The U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has announced 17 new applications for special permits — regulatory exceptions that let companies handle or transport hazardous materials in ways that differ from standard federal rules. The applicants range from SpaceX and Amazon to international manufacturers, and the permits cover everything from lithium battery labeling to alternative pressure vessel inspection methods.

Key Points

  • What: PHMSA received 17 applications for special permits to deviate from Hazardous Materials Regulations
  • Who: Businesses transporting hazardous materials — including tech companies (Amazon, Walmart), aerospace firms (SpaceX, Thales Alenia), and industrial manufacturers
  • When: Public comments due by February 17, 2026
  • Impact: If approved, these permits could change how lithium batteries, compressed gases, and pressure vessels are packaged, labeled, and transported commercially

What's Being Requested

The 17 applications span a wide range of industries and hazardous materials. Here are the notable ones:

Lithium Battery Shipping (Multiple Applicants)

  • Amazon wants to use a smaller lithium battery hazard marking (25mm x 25mm, black hatching) on shipping packages — a change from current size and color standards.
  • Walmart is requesting a similar reduced-size lithium battery marking on shipping labels.
  • Americase, LLC wants approval for alternate packaging for transporting lithium ion batteries across motor vehicle, rail, and cargo vessel.
  • Pipistrel D.O.O seeks authorization to ship large-format lithium ion batteries over 35kg via cargo-only aircraft.
  • Critical Mineral Recovery, Inc. wants to transport fully deactivated, damaged lithium ion cells without inner packaging.

Aerospace and Space Applications

  • SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies Corp.) is requesting permission to use acoustic emission testing on DOT-specification pressure vessels every 10 years, rather than more frequent standard inspections — across all transport modes.
  • Apex Technology, Inc. wants to transport an untested prototype battery inside spacecraft by motor vehicle.
  • Thales Alenia Space is seeking to transport non-standard containers with compressed gases and other hazardous materials for satellite cooling and propulsion systems.

Industrial and Manufacturing

  • Greif Packaging and North Coast Container both seek alternative qualification and testing protocols for UN-specification steel drums.
  • Syensqo USA LLC wants a one-time exemption to transport portable tanks that were filled with hazardous materials after their requalification deadline had lapsed.
  • Multiple applicants (Insight NDT, KWIK CGE Solutions, Hugen Brandbeveiliging) are requesting ultrasonic or acoustic emission testing in place of traditional internal visual inspections and hydrostatic pressure tests for cylinders and pressure vessels.

Why This Matters

Special permits allow flexibility in an otherwise strict regulatory system — but they require PHMSA review and public input before approval. The lithium battery applications from Amazon and Walmart are particularly significant given the volume of packages those companies ship daily. Changes to marking standards could affect how hazmat packages are identified across the entire supply chain.

What You Should Do

This notice is not a rule change — it's an invitation for public comment. If you work in logistics, shipping, or hazardous materials compliance and have concerns or support for any of these applications, submit written comments by February 17, 2026. Address comments to: Record Center, PHMSA, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC 20590. Reference the specific application number in your submission. For questions, contact Donald Burger at (202) 366-4535.