# Rootstown Office — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 99-0262  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 1999-12-22

99-0262 response to Rootstown Office concerning 172.514.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
of Transportation
DEC 22 1999
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C.
20590
Research and
Special Programs
Administration
Ms. Carleen A. Ahrens
Ref. No: 99-0262
• Level Propane
Rootstown Office
Post Office Box 226
Rootstown, OH 44272
Dear Ms. Ahrens:
This is in response to your letter dated October 26, 1999,
and subsequent phone conversations with Mr. Michael
Johnsen of my staff concerning placarding requirements for
your propane storage tanks under the Hazardous Materials
Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180) •
Propane storage tanks must be placarded on each side and
each end as required in § 172.514.
However, § 172.514 (c)
provides an exception which allows labeling instead of
placarding for certain portable tanks, DOT 106 and 110
multi-unit tank cars, IBCs and bulk packagings with a
volumetric capacity of less than 18 cubic meters (640 cubic
feet). Your tank is a bulk packaging which has a
volumetric capacity of less
than 18 cubic meters, thus
eligible for this exception.
I hope this satisfies your request.
Sincerely,
Velo
Amn 7 Billio
Delmer F. Billings
Chief, Standards Development
Office of Hazardous Materials
Standards
172.511
990262

<<<PAGE 2>>>

LEVEL
PROPANE
1-800-6LEVEL1
Rootstown Office
1-330-325-8444
Rootstown, OH 44272
P. O. Box 226
FAX 1-330-325-8761
October 26, 1999
Department of Transportation
Office of Hazardous Material & Safety
Attn: Mike Johnsen
400 7ih Street, SW
Washington, DC 20590
Dear Mr. Johnsen,
Currently you have been working with us regarding placards vs. labeling requirements.
Attached you will find our first letter of communication to your office for your reference.
Per our telephone conversation, we have forwarded pictures of our service truck loaded
with our tanks in question.
Please call Ron LeMaster or myself at 800-653-8351 ext. 200, with any questions you
may have.
Thank you for your time in this matter.
Sincerely,
Carlend Chund ghem
Carleen A. Ahrens
Transportation Department
Enclosures
Propane and equipment for residential,
commercial, agriculture
and construction

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1999/990262.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `19a40ab1020d1a29328de341e49037758cc99ca7af3773c69530b865427244c2`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-25T22:19:38.396Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-99-0262`

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