The Definitive Guide

for Underground Safety

& Damage Prevention

21.0

SM

Published February 2025

© 2025 Common Ground Alliance.
All rights reserved
 The Foundation
of Damage
Prevention
The Common Ground Alliance’s (CGA) Best Practices Guide
represents the collective wisdom of the damage prevention
industry, featuring over 160 proven practices covering all
phases of the damage prevention process. Each practice is
vetted and approved through rigorous consensus from 16
stakeholder groups and CGA’s Board of Directors, ensuring
real-world effectiveness and broad industry support.

From corporate safety and damage prevention programs to

state legislation, CGA’s Best Practices Guide serves as the
authoritative resource for damage prevention. Through our
Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT), we continually
validate these practices against real-world outcomes and
industry data. Organizations accredited through CGA’s
Damage Prevention Institute (DPI) commit to these founda-
tional practices, recognizing their vital role in protecting
lives and underground infrastructure.

Damage prevention is a shared responsibility. Make CGA

Best Practices part of your safety program today.

Scan to learn more:

SM

Damage Information Reporting Tool

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1 Introduction..........................................................................................1

Practice Statements and Descriptions

Chapter 2 Planning and Design............................................................................7

Chapter 3 811 Center..........................................................................................17

Chapter 4 Locating and Marking.........................................................................31

Chapter 5 Excavation..........................................................................................43
NEW Best Practice 5.34: Designating and Depicting for
the Protection of Known Underground Facilities, page 55
Chapter 6 Mapping.............................................................................................57

Chapter 7 Compliance........................................................................................63

Chapter 8 Public Education and Awareness.......................................................73

Chapter 9 Reporting and Evaluation...................................................................81

Chapter 10 Miscellaneous....................................................................................89

Appendix A Glossary of Terms and Definitions............................................91

NEW Definition: Alternative Project Delivery Methods, page 91
Appendix B Uniform Color Code and Marking Guidelines...........................97

Appendix C Sample Forms, Reports and Releases.................................... 111

Appendix D Additional References and Endnotes...................................... 115

Appendix E CGA Member Organizations..................................................... 119

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CGA Best Practices 21.0

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF USE

The CGA must make the Best Practices subject to the following limitations:
1: The CGA does not endorse any company, technology, technique or
product. No inference of endorsement shall be taken from any CGA
Best Practice or from the CGA generally.
2: The CGA reserves the right to alter, modify or repeal the Best
Practices at any time. Further, the CGA reserves the right to
fix technical inaccuracies, typographical errors or make other
modifications without prior notice.
3: Best Practice Guide users must respect CGA’s copyrights and
trademarks.
4: The CGA Best Practices are provided “as is” and without any
warranty, either expressed or implied, including any warranty of
merchantability fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement.
5: The CGA Best Practices are presented as a general guide. The
CGA encourages all users to consult and consider not only the CGA
Best Practices, but also (i) employer practices, (ii) industry practices,
(iii) federal and state statutes and regulations, (iv) building and fire
codes, and (v) local laws, regulations and ordinances.
6: References in each Best Practice are those that were in effect at the
time the Best Practice was approved unless otherwise noted. Best
Practices are derived from existing multi-industry, governmental and
public practices that are determined to be “best” in enhancing safety
and damage prevention through rigorous review and evaluation
processes developed by the CGA.

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 CHAPTER 1

Introduction
Best Practices Guide

Chapter 1: Introduction
The Best Practices Guide is the preeminent and trusted resource for underground
damage prevention with more than 162 practices that cover all phases of the
safe digging process. The practices included within this guide are agreed to by
consensus of 16 industry stakeholder groups and are designed to improve worker
safety, protect vital underground infrastructure, and ensure public safety during
excavation activities conducted in the vicinity of existing underground facilities.
CGA releases a new edition of Best Practices every year with all approved
updates that reflect changes in damage prevention.
Best Practices 21.0 — New Practices and Modi ications
During the past year, the CGA added and amended practices that appear in
Version 21.0. The following new practices and modifications were approved by
the Best Practices Committee and CGA Board:
• Modification of Practice 3-7, Voice Recording of All Incoming Calls
• Modification of Practice 3-9, Caller Feedback
• Modification of Practice 3-10, Printed Ticket Recall
• Modification of Practice 3-12, Documented Owner Verification of Data
Submitted by Facility Owners/Operators
• Modification of Practice 3-23, 811 Center Quality Standards
• Modification of Practice 3-28, 811 Center Data
• Addition of Practice 5-34, Designating and Depicting for the Protection of
Known Underground Facilities
• Modification of Practice 8-3, Target Audiences and Needs
• Addition of a definition of “Alternative Project Delivery Methods”
A review of all changes to the Best Practices can also be viewed at
https://bestpractices.commongroundalliance.com.

