Advisory Guidance:
Offering, Accepting, and Transporting
Ethanol and Gasoline/Ethanol Fuel Blends

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is alerting shippers and carriers of the proper shipping names and identification numbers (ID) for fuel blends composed of ethanol and gasoline, as published in Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 171-180 (HMR). The following chart is provided as guidance in identifying proper shipping names and identification numbers for Ethanol, Gasoline, and gasoline/ethanol fuel blends. Voluntary compliance began January 28, 2008.

* Except for Gasohol with not more than 20% ethanol, effective compliance date for HM-218D proper shipping names and IDs is October 1, 2008. For Gasohol with not more than 20% ethanol, the proper shipping name and ID number, Gasohol, (gasoline mixed with ethyl alcohol, with not more than 20 percent alcohol), NA 1203 may be used for US shipments only, until October 1, 2010.

Alcohols, Ethanol, and gasoline/ethanol fuel blends containing more than 10% alcohol are not considered petroleum distillate products when determining proper markings for shipments.

"[image showing a "Safety Alert Banner" is available on page 1 of the PDF linked at the right]"

U.S. Department of Transportation
Pipeline and
Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration

"[image showing a Side view of multi-compartment cargo tank carrying Gasoline, UN 1203; Ethanol and Gasoline Mixture, UN 3475; and Denatured Alcohol, NA 1987 is available on page 2 of the PDF linked at the right]"

"[image showing a "Side view of single compartment multi-use cargo tank used for Gasoline, UN 1203 and Ethanol and Gasoline Mixtures, UN 3475" is available on page 2 of the PDF linked at the right]"

"[image showing a "Side view of railcar used for Ethanol and Gasoline Mixtures, UN 3475" is available on page 2 of the PDF linked at the right]"

* NOTE: Placards and ID markings are not to scale and are only representative of possible combinations.

† NOTE: For single compartment multi-use cargo tanks, 3475 Marking only displayed when material is carried in tank.