# Hawkins, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 07-0151  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2007-09-06

07-0151 response to Hawkins, Inc. concerning 172.514.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
1200 New Jersey Ave. S 6
of Transportation
Nashington DC 20591
Pipeline and Hazardous
SEP 6 2007
Administration
Materials Safety
Mr. Chris W. Gibson
EHS&R Manager
Ref. No. 07-0151
3100 East Hennepin Avenue
Hawkins, Inc.
Minneapolis, MN 55413
This is in response to your February 8, 2007 letter concerning the applicability of the
Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR: 49 CFR 171-180) to the location of placards on
Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs). We apologize for the delay.
that these large-radius corners provide an area on which to affix a placard. You also provide
In your letter, you state that many IBCs are now built with large-radius corners. You state
photographs of a placard affixed on a large-radius corner of an IBC. You ask whether these
corners are an acceptable "side" to affix a placard as required by the HMR.
an IBC, a large-radius corner is an acceptable area to affix a placard
it is the opinion of this Office that provided the placards are affixed on two opposite sides of
I hope this information is helpful.
Sincerely,
Chief, Standards Development
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
1725146)
070151

<<<PAGE 2>>>

foster
HAWKINS, INC.
$172.5146)
Placarding
07-0151
February 8, 2007
Mr. Edward T. Mazzullo
U.S. DOT/PHMSA (PHH-10)
Director, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
400 7th Street S.W
Washington, D.C. 20590-0001
RE:
Location of Placards for IBC Containers
49 CFR 172.514(c)
Dear Mr. Mazzullo:
constitutes a "side". Many of the containers are now built with large-radius corners,
Due to the variety of construction of IBC containers, the question has arisen as to what
presenting an area for which a placard fits. (see Picture 1). This location has the desirable
effect that the placard is protected from damage during transportation operations.
Picture 1
Picture 2
regulation?
Question: Is this location acceptable to the DOT, and in compliance with the above

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2007/070151.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `6fccfc7b11b11bb8fa693758280663bdf3ebd24f4fa8e79abf3ee506a1837bf3`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-26T15:43:58.429Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-07-0151`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "materialSubtype": "interpretation",
  "interpretationArea": "hazardous_materials",
  "representation": "full_text_from_official_pdf",
  "companies": [
    "Hawkins, Inc."
  ],
  "individuals": [
    "Mr. Chris W. Gibson"
  ],
  "refIds": [
    "07-0151"
  ],
  "catalogDates": [
    "2007-09-06"
  ],
  "catalogParts": [
    172
  ],
  "catalogRowCount": 1,
  "sourceRecordUrls": [
    "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/node/53336"
  ],
  "linkedAttachmentUrls": [],
  "unavailableResponseUrls": [],
  "duplicateRepresentationUrls": [],
  "citedSections": [
    "172.514",
    "172.514(c)",
    "172.5146"
  ],
  "catalogPageUrls": [
    "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/172514"
  ],
  "pdfUrls": [
    "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2007/070151.pdf"
  ],
  "representations": [
    {
      "viewUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2007/070151.pdf",
      "detailUrl": null,
      "detailHtmlPath": null,
      "pdfUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2007/070151.pdf",
      "pdfArtifactPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/07-0151-b260421cd3.pdf",
      "pdfArtifactSha256": "6961068bd1a54f87ce4888d78a76068961ce18d64a8c5fac3cb3617082c4fe9a",
      "extractedTextPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/07-0151-b260421cd3.v2.txt",
      "extractedTextSha256": "40fd942801b67af93c545d6022590e3820b6df34965aafb7fa4ba69b0f495dda",
      "pageCount": 2,
      "extractionVersion": 2
    }
  ],
  "caveat": "Interpretations apply regulations to the facts presented and do not create independently enforceable requirements.",
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```