History of the Common Ground Alliance

Common Ground Study
In 1998, the U.S. Congress passed the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st
Century (TEA 21). In this legislation, the U.S. Department of Transportation
(USDOT) was instructed to conduct a study of best practices in place nationwide
for enhancing worker safety, protecting vital underground infrastructure, and
ensuring public safety during excavation activities conducted in the vicinity of
existing underground facilities.
The USDOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
convened a meeting of stakeholders from underground utility safety and damage
prevention industries. Each major stakeholder group designated representatives
to participate in the study.
In all, 162 individuals participated in the study, representing stakeholders
from across the nation, including oil and gas transmission and distribution,
telecommunications, railroads, utilities, electric, water, sewer, cable TV, 811
centers, excavators, locators, design engineers, regulators, and government
entities at federal, state and local levels.

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

One of the most controversial elements of the process for determining a “best
practice” was the use of the consensus process. For a practice to become a
“best practice,” all stakeholder groups had to agree that they could live with the
practice; if one group disagreed, the practice would not become a “best practice.”
To this day, consensus is used by CGA committees and in identifying “best
practices.”
The Common Ground Study identified and validated over 130 best practices to
enhance safety and prevent damages to underground facilities. In July 1999, 11
months after the kick-off meeting, the study was presented to the Secretary of
Transportation.
Establishment of the Common Ground Alliance
After the Common Ground Study was presented to the Secretary of
Transportation, PHMSA was asked to facilitate and sponsor what became known
as the Damage Prevention Path Forward. On June 15, 2000, the work of the
team was completed when the Common Ground Alliance received its Certificate
of Incorporation from the District of Columbia.
When established, the Common Ground Alliance identified the following
purposes:
• Prevent damage to underground infrastructure and increase safety
by fostering a sense of shared responsibility for the protection of
underground facilities
• Support research and development
• Conduct public awareness and education programs
• Identify and disseminate stakeholder best practices
• Serve as a clearinghouse for damage data collection analysis and
dissemination
The organization’s motto was and continues to be “Damage Prevention Is a
Shared Responsibility.”
CGA Today
In line with CGA’s founding philosophy, the current CGA mission is to “prevent
damage to underground utility infrastructure and protect those who live and
work near these important assets through the shared responsibility of our
stakeholders.”
There are currently 16 stakeholder groups participating in the CGA: electric,
engineering/design, equipment manufacturing, excavator, gas transmission, gas
distribution, insurance, locator, 811 center, oil, public works, railroad, road builder,
state regulator, emergency services, and telecommunications.
Chapter 1: Introduction

The CGA consists of working committees populated by the general membership.

The committees include Best Practices, Technology, Educational Programs, Data
Reporting and Evaluation, Regional Partner, Stakeholder Outreach Committee,
and One Call Systems International.
While any CGA member can participate in committee discussions, a “Primary” is
designated for each stakeholder group by its respective member on the Board
of Directors. The Primary’s responsibility is to act as a spokesperson for their
stakeholder group and to participate in consensus decisions when necessary.
This ensures that each stakeholder group has an equal say in the outcome of
committee work, decisions and products.
The Best Practices Guide document continues to be the “go to” resource by all
stakeholders, governments, and associated industries when addressing safety
and damage prevention issues internally, as well as on the local, state and
national levels.

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 Introduction

Best Practices Guide

The Best Practices Committee developed the following guide based on the
Common Ground Study, which includes the primary section with Practice
Statements and Descriptions, as well as Appendices A through D. The verbatim
restatement of all ancillary material contained in the original Study is available
on the CGA Web site and is intended as a historical reference point for those

Chapter 1: Introduction
persons interested in a more detailed background of the Best Practices.
The stakeholders involved with the original study never intended that the Best
Practices would constitute a static model. Rather, they intended it to be a working
document that would evolve over time as more was learned and as technology
advanced. In addition, the CGA anticipated that there likely would be additional
best practices developed by the interested participants. As best practices are
added or amended, the changes are reflected in subsequent versions, numbered
sequentially.
Use of Icons
The CGA uses icons to assist readers in identifying the practices that pertain to
their specific industry/stakeholder group. Throughout the document, the icons
appear next to each practice and correspond to the following groups: Project
Owners, Facility Owners, Excavators, 811 Centers, Designers, and Locators. The
icon legend is provided below and also is available at the start of each chapter.
811 Center Facility Owner Excavator Locator Project Owner Designer

Guide to Editorial Task Team Procedures

1: The Editorial Task Team is a task force of the Best Practices (BP) Committee.
As such it acts in accordance with the BP Committee’s instructions.
2: Although the team may edit punctuation, grammar, organization and display,
the team does not make substantive changes to best practices or best practice
descriptions. However, any editorial changes are reported back to the BP
Committee for review and comment.
3: The team receives input from the BP Committee in one of three ways:
a) When it receives a best practice that has been adopted
b) When it is instructed by the BP Committee to make non-substantive
changes to the BP practice description
c) When it makes the changes indicated in paragraph 2 above, presents them
to the BP Committee, and receives feedback thereafter
4: Editorial changes noted in paragraph 3b are only those that the BP Committee
first determines are not substantive alterations to the best practice. They
are handled in the same manner as a best practice, in that BP Committee
members must agree by consensus, but they are not referred to the CGA
board for adoption, as would be the case for a new or amended best practice.

