# U.S. Department of Transportation — Hazardous Materials Safety Interpretation

**Citation:** 99-0305  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** Not stated  
**Published:** 1999-12-09

99-0305 response to U.S. Department of Transportation concerning 172.101.

## Document text

<<<PAGE 1>>>

U.S. Department
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
of Transportation
Washington, D.C.
20590
Research and
Special Programs
Administration
DEC 9 1999
Mr. John D. Steinhoff
Ref. No.
99-0305
U.s. Department of Transportation
Office of Motor Carrier Safety
City Crescent Building, Suite 4000
10 S. Howard Street
Baltimore, MD
21201
Dear Mr. Steinhoff:
•This is in response to your letter dated November 2, 1999,
Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180).
regarding the proper shipping description for gas oil under the
Specifically, you asked which of the following are
proper
shipping descriptions for gas oil:
(1) Gas oil, 3, UN1202, III
(2) Gas oil, Combustible liquid, UN1202, III
(3) Gas oil, 3, Combustible liquid, UN1202, III
(4) Combustible liquid, n.o.s., (Gas oil), UN1202, III
Description (1) is correct. The proper shipping description for
gas oil specified in the Hazardous Materials Table (HMT;
$ 172.101) is "Gas oil, 3, UN1202, PG III." Description (2) is
appropriate if the gas oil is reclassed as a combustible liquid
in accordance with § 173.150 (f) •
When a material is reclassed in
accordance with $ 173.150 (f), each reference to Class 3 is
modified to read "Combustible liquid" (§ 172.101 (d) (4)) .
Description (3) is incorrect. Two hazard classes have been
identified; Hazard class 3 (Flammable liquid) and Combustible •
liquid.
subsidiary class name, subsidiary class or division number
While $ 172.202(a)(2)
allows shippers to enter a
following the numerical hazard
. class, combustible liquid can not
be a subsidiary of a flammable liquid.
Description
(4) is also
172.101 (g)
990305

<<<PAGE 2>>>

incorrect.
Section 172.101 (d) (4) allows the hazard class to be
modified from "3" to "Combustible liquid," but does not authorize
modification of the proper shipping name.
In addition, UN1202 is
not the correct identification number for the proper shipping
name "Combustible liquid, n.o.s."
I hope this satisfies your request.
Sincerely,
Transportation Regulations Specialist
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards

<<<PAGE 3>>>

BAH
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
$172.101 G)
1O S. Howard Street
Gas Oil
Baltimore, MD 21201
November 2, 1999
99-0305
IN REPLY REFER TO
OMCS-EA
Mr. Edward T. Mazzullo, Director
Office of Hazardous Materials Standards
Research & Special Programs Administration
400 7" Street, S. W., Room 8102
Washington, DC 20590
Dear Mr. Mazzullo:
Attached, is a request for interpretation of the Hazardous Materials Regulations, which was sent
to me by Senior Trooper Tod Williams, from the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Specifically, Trooper Williams is seeking guidance on what would be the proper basic
description of Gas Oil? The following are examples of what the folks in the field have been
seeing on shipping papers for this product:
Gas oil, 3, UN1202, II (As shown in the HM table)
2.
Gas oil, combustible liquid, UN1202, III (Per 173.150(b) & 172.101(d)(4))
3.
Gas oil, 3, combustible liquid, UN1202, III (Per 172.202(a)(2))
4.
Combustible liquid n.o.s.(Gas oil), UN1202, III
Please review Trooper Williams' request for interpretation and, the 4 examples above, and
provide us with a written response as to what would be a proper or acceptable basic description
for this product.
Sincerely,
John D/Steinhot
/ Operations Manager
Office of Motor Carrier Safety
Cc:
Senior Trooper Tod Williams

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/1999/990305.pdf>
- Source ID: `phmsa`
- SHA-256: `c9c8ca0973045f280491915d27f2d764825cd1995ffdca11e399a4a39aa1c142`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T00:59:31.977Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T17:25:20.000Z
- Document slug: `phmsa-interpretation-99-0305`

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