{"operation":"document","citation":"25-0031","title":"Tesla — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2025-06-05","effective_on":null,"summary":"25-0031 response to Tesla concerning 173.185.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-25-0031.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-25-0031.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-25-0031","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/2025-06/250031.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590\nU.S. Department\nof Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous\nMaterials Safety\nAdministration\nJune 5, 2025\nRyan Bush,\nEngineering Supervisor, Tesla\n1 Electric Ave\nReno, NV 89434\nReference No. 25-0031\nDear Mr. Bush:\nThis letter is in response to your March 17, 2025 email requesting clarification of the\nHazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) applicable to United Nations\nspecification packaging exceptions for lithium cells and batteries. Specifically, is there a\ndefinition for “strong, impact-resistant outer casing” in the HMR?\nNo. There is not a specific definition for “strong, impact-resistant outer casing” in the HMR.\nSection 173.185(b)(5) allows shippers to package lithium cells or batteries, weighing 12 kg or\nmore with strong, impact-resistant outer casing, using alternative packaging that demonstrates\nequivalency to the performance standards of Packing Group (PG) II. Furthermore, lithium cells\nor batteries must be secured to prevent damage caused by inadvertent shifting, the terminals\nmust not support the weight of other superimposed elements, and the packaging must prevent\nshort circuits.1 Note that PHMSA has previously interpreted2 the meaning of “strong, impact-\nresistant outer casing” for these batteries. It is the shipper’s responsibility to ensure the\npackaging, enclosures, or other handling devices meet necessary performance standards (i.e., to\nwithstand normal conditions incident to transportation).\nI hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.\nSincerely,\nDirk Der Kinderen\nChief, Standards Development Branch\nStandards and Rulemaking Division\n1 See also § 173.185(b)(2).\n2 See letters Ref. Nos. 19-0080, 23-0045, 23-0088, and 23-0091.\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nBaker, Y.\n25-0031\nFrom: INFOCNTR (PHMSA)\nTo: Dodd, Alice (PHMSA)\nCc: Hazmat Interps; Baker, Yul (PHMSA)\nSubject: FW: 173.185b Interpretation\nDate: Monday, March 17, 2025 16:08:28\nAttachments: image001.png\nGood Afternoon,\nSee the attached interpretation request. Let me know if anything else is needed.\nBest,\nAminah\nFrom: Ryan Bush <rybush@tesla.com>\nSent: Monday, March 17, 2025 12:10 PM\nTo: INFOCNTR (PHMSA) <INFOCNTR.INFOCNTR@dot.gov>\nSubject: 173.185b Interpretation\nYou don't often get email from rybush@tesla.com. Learn why this is important\nCAUTION: This email originated from outside of the Department of Transportation (DOT). Do\nnot click on links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content\nis safe.\nGood morning,\nI’m reaching out to request an interpretation on the exception for UN-specification packaging\nfor Li-ion batteries.\nIt states “Lithium cells or batteries that weigh 12 kg (26.5 pounds) or more and have a strong,\nimpact-resistant outer casing, may be packed in strong outer packagings; in protective\nenclosures (for example, in fully enclosed or wooden slatted crates); or on pallets or other\nhandling devices, instead of packages meeting the UN performance packaging requirements\nin paragraphs (b)(3)(ii) and (b)(3)(iii) of this section. Cells and batteries must be secured to\nprevent inadvertent shifting, and the terminals may not support the weight of other\nsuperimposed elements. Cells and batteries packaged in accordance with this paragraph may\nbe transported by cargo-only aircraft if approved by the Associate Administrator.”\nSpecifically, I’m trying to understand the requirements/definition of the “strong, impact-\nresistant outer casing” statement. Is this arbitrary, to be determined (reasonably/in good\nfaith) by the Shipper, or is there an exact definition of this somewhere?\nThank you for your time.\nRespectfully,\nRyan Bush | Engineering Supervisor, Cell Quality & Field Reliability\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\n1 Electric Ave Reno, NV 89434\nm. +1 (650) 489-8758 | rybush@tesla.com\nThe content of this message is the proprietary and confidential property of Tesla Motors, and should be treated as such. If you are not the intended\nrecipient and have received this message in error, please delete this message from your computer system and notify me immediately by reply e-mail.\nAny unauthorized use or distribution of the content of this message is prohibited. Thank you.\nP Please consider the environment before printing this email","truncated":false,"body_characters":4293}