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

Feedback and Proposed Modifications

The CGA welcomes comments and suggestions on improving the format and
updating the content of the best practices. Our intent is to make the statement of
best practices as easy to use as possible. To submit a comment or to propose a
new practice or practice modification, contact the CGA office (703-836-1709) to
request a proposal form or visit the CGA website at
http://www.commongroundalliance.com.

Best Practices Process

How Is a Best Practice Developed or Revised?
Enter Here

Board of Best Practices Other

Directors Committee Members Committees

No Best Practices Yes Task

Dismissed Team
Committee
No
Yes Yes Editorial
Sub-group
Recommended
Board of Language
Directors

Yes

Publish Here

Board of Best Practices Other Anyone can submit a proposed best practice for review,
Directors Committee Members Committees
either through their stakeholder group primary or directly to
CGA staff. The Board of Directors as well as other CGA
Committees may also submit proposed Best Practices.

Board of Best Practices Other The proposed Best Practice is brought before the next
Directors Committee Members Committees
scheduled meeting of the Committee. This enables
Committee members and their stakeholder group to review
No Best Practices Ad Hoc
the proposal for discussion. The Committee reviews and
Chapter 1: Introduction

Dismissed Committee
Committee
discusses the proposal and decides whether it will be
dismissed or considered for Best Practices designation. If
the Committee agrees to consider the practice, a task
team is formed, and a transaction record is created.

Board of Best Practices Other The Task Team forwards the proposed Best Practice to the
Directors Committee Members Committees
full Committee for consideration. In order to give each
stakeholder group an opportunity to review the proposal,
Dismissed
No Best Practices
Committee
Task Team the Task Team must submit the proposed Best Practice at
least 30 days before the next scheduled meeting.
However, the Task Team is encouraged to submit it as
soon as possible for review by the full Committee. Each
stakeholder primary is responsible for taking the proposal
to their respective constituent group for review and position
development. Each stakeholder group is asked to submit
any questions, comments or concerns they may have with
the proposed Best Practice before the next scheduled
meeting convenes.

Board of Best Practices Other

During the next scheduled meeting, the Task Team
Directors Committee Members Committees
presents the proposed practice, which is comprehensively
reviewed and discussed. The Committee decides whether
Dismissed
No Best Practices Task Team the proposal is presented to the Board as a proposed Best
Practice or whether it should go back to the Task Team for
Committee

further consideration. It is not unusual for the practice to be

sent back to the Task Team.

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 Introduction

Board of Best Practices Other A task team is created using volunteers from the full Best
Practices Committee, and a team chair is appointed.
Directors Committee Members Committees

A cross-section of stakeholders is recommended for

Dismissed
No Best Practices
Committee
Task Team each task team to ensure input from as many
stakeholder groups as possible.
Yes Editorial
Sub-group A Transaction Record (TR) is created to track progress

Chapter 1: Introduction
Recommended
Language of the proposal from submission to the Task Team to
the final decision on the proposed practice. The TR is
numbered according to the year it is submitted to the
Task Team (e.g., TR 2011), and a chronological
acceptance for consideration during the year
(i.e., if it was the first to be accepted, it would be
numbered TR 2011-01, second TR 2011-02, and so on).

If the Committee reaches consensus approval of the

wording, the Best Practice is forwarded to the editorial
task team. The editorial task team decides on the
appropriate placement of the practice within the CGA
Best Practices document and ensures that the language
is consistent with Best Practice Committee protocols.

Board of Best Practices Other The final proposed Best Practice is then submitted to
Directors Committee Members Committees
the Board of Directors for their consideration. If
approved, the practice becomes a CGA Best Practice
Dismissed
No Best Practices
Committee
Task Team and is published in the manual. If not, the proposal is
No sent back to the Committee with comment.
Yes Yes Editorial
Sub-group
Recommended
If returned to the Committee, the proposal is reviewed
Board of Language (taking into account the Board’s comments) and
Directors
resubmitted as appropriate.
Yes

Publish Here

Board of Best Practices Other Once a Best Practice has been published, all
Directors Committee Members Committees
stakeholders can rest assured it has been through
the complete process.
No Best Practices
Dismissed Task Team
Committee
No The process ensures the integrity of Best Practices and
Yes Yes Editorial
their place in enhancing safety and keeping damages to
Sub-group
Recommended
an ultimate minimum.
Board of Language
Directors

Yes

Publish Here

The Best Practice proposals can be submitted through the CGA Web site.
Visit the online version of Best Practices at
https://bestpractices.commongroundalliance.com/ to view the new practice
proposal form.

