)(1) is considered bulk or non- bulk.” However, the definition of “bulk packaging for solids” in 171.8 states “A maximum net mass greater than 400 kg (882 pounds) and a maximum capacity greater than 450 L (119 gallons) as a receptacle for a solid”, which would mean that to be a bulk packaging for solids, <<>> the net mass is greater than 400 kg AND the maximum capacity is greater than 450 L. Was its PHMSA’s intention to have LOI 23-0052 revise the definition in 171.8 and LOIs 15- 0168R & 17-0050? Respectfully Rex Railsback, HazMat/DOT Specialist 913-568-3001 rex@hazmatgeek.com www.hazmatgeek.com This electronic message and any files transmitted contains information from Railsback HazMat Safety Professionals, LLC which is privileged, confidential or otherwise the exclusive property of the sender or intended recipient. If you are not the designated recipient, please be aware that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this electronic transmission in error, please notify us by telephone 913-568-3001, or by electronic mail (by replying to the sender) and promptly destroy the original transmission. ## Provenance - Official: Yes - Source: - Source ID: `phmsa` - SHA-256: `ad85f25384410a9dffe7954339c237105d68e0cdde45f9e317e43a0b285dbaae` - Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z - Exported: 2026-08-24T15:00:46.336Z - Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-24-0035` ### Source metadata ```json { "materialSubtype": "interpretation", "interpretationArea": "hazardous_materials", "representation": "full_text_from_official_pdf", "companies": [ "Railsback HazMat Safety Professionals, LLC" ], "individuals": [ "Rex Railsback" ], "refIds": [ "24-0035" ], "catalogDates": [ "2024-09-25" ], "catalogParts": [ 173 ], "catalogRowCount": 2, "sourceRecordUrls": [ "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/node/75656" ], "linkedAttachmentUrls": [], "unavailableResponseUrls": [], "duplicateRepresentationUrls": [], "citedSections": [ "173.159", "173.159(d)(1)", "173.185", "173.185(b)(5)", "171.8" ], "catalogPageUrls": [ "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/173159", "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/173185" ], "pdfUrls": [ "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/2024-09/240035.pdf" ], "representations": [ { "viewUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/2024-09/240035.pdf", "detailUrl": null, "detailHtmlPath": null, "pdfUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/2024-09/240035.pdf", "pdfArtifactPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/24-0035-a93ceede92.pdf", "pdfArtifactSha256": "9350c515ab763e16ec90e7747354de8359dacc2603cbcea090f01a8147f123c4", "extractedTextPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/24-0035-a93ceede92.v2.txt", "extractedTextSha256": "e9384a6d2dd473cf799c377dafc9f6c0165ca806d99e161592d69a4aa1f9e72b", "pageCount": 4, "extractionVersion": 2 } ], "caveat": "Interpretations apply regulations to the facts presented and do not create independently enforceable requirements.", "jurisdiction": "US" } ```