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Letters of Interpretation

PHMSA has published several Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) documents on programmatic topics. Please review these documents here at: https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/about-phmsa/phmsa-faqs.

Additionally, Office of Hazardous Materials Safety has published Hazardous Materials FAQs based on letters of interpretation on the following topics:

Office of Hazardous Materials Safety: For questions about transporting hazardous materials, needing clarifications of the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR; 49 CFR Parts 171-180), or requesting a formal letter of interpretation, please go to the Hazardous Materials Information Center (HMIC) page for contact information (phone and email address). Pending interpretation letters that are under review by the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety can be found at Pending Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) Interpretations.  

Office of Pipeline Safety: A written regulatory interpretation, response to a question, or an opinion concerning a pipeline safety issue may be obtained by submitting a written request to the Office of Pipeline Safety (PHP–30), PHMSA, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590–0001 or at the email address: pipeline_interp_submittal@dot.gov. In addition to email address, the requestor must include his or her return address and should also include a daytime telephone number. Requests should be submitted at least 120 days before the time the requestor needs a response. Note: electronic submission is provided as alternative to the 49 CFR Part 190.11(b) mail-in requirement.

Interpretation letters under review are available at the Office of Pipeline Safety’s Interpretation Review page. To submit comments on an interpretation under review, proceed to the Interpretation Review page, locate the interpretation to comment on, and click the appropriate link to submit a comment on the corresponding interpretation. Comment submissions will be accepted for 30-days after the interpretation letter is posted.

This section of the website below provides the ability to find regulations information including regulations parts, content of sections, and interpretations for regulations sections. A list of parts, identified by the part number and subject is also provided. To browse sections by part, click on the subject link below. You will be taken to the eCFR website to view sections for a part.

The eCFR is also searchable by keyword and other available options on the eCFR website. To search and browse regulations using the eCFR website, use the link below. For assistance, please send an email to PHMSA.Webmaster@dot.gov.

Search the eCFR

Interpretations Reference #

Search Tip: Use quotation marks to search for commonly used phrases, such as “gas transmission” or “cargo tank motor vehicle.”
E.g., 02/09/2021
E.g., 02/09/2021
Ref ID: Date Company Name Individual Name Response Document
16-0001R Patriot Tank Lines Inc. Mark Mietz View
17-0126 FedEx Melissa Owens View
17-0137 Precision Fabricators Ltd. David Diamond View
17-0111 Institute of Makers of Explosives Susan JP Flanagan View
17-0091 STE Anthony Wurl View
17-0093 Texas Highway Patrol David Alvarado View
PI-17-0009 Alaska Gasline Development Corp. Mr. Frank T. Richards View
17-0105 HAMATEAM, Inc Paul Dambek View
17-0076 Vyriad Jon Harrington View
17-0070 Entegris Mr. Quentin Yarbrough View
17-0079 QSA Global, Inc Ms. Lori Podolak View
17-0099 XPO Logistics Erin Sineath View
PI-17-0015 SI Group Ms. Paulina Williams, Baker Botts LLP View
17-0064 Regulatory Resources, Inc. Mr. Wade Winters View
17-0071 A123 Systems, LLC Joe Shi View
17-0114 PHI.Inc Mr. Terry Myer View
17-0115 C.H.&I Technologies, Inc. Eric WIlliams View
16-0124 Bluesmart, Inc Mr. Brian Chen View
17-0060 Council on Safe Transport of Hazardous Articles, Inc. L'Gena Shaffer View
17-0024 Currie Associates, Inc. Tom Fergison View
17-0089 Wisconsin State Patrol SE Region Mark Butler View
17-0107 Catalina Composites Ray Denny View
17-0129 United Brands Jimmy Zahriya View
17-0138 Labelmaster Jim Shimko View
17-0062 Carbotainer SL Antonio Ruiz View
17-0083 Gold Tank Inspection Service Inc. Aris Antoniou View
17-0087 Safecraft Inc. Steven Baker View
17-0097 Sheetz, Inc. Frank Scott View
17-0100 Lockhead Martin Aeronautics Company Rebecca Stokes View
17-0109 Hunting Titan, Inc Joe Murphy View
17-0127 Sandia National Laboratories Shawn Colborg View
17-0041 WNWN International Mr. Ed Krisiunas View
17-0068 Duke Energery Corporation Mr. Charles Denny View
17-0106 3M Cottage Grove Mr. Allen Grantham View
17-0108 Lockheed Martin Christian Calvo View
16-0169 Kalitta Air LLC Mr. Tim Shaw View
16-0198 C&J Energy Services Ltd. Mr. George Doggett View
17-0035 Mr. Jared Sherman View
17-0057 Elkhart Plastics, Inc. Mr. Jason Furrer View
17-0066 Tyco Fire Protection Products Ms Kym Seth View
17-0074 Western International Gas & Cylinders, Inc. Ms. Kathy McKenzie View
17-0075 Elkhart Plastics, Inc Mr. Jason Furrer View
17-0082 Save the Situation Ms. Eva Glimsche View
17-0085 Mr Evan Mills View
17-0094 Entegris Inc. Mr. James McManus View
17-0098 KWS Training, Inc. Mr. Ken Summer View
160085R Office of Motor Vehicle Enforcement Captain Dean House View
170067 Naval Station Everett Mr. Andrew Roley View
170077 Texas Highway Patrol Mr. Brad Gibson View
11-0165R Thermofisher Ms. Melissa Russell View