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY

Chapter 1: Introduction

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 CHAPTER 2

Planning and Design

811 Center Facility Owner Excavator Locator Project Owner Designer

Chapter 2: Planning and Design

2-1: Plat Designation of Existing Underground Facility Easements

Practice Statement: Plats prepared for the development of real property

identify and show the alignment of any existing buried facilities and the
presence and extent of any existing easements and/or rights of way.18/
Practice Description: Various items are required on the plats filed prior
to the development of lands. Where plats are required to be filed, the
items required include the identification of the easements of underground
facilities traversing the land described on the plat. Identifying easements
of underground facilities on the plat increases notice to developers and the
public about the existence of the underground facilities. Notifying owners of
underground facilities that a plat has been filed alerts underground facility
owners/operators of the need to establish communication between the
developers and operators that will facilitate a plan and design for the use of
the land that complements the underground facility.
Benefits:
Often underground facility owners/operators do not receive notice of
developments impacting their facilities until excavation activity has
commenced. This compromises the optimal use of the land and potentially
compromises the integrity of the underground facility.
References:
• St. Louis County, Minnesota, zoning ordinances
2-2: Gathering Information for Design Purposes

Practice Statement: The designer uses all reasonable means of obtaining

information about underground facilities in the area of the planned excavation.
Practice Description: During the planning phase of the project, all
available information is gathered from facility owners/operators. This
includes maps of existing, abandoned and out-of-service facilities; cathodic
protection and grounding systems; as-builts of facilities in the area if the
maps are not current; proposed project designs; and schedules of other
work in the area. This information is gathered for the purpose of route
selection and preliminary neighborhood impacts and as part of the process
of impact analysis when evaluating different design possibilities. Methods
of gathering information may include contacting entities such as an 811
center, facility owners/operators, coordinating committees/councils, other
designers, engineering societies, and governmental agencies to help identify
underground facility owners/operators in an excavation area. Gathering
information also may include a review of the site for aboveground indications
of underground facilities (e.g., permanent signs or markers, manhole covers,
vent pipes, pad-mounted devices, riser poles, power and communication
pedestals, and valve covers). The 811 center provides a listing of operators
directly to the designer or to the designer’s subsurface utility engineer.
This information is made available in formats that are accessible to all
users, such as voice, fax, email or website. Once the operators are
identified, the designer contacts the operators directly or uses the one call
system. The facility owner/operator may locate the underground facilities
or provide locations of the underground facilities to the designer by other
means, such as by marking up design drawings or providing facility
records to the designer.

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

Benefits:
• Gathering underground facility information and including this information
in the planning phase minimizes the hazards, cost and work to produce
the final project.
• Safety is enhanced.
• Unexpected conflicts with facilities are eliminated.
• Facility relocations are minimized.
References:
• Wisconsin Sec. 186.0175 Stats
• Minnesota Statute 216D
• Pennsylvania Act 287 of 1974, as amended by Act 187 of 1996
• See related Finding Number 3, “Identifying Existing Facilities in Planning
and Design”
• “Construction Management Interference Control Manual,” Consolidated
Edison, New York, New York, June 9, 1997
• Subsurface Utility Engineering, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA),
February 1999, Office of Program Administration
• Florida Department of Transportation Utility Accommodation Manual,
Document No. 710-020-001-d, Section 11.4, January 1999
2-3: Identifying Existing Facilities in Planning and Design87/95/

Practice Statement: Designers indicate the existence of all public and

private underground facilities on drawings during planning and design,
including if the application of a subsurface utility engineering (SUE)
process and appropriate quality level of verification were applied or
required for construction.
Practice Description: During the planning phase of the project, facilities
are shown on preliminary design plans. The planning documents include
possible routes for the project together with known underground facility
information. The various facility owners/operators are then given the
opportunity to provide appropriate feedback. During the design phase
Chapter 2: Planning and Design

of the project, underground facility information from the planning phase

is shown on the plans. If information was gathered from field-located
facilities, potholing, underground facility surveys, or subsurface utility
engineering (SUE), this is noted on the plans. The designer and the
contractor should understand the SUE process and the quality levels of the
information included on the plans. If an elevation was determined during
information gathering, it is shown on the plan. The facilities shown include
active, abandoned, out-of-service, and proposed facilities. The design
plans include a summary drawing showing the proposed facility route or
excavation, including streets and a locally accepted coordinate system.
The plans are then distributed to the various facility owners/ operators to
provide the opportunity to furnish additional information, clarify information,
and identify conflicts. In the event confirmation is unavailable regarding
the physical location of an existing public or private underground facility, a
process to identify these facilities is noted on the plan and in bid/contract
documents as applicable.
Benefits: Providing complete underground facility information and
including this information on design drawings and in bid/contract
documents when applicable reduces hazards, simplifies coordination, and
minimizes the cost to produce the final project.

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 Planning and Design

2-4: Utility Coordination96/

Practice Statement: Project owners and facility owners/operators

regularly communicate and coordinate with each other concerning future
and current projects in the planning phase.

