# Baker Atlas — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 04-0262  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2005-03-03

04-0262 response to Baker Atlas concerning 172.203.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
400 Seventh St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590
Research and
Administration
Special Programs
MAR 3 2005
Baker Atlas
Ms. Shelly Espinoza
Ref. No. 04-0262
2001 Rankin Road
Houston, TX 77073
Dear Ms. Espinoza:
clarification of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49
This is in response to your November 19, 2004, letter requesting
CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically, you ask whether the label
$ 172.203 (d) (4) must include the word "Radioactive."
category provided
on the shipping paper as required by
Section 172.203 (d) (4) requires the category of label applied to
each package in the shipment to be included on a shipping paper,
for example: "RADIOACTIVE WHITE-I." However, the word
"Radioactive" does not need to be included in the label
category.
We will clarify this requirement in a future
rulemaking.
I hope this satisfies your request.
Sincerely,
John
A. Gale
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
Chief, Standards Development
172-203 (d)(4)
040262

<<<PAGE 2>>>

9-Nov-2004 02:24pm
From-HSE
+
T-781 P. 002/002 F-104
BAKER
6400
HUGHES
Biker Atlas
BAtt
Baker Alias
5172:203 () (4)
230: Rankin Road
MUSiCa Texas 77073
Fax 773, 625-6520
Shipping Papers
Nivember 19, 2004
So HISE Advisor
shelley Espinoza
04-0262
Duector, I lazardous Materials Standards, DHM-10
Nr Ld Ma//ullo
1327" Street SW
U: DOTIRSPA
Washingion DC 20590
Subject Interpretation Request
Cear Mr Mazzullo.
1:2203(d)(4) need to include the word RADIOACTIVE", such as "RADIOACTIVL: Yallow.Il" or is it permissible
/ len completing a shipping paper for radioactive material does the label category required under 49 CFR
tir enter the information as "Nhite :I". "Yellow-Il" or "Yellow-Ill", as applicable to the packago?
In the UN's Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods Model Regulations, Thirteenth revised
5 1 15 ÷ 1c: requires only ine words "I-WHITE, "II-YELLOW" OR "III YEI LOW" on the shipping paper 10
#crion section 2 7 84 ine label categories do not contain the word "RADIOACTIVE " (herefore, section
describe ine package category
E: in ine Technical Instructions for the Sale Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air and the International
A simme Dangerous Goods Curle follow the UN model regulations, not requiring the word RADIOACTIVE" in
tie package category field of the shipping paper, sections 4 1 5.7.1 d) and 5 4 1.5.7 1 4, respectively.
materials transportation regulations with the UN's model regulations. Such harmonization reduces human
f.!. an international shipper of radioactive material, we fully appreciale harmonization of DOT's nazardous
if or when creating shipping papers under various transport regulations and affords US shippers the ability to
stencardize compuler gencrated entries on shipping documents
Since all radioactive material proper shipping names in 49 CFR now include the word "Radioactive", it seems
::R 172203(d)(4) regarding the need to include Ine word "RADIOACTIVE" in the label category of the
re Jundant lo also include the word in the label category area of the shoping paper Your interpretation of 49
shipping paper is greatly appreciated
Fi:gards
*helley Espinora
•. • :
SiMSL Advisor

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2004/040262.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `7496bade747910057e20d2402fa24507d49e2b8bb7f964acb78347da2188691b`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T17:25:21.980Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-04-0262`

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