# Scopelitis, Garvin, Light, Hanson & Feary — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 24-0050  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2024-07-02

24-0050 response to Scopelitis, Garvin, Light, Hanson & Feary concerning 173.185.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety
Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
July 2, 2024
Timothy W. Wiseman
Scopelitis, Garvin, Light, Hanson & Feary
10 West Market St
Suite 1400
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Reference No. 24-0050
Dear Mr. Wiseman:
This letter is in response to your May 31, 2024, email requesting clarification of the Hazardous
Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to the transportation of
damaged and defective lithium batteries.
We have paraphrased and answered your questions as follows:
Q1. You ask whether all damaged or defective lithium batteries must be transported in
accordance with the requirements of § 173.185(f).
A1. The answer is yes. All damaged or defective lithium batteries that have the potential of
producing a dangerous evolution of heat, fire, or short circuit must be transported in
accordance with the requirements of § 173.185(f).
Q2. You ask whether damaged or defective lithium batteries transported for disposal,
recycling, or permanent storage may be packaged in accordance with the limited
exceptions offered in § 173.185(d)—i.e., without UN performance packaging.
A2. The answer is no. See answer A1.
Q3. You ask whether low production run and prototype lithium batteries that have been
identified as damaged or defective may be transported in accordance with the packaging
requirements in § 173.185(e).

<<<PAGE 2>>>

A3. The answer is no. See answer A1.
I hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
Eamonn Patrick
Acting Chief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention Branch
Standards and Rulemaking Division

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/2025-01/24-0050_SIGNED.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `90509862e59e4783c2f5dec1368eefb76dd89bbbf2e193ca355d275a3520fd02`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-24T09:22:01.747Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-24-0050`

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