Chapter 2: Planning and Design

Practice Description: Utility coordination requires a tiered approach:
initially sharing proposed project information (Coordinate PA tool) that can
result in cost sharing opportunities; and a deeper dive once design begins
and the physical location of existing facilities becomes critical. It is in this
latter state where the damage prevention process begins. Coordination
fosters an open exchange of information among private and public
facilities, governmental agencies, and construction-related organizations.
Utility coordination also promotes cooperation among said groups in the
planning, design, and construction of projects affecting the overall good
of participating parties, their organizations and customers or constituents,
and the general public. The formation of utility coordinating committees (or
councils) includes private utilities, public agency utilities, engineering firms,
contractor associations, and others with facilities or business interests
in public rights-of-way. Coordinating committees function in multiple
communities, counties, and states/provinces to promote excavation project
coordination. Typical items of discussion include facility excavations in
existing and recently paved roadways, disruption of essential facility
services, location of utility facilities, environmental impact of damages to
utilities, permit procedures, right-of-way access controls, and underground
facility damage prevention. Plans of future roadway improvement and of
future facility installations are reviewed regularly.
Benefits:
• Wisconsin Administrative Rule Chapter Trans 220 “Utility Facilities
Relocations”
• Arizona Utility Coordinating Committee (AUCC) Public Improvement/
Project Guide, December1996
• Highway/Utility Guide. Publication No. FHWA-SA-93-049. Office of
Technology Applications, FHWA, U.S. Department of Transportation,
June 1993.
References:
• Pennsylvania One Call – Coordinate PA tool
2-5: Markers for Underground Facilities63/

Practice Statement: The presence and type of underground facilities are

indicated by permanent aboveground and belowground markers and material.
Practice Description: A combination of aboveground and belowground
markers is used to identify and locate underground facilities. The
facility is color-coded in accordance with the American Public Works
Association (APWA) guidelines to assist in identifying an aboveground
or belowground facility.
The purpose of aboveground markers is to identify underground facilities,
not to locate for excavation or circumvent the one call process. However,
designing underground facilities for future location reduces the risk of
an incorrectly marked underground facility during an excavation project.
Aboveground markers are developed during the design process and
include the company name, type of facility, emergency contact and the
one call number. The locations and types of markers are specified in the
construction plans. The design provides a marker system that includes, but
is not limited to, stream crossings, public road crossings, other facilities’
rights-of-way, railroad crossings, heavy construction areas, and any other
location where it is necessary to identify the underground facility location.

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

If nondetectable facilities are being installed, the design includes a means

to accurately locate the underground facility from the surface. Road decals,
stencils, tracer tapes, electronic markers or other appropriate systems may
mark areas where traditional markers are considered impractical.
The purpose of belowground markers is to identify underground facilities.
Belowground markers are used in conjunction with aboveground markers.
Belowground markers may include tracer wire, warning tape and/or electronic
marking devices. More than one type of belowground marker may be used.
Installation of belowground markers should comply with AGA, ANSI,
or other industry standards or governing regulations including, but not
limited to, using a coated corrosion-resistant wire, installing cathodic
protection, proper grounding, marking the end placement or approximate
location of belowground markers with aboveground markers, protecting
belowground markers from damage during backfill operations, and
placement/method of installation.
Benefits:
Provisions to aid in future locating requests are included in the design.
In addition, an effective marker system is beneficial to the underground
facility owner/operator and first responders to an area involving more than
one underground facility or an incident near underground facilities.
References:
• 49 CFR Parts 192 and 195
• Industry standards:
◦ AGA Plastic Pipe Manual for Gas Service, 2006 Edition
◦ APWA, “Guidelines for Uniform Temporary Marking of
Underground Facilities”
◦ ANSI ASC GPTC Z380 Gas Piping Technology Guide
(https://www.aga.org/gptc)
◦ NFPA-70 (2014), “National Electrical Code”
2-6: Follow All Applicable Codes, Statutes and Facility
Owner/Operator Standards
Chapter 2: Planning and Design

Practice Statement: When planning and designing the installation of new

or replacement of existing underground facilities, the designer follows all
federal, state/provincial, and local guidelines, codes, statutes, and other
facility owner/operator standards.
Practice Description: The designer of a facility project typically considers
only national industry codes, regulations and practices applicable to
that particular facility and not of adjacent facilities. Regulations, codes,
standards and other design documents generally specify depth of cover
and horizontal and vertical clearances between adjacent facilities.
However, they are not always prescriptive and can be subject to
interpretation by the designer. In addition, certain codes allow exceptions
to the prescribed minimum clearances, contingent upon approval between
the affected facility owners/operators. The designer also must consider the
protection and temporary support of adjacent facilities and any interference
to existing cathodic protection and grounding systems. Consequently, the
designer must provide specifications of safety measures to be taken and
procedures for emergency notification and repairs in case an adjacent
facility is damaged. Designers are aware of proposed and revised
standards and codes that may affect the project.
Benefits:
The designer who reviews codes pertaining to adjacent facilities minimizes
any potential conflict of code clearance requirements and facilitates future
locating efforts.

