# Idaho State Police — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 08-0087  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2008-05-16

08-0087 response to Idaho State Police concerning 172.202.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety
Administration
MAY 7 6 2008
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, D.C. 20590
Mr. Jim Eavenson
Idaho State Police
P.O. Box 700
Meridian, ID 83680-0700
Ref. No. 08-0087
Dear Mr. Eavenson:
This responds to your March 20,2008 letter requesting clarification of the requirements for
shipping papers under the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 17 1 - 180).
Specifically, you ask whether $ 172.202(a)(7), which requires an indication of the number
and type of packages on a shipping paper, applies to both bulk and non-bulk packagings.
The answer is yes. Section 172.202(a)(7) applies to both non-bulk and bulk packagings.
I hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if you require additional assistance.
[ Office of Hazardous ater rials Standards

<<<PAGE 2>>>

Idaho State Police
Service since 1939
Colonel G. Jerry Russell
Director
C.L. "Butch" Otter
Governor
March 20, 2008
Mr. Edward T. Mazzullo
Director, Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
U.S. DOTIPHMSA
1200 new Jersy Avenue, SE East Building, 2nd Floor
Washington, DC 20590
Dear Mr. Mazzullo,
Please clarify 49 CFR 172.202(a)(7). Does this section only apply to non-bulk shipments or does it apply to
both bulk and non-bulk? The examples listed are non-bulk examples, but there is nothing in the section
excluding bulk shipments. The section says:
172.202(a)(7) The number and type of packages must be indicated. The type of packages must be
indicated by description of the package (for example, "12 drums"). Indication of the packaging
specification number ("1H1") may be included in the description of the package (for example, "12
1H1 drums" or "12 drums (UN 1Al)"). Abbreviations may be used for indicating packaging types
(for example, "cyl." for "cylinder") provided the abbreviations are commonly accepted and
recognizable.
I have officers who contend this section applies to both bulk and non-bulk shipments. I have a carrier who
contends it only applies to non-bulk. I called the HMIC and was told by two different technicians that the
section applies to both, but they were unwilling to provide a written answer on this topic.
Please send me a written answer to this question.
Sincerely,
Jim Eavenson
Hazmat Sergeant, Idaho State Police
P.O. Box 700
Meridian, ID 83680-0700
P.O. Box 700, Meridian, Idaho 83680-0700
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2008/080087.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `d5b79944c2e28b7bad4b26aa9b925ec80341ad010eb1de89c2ac6f7a32af8d1e`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T13:52:02.926Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-08-0087`

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