# Brenntag Southeast, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 07-0098  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2007-07-09

07-0098 response to Brenntag Southeast, Inc. concerning 172.326, 172.331.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, D.C. 20590
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration
JUL 9 2007
Mr. Bruce Biehl
Director of Regulatory Affairs
Ref. No. 07-0098
2000 E. Pettigrew Street
Brenntag Southeast, Inc.
Durham, NC 27703
Dear Mr. Biehl:
This responds to your letter requesting clarification of the IBC marking requirements under
the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180). Specifically, you
ask whether the portable tank marking requirements in § 172.326 also apply to an IBC. In
§ 172.302(a) on an IBC are not visible, the transport vehicle or freight container must be
addition, you ask for confirmation that if the identification number markings required by
marked as required by § 172.332 on each side and each end with the identification number
specified in the § 172.101 Table.
The marking requirements specified in § 172.326 apply only to portable tanks. In addition,
your understanding of the identification number marking requirements for an IBC in
§§ 172.331 and 172.332 is also correct.
I trust this satisfies your inquiry. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
Hattie L. Mitchell
Chief, Regulatory Review and Reinvention
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
172•326
1725/
070098

<<<PAGE 2>>>

•
Brenntag Southeast, Inc.
•
BRENNTAG
Stevens
May 7, 2007
3|12.33l
3/1L•32°
Tarkinas ot IRC
Mr. Edward T. Mazzullo
01-0098
Director, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE East Building, 2nd Floor
U.S. DOT/PHMSA (PHH-10)
Washington, DC 20590
Dear Mr. Mazzullo:
Danny of your office regarding the marking requirements of Intermediate Bulk
This letter is to request verification of an email and subsequent phone conversation with
Containers, IBC.
173.302(b) gives requirements for other markings on certain containers.
I want to confirm that IBC containers are to be marked in Accordance with 172.331, Bulk
packaging other than portable tanks, cargo tanks, tank cars and multi-unit tank car tanks,
transport vehicle or freight container, if the identification number marking on the bulk
as specifically referenced in 172.331(c), For a bulk packaging contained in or on a
packaging (e.g., an IBC) required by § 172.302(a) is not visible, the transport vehicle or
freight container must be marked as required by § 172.332 on each side and each end
with the identification number specified for the material in the § 172.101 Table
In addition that section 173.326 applies to Portable Tanks not IBC.
Thank you in advance for your response.
Sincerely,
Bruce Biehl
Director of Regulatory Affairs
Bedford, VA • 540-586-6380
2000 E. Pettigrew Street
Brenntag Southeast, Inc.
Charlotte, NC • 704-588-1820
Charleston, SC • 843-744-7421
Durham. NC 27703
Duncan, SC • 864-879-7000
919-596-0681
Florence. SC • 843-744-7421
Greensboro. NC • 336-292-5166

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2007/070098.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `5efdb853605ba51c406051229338cdc266305fe40a9c48f5b482a2203fa1602b`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T22:17:29.651Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-07-0098`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "materialSubtype": "interpretation",
  "interpretationArea": "hazardous_materials",
  "representation": "full_text_from_official_pdf",
  "companies": [
    "Brenntag Southeast, Inc."
  ],
  "individuals": [
    "Mr. Bruce Biehl"
  ],
  "refIds": [
    "07-0098"
  ],
  "catalogDates": [
    "2007-07-09"
  ],
  "catalogParts": [
    172
  ],
  "catalogRowCount": 2,
  "sourceRecordUrls": [
    "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/node/50031"
  ],
  "linkedAttachmentUrls": [],
  "unavailableResponseUrls": [],
  "duplicateRepresentationUrls": [],
  "citedSections": [
    "172.326",
    "172.331",
    "172.302(a)",
    "172.332",
    "172.101",
    "173.302(b)",
    "173.326"
  ],
  "catalogPageUrls": [
    "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/172326",
    "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/172331"
  ],
  "pdfUrls": [
    "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2007/070098.pdf"
  ],
  "representations": [
    {
      "viewUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2007/070098.pdf",
      "detailUrl": null,
      "detailHtmlPath": null,
      "pdfUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2007/070098.pdf",
      "pdfArtifactPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/07-0098-3c7e68f68e.pdf",
      "pdfArtifactSha256": "87ac1d4d73819b20b1bf9e9d3301c2ae316009ec026eae81d73182499cdf5795",
      "extractedTextPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/07-0098-3c7e68f68e.v2.txt",
      "extractedTextSha256": "779686010a8da5a4a94bfede8755d767239981ae6c25f15bc87c773e4a83d67f",
      "pageCount": 2,
      "extractionVersion": 2
    }
  ],
  "caveat": "Interpretations apply regulations to the facts presented and do not create independently enforceable requirements.",
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```