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 Planning and Design

2-7: Use of Qualified Contractors

Practice Statement: Qualified contractors are used to excavate on and

near underground facilities.
Practice Description: Contractors that excavate on and near underground

Chapter 2: Planning and Design

facilities possess the qualifications necessary to conduct such activities
in a manner that is skillful, safe and reliable. The requisite qualification of
the contractor serves to protect the public and the integrity of underground
facilities in the vicinity of the excavation. Using qualified contractors
ensures that all contractors who bid and work on a project employ safe
work habits and are capable of performing the requested work. When
working with contractors, the project owner is familiar with the contractors’
work experience and financial abilities and does not ask the contractors to
bid beyond their capabilities. Allowing a competitive bidding process from
qualified and competent contractors ensures the best quality and pricing
available while reducing damages to underground facilities.
Benefits:
• Enhances safety
• Increases the quality of work
• Reduces damage to facilities
References:
• Florida Law (Chapter 337.14 FS) and Rules of the State of Florida,
Department of Transportation, Chapters 14–22
• Duke Energy of Houston, Texas, procedures
2-8: Mandatory Prebid Conferences

Practice Statement: A mandatory prebid conference is held and bids are

accepted only from attending contractors.
Practice Description: Depending on the level of impact of proposed
construction upon facilities in the excavation area, the project owner or
project designer requires potential contractors and facility owners/operators
to attend a mandatory prebid conference. This prebid conference is used
to discuss, among other things, the particular facilities in the area and the
requirements to properly protect, support and safely maintain the facilities
during excavation. Official minutes are taken and disseminated as written
to all attendees.
Benefits:
Prebid conferences provide a forum for the contractor, owner and other
interested parties to discuss a project and record binding changes or
clarifications to the scope of the project. The prebid conference also
provides an opportunity for all parties to review contract documents,
regulatory requirements, schedules and submittal formats. Most large
projects involve multiple levels of subcontracting activity, as well as
multilayered regulatory oversight. The prebid conferences traditionally
address these issues in an open forum so that all bidders are equally
aware of the ground rules. The ground rules can be both commercial and
technical in nature, covering the spectrum from performance bonds to
safety practices.
References:
• Industry and governmental practices
• Florida Department of Transportation
• Duke Energy of Houston, Texas, procedures

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

2-9: Continuous Interface Between the Designer and Potential

Contractors During the Prebid/Bid Phase

Practice Statement: Once a project design is completed, the designer

participates in the prebid/bid process.
Practice Description: The designer’s continuing involvement during
the prebid/bid phase with the potential contractor(s) allows for more
effective communications between all parties. The designer can assess
whether the interested bidders have the expertise needed and the correct
understanding of the intended design.
Benefits:
• By providing quality assurance, this practice minimizes potential safety
concerns and delays to project completion.
• The designer would have the opportunity to relay information not readily
shown on the plans, such as accommodations of facility adjustments
required to construct the project.
References:
• Industry practice
• Expert opinion
2-10: Continuous Interface between the Designer and the Contractor
During the Construction Phase

Practice Statement: The designer continues to interface with the selected

contractor throughout the construction phase.
Practice Description: This practice allows the designer to be available for
preconstruction conferences, unforeseen conditions and design changes,
and for postconstruction conferences.
Benefits:
• Potential safety concerns are resolved more quickly, thereby minimizing
Chapter 2: Planning and Design

subsequent modifications to the project design, costs and completion.

• The designer’s inspections of the project during different stages are
facilitated.
References:
• Industry and government practice
2-11: As-built Drawings

Practice Statement: As-built drawings are prepared and the information is

recorded to aid future excavations and locates.
Practice Description: Installation is made in accordance with the
approved construction plans. Any deviation to the plans is documented and
such changes are indicated on the as-built drawings. As-built information is
recorded, retained and made available for subsequent excavation.
Benefits:
As-built drawings serve as an information source for future projects to
minimize damage to existing facilities.
References:
• Union Pacific Railroad procedures
• Expert opinion
• Industry and governmental practices

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 Planning and Design

2-12: Supply-line Separation

Practice Statement: When installing new direct-buried supply facilities

in a common trench, a minimum of 12 in. radial separation is maintained
between supply facilities, such as steam lines, plastic gas lines, other
fuel lines and direct-buried electrical supply lines. If 12 in. of separation

Chapter 2: Planning and Design

cannot be feasibly attained at the time of installation, then mitigating
measures are taken to protect lines against damage that might result from
proximity to other structures. Examples may include the use of insulators,
casing, shields or spacers. If there is a conflict among any of the applicable
regulations or standards regarding minimum separation,
the most stringent are applied.6/
References:
• National Electric Safety Code IEEE C2-2007 (2007 Edition)
• Industry practices
2-13: Trenchless Excavation

