# J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc. — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 12-0158  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 2012-08-22

12-0158 response to J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc. concerning 172.519.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety
Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE
Washington. DC 20590
AUG 2 2 2012
Tom Zielbell
Senior Hazmat Editor
J .J. Keller & Associates, Inc.
3003 Breezewood Lane
PO Box 368
Neenah, WI 54957-0368
Reference No.: 12-0158
Dear Mr. Ziebell:
This is in response to your July 13, 2012 letter requesting our determination as to whether
the red colors on the placard samples you presented are in conformance with the
Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180).
In accordance with § 172.519( d)(3), upon visual examination, it is our determination that
the red colors on the sample placards do fall within the color tolerances referenced in Table
1 of the Hazardous Materials Label and Placard Color Tolerance Charts found in Appendix
A to Part 1 72 of the HMR.
I trust this satisfies your inquiry. Please contact us if we can be of further assistance.
Sm, ttt -
Delmer Bilhngs ~
Senior Regulatory Advisor
Standards and Rulemaking Division

<<<PAGE 2>>>

July 13, 2012
Mr. Delmer Billings
Standards and Rulernaking Division
Office of Hazardous Materials Safety
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE- PHH-10
Washington, DC 20590
Dear Mr. Billings,
As a follow up to our email and phone conversations on placard color falling within the color
tolerances on the appropriate Hazardous Materials Label and Placard Color Tolerance Chart
referenced in 172.519(d)(3), I am providing the enclosed sample placards for your review.
I am requesting an interpretation; do these red placards fall within the color tolerances on the red
Hazardous Materials Label and Placard Color Tolerance Chart? Three red placard samples (A, B,
and C) are enclosed, each on a different substrate.
Thank you for your assistance in this matter.
Torn Ziebell
Sr. Hazrnat Editor
J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc.
3003 Breezewood Lane
PO Box 368
Neenah, WI54957-0368
920-722-2848 X 2532
tziebell @jjkeller.corn

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2012/120158.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `321f288faf697b6af4cef644dcc9db91857a8d8569ba8e5ef11d1a5c47c9cde6`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T04:04:20.604Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-12-0158`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "materialSubtype": "interpretation",
  "interpretationArea": "hazardous_materials",
  "representation": "full_text_from_official_pdf",
  "companies": [
    "J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc."
  ],
  "individuals": [
    "Mr. Tom Zielbell"
  ],
  "refIds": [
    "12-0158"
  ],
  "catalogDates": [
    "2012-08-22"
  ],
  "catalogParts": [
    172
  ],
  "catalogRowCount": 1,
  "sourceRecordUrls": [
    "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/node/53211"
  ],
  "linkedAttachmentUrls": [],
  "unavailableResponseUrls": [],
  "duplicateRepresentationUrls": [],
  "citedSections": [
    "172.519"
  ],
  "catalogPageUrls": [
    "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/172519"
  ],
  "pdfUrls": [
    "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2012/120158.pdf"
  ],
  "representations": [
    {
      "viewUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2012/120158.pdf",
      "detailUrl": null,
      "detailHtmlPath": null,
      "pdfUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretations/2012/120158.pdf",
      "pdfArtifactPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/12-0158-4bf8cac7d7.pdf",
      "pdfArtifactSha256": "2a750ca30dff73368039e2f8bb31a64baccaa019bfa7166fb65da1d3971c3b11",
      "extractedTextPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/12-0158-4bf8cac7d7.v2.txt",
      "extractedTextSha256": "a5771a1386230acd97bb146bd943ad23efa16760ade92e3353b6293e493bd31e",
      "pageCount": 2,
      "extractionVersion": 2
    }
  ],
  "caveat": "Interpretations apply regulations to the facts presented and do not create independently enforceable requirements.",
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```
