# MN DOT Office of Motor Carriers — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 01-0082R  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2006-05-24

01-0082R response to MN DOT Office of Motor Carriers concerning 172.336.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
Washington, D.C. 20590
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Pipeline and
Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration
MAY - 1 2006
Mr. Michael Ritchie
Ref. No. 01-0082R
MN DOT Office of Motor Carriers
Mail Stop 420
1110 Centre Pointe Curve
Mendota Heights, MN 55120-4152
Dear Mr. Ritchie:
On April 24, 2001, we responded to your request for clarification of requirements in the
Hazardous Matenals Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) for marking bulk
packages containing petroleum distillate fuels (Ref. No. 01-0082). Specifically, we stated a
fuel containing 80% ethyl alcohol and 20% petroleum was eligible for the marking
exceptions in § 172.336(c)(4) or (5). Because of concerns about appropriate emergency
response procedures for incidents involving alcohol and alcohol blends, we are retracting
our April 24, 2001 letter and issuing this correction.
The marking exceptions in § 172.336(c)(4) and (5) permit a cargo tank containing different
liquid petroleum distillate fuels to be marked with the identification number applicable to
the distillate fuel having the lowest flash point. However, this marking exception may lead
to some confusion for emergency responders handling a fire or other incident involving a
fuel containing more than 10% alcohol. Fires involving ethanol/gasoline mixtures
containing more than 10% ethanol must be treated differently than traditional gasoline fires
because these flammable liquid mixtures tend to be polar/water-miscible (i.e., they mix
with water) and will degrade the effectiveness of fire-fighting foam that is not alcohol-
resistant. The 2004 Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG 2004) refers to Guide 127
(Flammable Liquids Polar/Water-Miscible) for incidents involving Alcohols, n.o.s., 3,
UN1987, or Denatured alcohol, 3, NA1987. Guide 127 specifies the use of alcohol-
resistant foam. Similarly, ERG 2004 refers to Guide 128 (Flammable Liquids Non-
Polar/Water-Immiscible) for incidents involving Flammable liquids, n.o.s., (ethanol,
gasoline) 3, UN1993, and Gasohol, 3 NA 1203. Guide 128 specifies the use of regular
foam, but includes the following warning: "CAUTION: For mixtures containing a high
percentage of an alcohol or polar solvent, alcohol-resistant foam may be more effective."
To ensure emergency responders utilize the most effective emergency response procedures
for fuel mixtures containing alcohol, bulk packagings containing fuel blends with more
han 10% alcohol must be marked with the identification number applicable to the material
seing transported. The marking exceptions in § 172.336(c)(4) and (5) do not apply to such
materials.

<<<PAGE 2>>>

emergency response guidance for responding to incidents involving fuel mixtures
We have issued a Safety Alert to inform emergency responders of the appropriate
containing ethanol (or "ethyl alcohol") and gasoline in various concentrations. In addition,
we are currently evaluating the need for changes to shipping descriptions and other hazard
communication requirements for ethanol/gasoline fuel mixtures.
Sincerely,
Edward T. Mazzullo
diana 7. Mazzulle
Director, Office of Hazardous
Materials Standards
Enclosure

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2001/010082R.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `509eeb05694ee1041832eb3afd926359884d37460cdb4ace1a403c74db6a8ffd`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T10:08:22.810Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-01-0082r`

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