Practice Statement: All stakeholders adhere to all best practices and

the following general guidelines prior to, during and after any trenchless
excavation (as applicable).
Practice Description:
• The project owner and design engineer take prudent measures to make
the determination to use trenchless excavation installation.
• The project owner and design engineer coordinate with facility owners
to design projects that maintain minimum radial clearances between the
new facility and existing facilities. Minimum clearances are equal to or
greater than applicable standards.
• The project owner and design engineer establish line and grade of the
proposed excavation to maintain the established minimum clearances.
(See also Best Practices 4–19 and 5–29).13/
References:
• See Appendix D

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

2-14: Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE)88/97/

Practice Statement: When applied properly during the design phase,

Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) provides significant cost and
damage-avoidance benefits and the opportunity to correct inaccuracies in
existing facility records.19
Practice Description: In certain cases and environments, it may be
difficult or impossible to determine the locations of all utilities and/or
impediments with sufficient accuracy to avoid damage or delay during
construction. In these cases, SUE is applied during the design phase
to locate, identify, and characterize all existing utility infrastructure (and
other relevant non-utility features) found within a given project/area.
SUE is applied in a structured manner in accordance with practices and
quality levels found in ASCE 38-22 “Standard Guideline for Investigating
and Documenting Existing Utilities.” The project owner dictates the
required quality levels (QL) as well as the amount of effort expended by
the SUE provider on each. Although the standard is more detailed and
comprehensive, the following is a brief summary of the quality levels
defined therein:
• QL-D involves utility records research and interviews with knowledgeable
utility personnel.
• QL-C involves surface survey and identifying and recording aboveground
features of subsurface utilities, such as manholes, valves, and hydrants.
• QL-B involves application of “surface geophysical methods,” such as EM-
based locating instruments, GPR, radar tomography, metal detectors,
and optical instruments, to gather and record approximate horizontal
(and, in some cases, vertical) positional data.
• QL-A involves physical exposure via “non-destructive soft digging”
(vacuum excavation or hand digging) and provides precise horizontal
and vertical positional data.
SUE results are integrated into the design process, in which design
engineers use the information to create construction plans that
accommodate existing infrastructure, thereby reducing the overall risk of
Chapter 2: Planning and Design

conflicts and/or damage.11/

References:
• U.S. Department of Transportation—FHWA (12/1999). Cost Savings
on Projects Utilizing Subsurface Utility Engineering. Pub. No. FHWA-
IF-00-014
• U.S. Department of Transportation—FHWA (3/2001). Subsurface
Utility Engineering: Enhancing Construction Activities. Pub. No. FHWA-
IF-01-011
• ASCE 38-22 Standard Guideline for Investigating and Documenting
Existing Utilities
• Pennsylvania state law – Underground Utility Line Protection Act of 1974
as amended

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 Planning and Design

2-15: Use of Qualified Designers

Practice Statement: Project owners employ qualified design and SUE

providers.
Practice Description: When new utility infrastructure is installed, project

Chapter 2: Planning and Design

owners employ qualified designers and SUE providers. Such providers
have knowledge and understanding of applicable CGA Best Practices and
of the ASCE 38-02 SUE standard. Providers are qualified in application
of the associated design practices and SUE processes. The providers
also are knowledgeable of the operation of any involved equipment and
interpretation of results where applicable. Use of qualified SUE providers
provides higher quality information to designers, who in turn can minimize
utility conflicts by better depicting actual subsurface conditions on the
construction plans.21/
See also
• Practice Statement 2–3: Identifying Existing Facilities in Planning and
Design87/95/
• Practice Statement 2–7: Use of Qualified Contractors
• Practice Statement 2–14: Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE)88/97/
References:
• New Jersey Public Service Electric and Gas
2-16: Project Coordination25/

Practice Statement: Large and/or complex projects may require the use
of specific processes established to enhance safety and to coordinate
buried-facility damage-prevention efforts among all potentially affected
stakeholders throughout the life of the project. Such processes are
intended to complement, and be used in addition to, standard and
customary one call notification and locating practices.
Practice Description: A “large/complex” project is a single project or a
series of repetitive, small, related-scope, short-term projects that impact
facilities over a long period of time or over a large area. Such projects
pose a unique set of safety and damage prevention challenges when
using standard one call practices, specifically as they apply to ongoing
locating and re-marking requirements. These unique challenges can be
addressed by the establishment of special processes, including (but not
limited to) the following:
• A method for identifying such projects
• Preplanning and design coordination
• Increased 811 center involvement
• A formalized communication process among all affected stakeholders
• Project-specific marking agreements that address variance scenarios
• Regularly scheduled meetings of, and ongoing communication among,
all involved stakeholders
• Positive response
The purposes for establishing such processes are to enhance safety and to
optimize the utilization of locating resources on large/complex projects.
References:
• Georgia Utility Protection Center (GAUPC) and Georgia Utility Facility
Protection Act (GUFPA)
• Pennsylvania One Call and Pennsylvania Underground Utility Line
Protection Act

