# U. S. Department of Transportation — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 00-0139  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2000-05-18

00-0139 response to U. S. Department of Transportation concerning 172.407.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

1.5. Departmen
of Transportation
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C
20590
dministratic
MAY 1 8 2000
Mr. Kent D. Fleming
Ref. No. 00-0139
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
U.S. Department of Transportation
105 Sixth Street
Ames, Iowa 50010-6337
Dear Mr. Fleming:
This is in response to your letter dated April 20, 2000, requesting clarification of the
requirements for the display of a hazard warning label on a non-spillable wet battery. As shown
in your enclosed photographs, the battery displays a reduced size CORROSIVE label,
approximately 1.5 inches on each side. You asked if the reduced size label is in compliance
with the provisions of § 172.407(c), especially taking into account the exception from
regulations, including labeling, provided for batteries in § 173.159(d).
The reduced size label on the battery as shown in the photographs does not comply with the
requirements in § 172.407(c). Even though § 173.159(d) provides a complete exception from the
HMR under specified conditions, if the shipper attempts to comply with a portion of the HMR
they must do so in compliance with that specific requirement. Since the shipper labeled the
battery, the label must comply with the specifications in § 172.407(c), which states that a hazard
warning label must be at least 100 mm (3.9 inches) on each side.
I hope this information is helpful.
Sincerely,
Delmer F. Billings
Chief, Standards Development
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
172.407
000139

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Billings
$172.40
I.S. Departmen
f Transportatio
105 Sixth Street
Ames, Iowa 50010-6337
Sakey Anion alien
00-0139
April 20, 2000
Del Billings DHM-11
Research and Special Programs Administration
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
Washington, DC 20590
Dear Mr, Bittings:
Recently it was discovered during a dock inspection that a company was offering into
transportation Batteries, wet, non-spillable, 8, UN2800, PG II, without the proper size hazardous
materials label. The labels used are approximately 1.5 inches. The enclosed photograph shows
the battery with the label. The ball point pen next to the label is 5.5 inches from tip to tip.
The label is accurate. However, it does not meet the required size of 49 CFR 172.407 (c).
49 CFR 173.159 (d) allows certain exceptions from the regulations if the conditions of the
section are met.
Our question is if the original shipper of the battery was able too met the requirements in 49 CFR
173.159 (d) and choose to place the hazardous materials label on the package, even when it is not
required, would they be in violation of 49 CFR 172.407 (c) for the size of the label.
This becomes an important issue when the package is offered into transportation by other
shippers that are not able to use 49 CFR 172.159 (d) and rely on the existing labels placed on the
package by the original offer.
We have an enforcement case pending on the guidance that we will receive from your office.
Sincerely,
Cutter 77 ernes
An Kent D. Fleming

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2000/000139.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `f09ec68d10eb702d2965bde8833c59339d4b178be20b421a9982af61618f0865`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T13:52:43.945Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-00-0139`

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