# Department of the Air Force — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 99-0073  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 1999-05-27

99-0073 response to Department of the Air Force concerning 171.1.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

..
US. Department
400 Seventh Street, S.W
of Transportation
Washington, D.C.
20590
Research and
Administration
Special Programs
MAY 27 1000
SMSGT Timothy w. Stern, USAF
" Ref. No!
99-0073
CEM, Air Force Vehicle Maintenance
Vehicle and Equipment Division
Directorate of Transportation
Department of the Air Force
1030 Air Force Pentagon
Washington, DC 20330-1030
Dear Sergeant Stern:
This is in response to your letter of April 22,
: 1999,
Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) to U.S. Air
requesting clarification on the applicability of the Hazardous
Force vehicles traveling on public highways.
The transport of hazardous materials in military vehicles
operated by military personnel
solely for noncommercial
military purposes are not 'subject to the MR. This also
applies to the transport of hazärdous material by other
government agencies. However, If the purpose is commercial,
or if the government entity offers hazardous material for
transportation to commercial carriers, then the HMR would
apply.
I hope this information is helpful.
If you have further
questions, please do not hesitate to contact this office.
Sincerely,
The
1omn D. All
Thomas G. Allan
Acting Director, Office of Hazardous
Materials Standards
111.1
990073

<<<PAGE 2>>>

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
WASHINGTON DC
3171.1
22 April 1999
49-0073
MEMORANDUM FOR US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
ATTN: RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAM
ADMINISTRATION
FROM: AF/ILTV
1030 Air Force Pentagon
Washington DC 20330-1030
SUBJECT: Clarification of Hazardous Materials Regulations
Request clarification on the applicability of Hazardous Materials Regulations, 49 CFR
parts 171-180, to US Air Force vehicles traveling on public highways. On occasion, the US Air
Force (USAF) has requirements to transport motor vehicle and aviation fuel in support of
Department of Defense activities on public highways. The vehicles used to transport the fuels
are USAF owned, and operator by government personnel. Our interpretation of the referenced
CFR is that Hazardous Materials Regulations are applicable to entities engaged in commerce,
thus USAF vehicles are exempt.
Thank you for your assistance in clarifying this matter. If there is a requirement for
additional information, I may be reached by telephone at (703) 697-3374, or by facsimile
machine at (703) 692-9756.
W.
stew
TIMOTHY W STERN, SMSgt, USAF
CEM, Air Force Vehicle Maintenance
Vehicle and Equipment Division
Directorate of Transportation

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1999/990073.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `9653e2c30ca7c0976ce19b8d78d9fef773d9096e26d5c55531203639240009bb`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T07:48:53.250Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-99-0073`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "materialSubtype": "interpretation",
  "interpretationArea": "hazardous_materials",
  "representation": "full_text_from_official_pdf",
  "companies": [
    "Department of the Air Force"
  ],
  "individuals": [
    "SMSGT Timothy W. Stern, USAF"
  ],
  "refIds": [
    "99-0073"
  ],
  "catalogDates": [
    "1999-05-27"
  ],
  "catalogParts": [
    171
  ],
  "catalogRowCount": 1,
  "sourceRecordUrls": [
    "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/node/64446"
  ],
  "linkedAttachmentUrls": [],
  "unavailableResponseUrls": [],
  "duplicateRepresentationUrls": [],
  "citedSections": [
    "171.1"
  ],
  "catalogPageUrls": [
    "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/1711"
  ],
  "pdfUrls": [
    "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1999/990073.pdf"
  ],
  "representations": [
    {
      "viewUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1999/990073.pdf",
      "detailUrl": null,
      "detailHtmlPath": null,
      "pdfUrl": "https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1999/990073.pdf",
      "pdfArtifactPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/99-0073-9e5a63ef4b.pdf",
      "pdfArtifactSha256": "6c8a32898cddb920cc2164c1948ea472b8e34e2c8fc49cb7054e038c60f5b779",
      "extractedTextPath": "data/sources/phmsa-interpretations/99-0073-9e5a63ef4b.v2.txt",
      "extractedTextSha256": "e245f3ff40f0a851d961378362836e1eb8d2cdc9a4c420d4b0964e792494b816",
      "pageCount": 2,
      "extractionVersion": 2
    }
  ],
  "caveat": "Interpretations apply regulations to the facts presented and do not create independently enforceable requirements.",
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```