# RP Kelley Enterprises, Inc, — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 03-0098  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2003-09-10

03-0098 response to RP Kelley Enterprises, Inc, concerning 178.503.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
Research and
of Transportation
400 Seventh St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590
Special Programs
Administration
SEP 1 0 2003
Mr. Roland M. Kelley
Ref No: 03-0098
RP Kelley Enterprises, Inc.
P.O. Box 744
Bonifay, FL 32425
Dear Mr. Kelley:
This is in response to your facsimile and subsequent telephone conversation with Sandra Webb of this
Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) as they pertain to the United Nations (UN)
Office requesting confirmation of your understanding of the marking requirements under the Hazardous
symbol. Specifically, you ask if a packaging may be marked with a (UN) symbol displayed in a series
of small dots with spaces between them instead of a solid circle as illustrated in § 178.503(e)(1).
You enclosed a photograph of the marking that depict a series of small dots for our review. You also
included a november 8
the UN symbol illustrated in § 178.503 and, therefore, was not acceptable for use as the UN standard
UN symbol was not displayed in a circle and, further, that the UN symbol did not appear the same as
mark.
In our opinion, the use of a series of small dots with spaces between them is permitted provided the
As provided in § 178.503 (a)(1), the UN symbol must be as illustrated in paragraph (e) of § 178.503.
dots form a circle and, the symbol otherwise appears the same as the UN symbol illustrated in
§178.503.
I apologize for any confusion our earlier response may have caused, and I hope this information is
helpful. If you need additional assistance, do not hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely,
Thon that
Susan Gorsky
Senior Transportation Regulations Specialist
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
178,503
030098

<<<PAGE 2>>>

FROM :
FAX NO. : 8505472122
Ap. Ø3
2003 09:43AM P2
Webb
$178.503 (E)()
RP Kelley Enterprises Inc.
PO Box 744
Marking
Bonifay, FL 32425
03-00 98
April 2, 2003
Mr. Edward T. Mazzullo, Director
DHM -10
U. S. Department of Transportation
Research and Special Programs Administration
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
400 Seventh Street SW
Washington, D.C. 20590
RE: Interpretation of 178.503 (e) (1)
Dear Mr. Mazzullo:
Based on 49 CFR Part 178.503 (e)(1) and interpretation letter Ref. No. 02-0265 issued by your
the requirements and was not allowed. The symbol's circle is a series of small dots with
office we determined that the UN symbol found on a steel drum (Figure 1) did not conform to
spaces between them witch did not match the illustration in 49 CFR Part 178.503 (e) (1). This
method of marking appears to be common in the industry and for this reason we contacted
your office and inquired if there had been any special exceptions given to manufacturers.
On April 2, 2003 your office issued a verbal interpretation stating that the example we have
provided meets the requirements of 49 CFR Part 178.503 (e)(1) and is acceptable. Since the
example we provided did not display the circle as a solid line, as stated in your previous
interpretation Ref. No. 02-0265, we request written confirmation of your verbal interpretation in
this matter. Should you have any further questions please contact us at 547-547-2122.
Sincerely,
babased M. Kelly
Roland M. Kelley
Packaging Consultant

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2003/030098.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `d952b5ac5ca7e53880860063baf927db96b5845028b7f7b784f056801c8f64ac`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-24T09:22:03.105Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-03-0098`

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