# Mr. Roy A. Parker, Ph.D. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 08-0115  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2008-05-20

08-0115 concerning 172.310.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety
Administration
MAY 2 0 a08
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washinglon, D.C. 20590
Mr. Roy A. Parker, Ph.D.
Radiation Physics Consultant
506 1 Abelia Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Ref. No.: 08-01 15
Dear Mr. Parker:
This is in response to your April 24, 2008 inquiry requesting clarification regarding the Class
7 (radioactive) materials marking requirements under the Hazardous Materials Regulations
(HMR; 49 CFR Parts 17 1 - 1 80). Specifically you ask whether a shipper is required to mark a
package in accordance with 9 172.3 10(b) if the package specification marking required by
5 178.350 is already present.
It is not necessary that package marking entries required by Part 172, Subpart D be separate
and distinct fiom those specified in 5 178.350(c). A packaging properly marked "USA DOT
7A Type A" in accordance with $5 178.3 and 178.350 would satisfy the requirements in
5 172.3 1 O(b).
We will address this issue in a future rulemaking.
I hope this information is helpful. Please contact us if you require additional assistance.
Sincerely,
! Ofice of Hazardous Materials Standards

<<<PAGE 2>>>

L ea ry §172-3 0 0
§ 17 8 : 3
Page 1 of 1
Drakeford, Carolyn <PHMSA>
.--- -- *---. *.*--- - -- "---- *-%~ - +- "**- -"-
From: INFOCNTR <PHMSA>
Sent: Friday, April 25, 2008 9:42 AM
To: Drakeford, Carolyn <PHMSA>
Subject: FW: Request for Interpretation: 49 CFR 178.3(a)(4) and 172.31 0(b) Inconsistency
Attachments: Roy A. Parker.vcf
Carolyn,
A request for interpretation on the issue below.
Thanks,
Rob
From: Roy A. Parker [mailto:roy@royparker.org]
Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2008 6:27 PM
To: Gale, John <PHMSA>; INFOCNTR <PHMSA>
Cc: Boyle, Rick <PHMSA>; Ferate, Fred <PHMSA>; Williams, James <PHMSA>; Conroy, Michael <PHMSA>;
Plessas, Karen < PHMSA>
Subject: Request for Interpretation: 49 CFR 178.3(a)(4) and 172.310(b) Inconsistency
John,
49 CFR 178.350(c) requires that USA DOT 7A TYPE A be marked on a package in accordance with 49
CFR 178.3(a)(4) which requires a height of 12 mm (0.5 in) unless the package is not greater than 30
liters or 30 kg in which case the required height is 6 mm (0.25 in). This is consistent with IATA
10.7.1.2.4.
49 CFR 178.3(a)(4) is inconsistent with 49 CFR 172.3 10(b) which requires a height of 13 mm (0.5 in)
for the TYPE A portion only.
IAEA TS-R-1 and ICAO 2007-2008 appear to be mute and do not offer any guidance on marking size
requirements unless I missed it. Neither do I find any DOT interpretations that address this issue.
IATA 10.7.1.2.4 is consistent with 49 CFR 178.3(a)(4).
49 CFR 178.3(a)(4) is more explicit, and directly applicable. Also, it is more practical for small
packages. May 49 CFR 178.3(a)(4) be used without risking a violation of the more narrow 49 CFR
172.3 10(b), until the regulations can be appropriately changed?
Regards,
Roy A. Parker, Ph.D.
Radiation Physics Consultant

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/2008/080115.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `06eccc69833ddc0e877cfaf425bd487b833b451dba2abe8bdec131e01a40bd46`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T14:57:41.193Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-08-0115`

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