# Department of the Army — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 99-0103  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 1999-04-27

99-0103 response to Department of the Army concerning 171.1.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

4. '
of Transportation
U.S. Department
Washington, D.C
Special Programs
Research and
Administration
APR 2 7 1999
Mr. Thomas
S. Smith
Truckmaster
Ref. No. 99-0103
Department of the Army
182nd Transportation Company (MTP)
901 Airport Access Road
Traverse City, MI
49686
Dear Mr. Smith:
This is in response to your letter dated April 15, 1999,
regarding the applicability of the Hazardous Materials .
Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) to government agencies
transporting hazardous materials.
The statutory authority granted to the Department of
Transportation under the Federal hazardous materials
transportation law (49 U.S.C. 5101 et seq.) is limited to
transportation of hazardous
materials in commerce. Shipments
of hazardous materials transported by a government entity in
vehicles operated by government personnel for noncommercial
purposes are not subject to the HMR. However, if the purpose
is commercial or if the government entity offers hazardous
material for transportation to commercial carriers, then the
HMR apply.
I hope this satisfies your request.
Sincerely,
John A. Gale
Transportation Regulations Specialist
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
111.1
990103

<<<PAGE 2>>>

BAHt
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
182ND TRANSPORTATION COMPANY (MP)
901 AIRPORT ACCESS ROAD
TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN 49686
99-0103
15 APRIL 99
Mr. Delmer F. Billings
Chief, Regulations Development
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
US Department of Transportation
400 Seventh Street SW
Washington DC 20001
SUBJECT: Applicability of HAZMAT Regulations to Government Agencies.
Dear Mr. Billings,
This is a request for help from your office. I am assigned to a US Army Reserve
Transportation Company and am responsible for managing a fleet of 60 trucks and fuel
tankers. Attached is a letter from you dated 23 FEB 95. I am requesting that you review
the letter and if it still applies, send me an updated copy.
The information in your letter is used to avoid placing inspection stickers on our vehicles.
We have Radar Absorbing paint (CARC PAINT) on our vehicles and placing these
stickers on our vehicles invalidates the paint.
We have our own internal requirement to purge our fuel tankers on a yearly basis and
complete this requirement without fail. Again, we are only asking for relief from the
requirement to place inspection stickers on our vehicles.
In the past, the Michigan DOT has accepted this letter in lue of the inspection stickers.
Any help you can give me in this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You,
SFC, USA
TRUCKMASTER

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1999/990103.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `439f4cc88905332a1a810ed7141f3c5f774101a0bccf7e7d6743f154e2359994`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T21:14:26.000Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-99-0103`

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