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

2-17: Electronically Locatable Lines68/

Practice Statement: When designing and installing new facilities, a means

is provided to allow the facilities to be electronically locatable.
Practice Description: Many facilities are damaged due to the fact that
they cannot be located electronically. Non-conductive materials, such as
PVC, cannot be located using traditional locate methods. When designing
and installing non-conductive facilities, the use of a tracer wire or other
methods (refer to practice 2-5, Markers for Underground Facilities) is part
of that design and installation. This will allow these facilities to be identified,
located and marked prior to future excavation activities.
References:
• NC State Statute, Article 8A 87-121 (g)
2-18: Identifying Newly Installed or Under-Construction Facilities70/

Practice Statement: Facility owner or designee identifies with the

811 center an underground facility that has been installed or is under
construction but is not in service.
Practice Description: A facility owner provides the 811 center with shape
files or other suitable mapping data for the new or under-construction
facility that follows an existing or new corridor. A new facility includes
facilities installed but not placed into service.
2-19: Underground Electronic Utility Markers72/

Practice Statement: Underground electronic utility markers are an effective

way to enable accurate locating and verification of underground facilities.
(See Appendix B: Guidelines for Underground Utility Marker Technology)
Practice Description: Facility owners/operators can consider several
characteristics in the selection and installation of underground electronic
Chapter 2: Planning and Design

utility markers for locating to ensure consistency among stakeholders’

future identification. Various characteristics are included in Appendix
B, Guideline for Underground Electronic Utility Marker Technology.
Underground utility markers such as electronic markers (EMs), RFID
markers, ball markers and magnetic markers are devices that emit a
signal to assist in the location of an underground facility. Underground
electronic utility markers can be used to locate and identify an underground
facility in two ways: (1) the underground utility markers can emit a signal
that is a match to a predefined utility type, and (2) the underground utility
marker signal can carry identifying data associated with the underground
utility/asset type. Underground utility marker selection and examples of
frequency ranges by utility and marker type are included in Appendix B,
Guideline for Underground Electronic Utility Marker Technology.
References:
• VDOT paper: Electronic RFID Marking and GPS Based Utility As-Built
Mapping System
• See Practice Statement 2-5, “Markers for Underground Facilities”
• See Practice Statement 2-17, “Electronically Locatable Lines”
• Publication No. FHWA-HRT-16-019 “Feasibility of Mapping and Marking
Underground Utilities by State Transportation Departments”
• Washington Gas, Engineering and Operating Standards, “Underground
Plastic Pipe Location Identification”
• Consolidated Edison guideline, “Installation of electronic markers on gas
mains and services”
• UGI

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 CHAPTER 3

811 Center
811 Center Facility Owner Excavator Locator Project Owner Designer

Chapter 3: 811 Center

3-1: Proactive Public Awareness, Education and Damage
Prevention Activities76/

Practice Statement: The 811 center has a documented and proactive

public awareness, education and damage prevention program.
Practice Description: The 811 center seeks opportunities to promote the
need to “Call or Click Before You Dig.” All promotion is intended to enhance
awareness of responsibilities to safeguard workers and the public; protect
the integrity of the buried infrastructure; foster a cooperative approach
between the owners of buried facilities and the excavating community
toward the prevention of damage to buried facilities; and promoting its
service. Typical 811 center activities include the following:
• Promotional items
• Media advertising
• Maintain a social media presence
• Participation at safety meetings
• Presentations, conferences, seminars, trade shows and other
community events
• Excavator awareness and education programs
• Distribution of education material describing how the 811 system works
• Maintaining a database of active stakeholders of the local digging
community
• Facilitating meetings between stakeholders
• Participation in local damage prevention or facility location and
coordination committees
• Advocacy and inclusion in legislative processes
References:
• One Call Systems International Voluntary Recognition Program
• Existing operating practices from various states’ 811 centers or existing
practices from stakeholders
• 811 center information
• 49 CFR Part 192
• 49 CFR Part 198
• National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Safety Study (NTSB/SS-
97/01; PB97-917003)
3-2: Specifically Defined Geopolitical Service Area with No Overlap77/

Practice Statement: The 811 centers serving a specifically defined

geopolitical area are structured so that an excavator need only make one
notification, and a facility owner/operator need only belong to a single 811
center per defined geopolitical area.
Practice Description: 811 programs are designed to promote ease of
use for members (facility owners/operators) and excavators. Although this
ease of use is enhanced when an 811 center serves a specifically defined
geopolitical area that does not overlap with the service area of another
811 center’s service area, non-overlapping service areas are not essential.
There are three requirements that an 811 program must meet to be
considered as having implemented this best practice:
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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

• The program permits an excavator to use a single point of contact to

submit and follow up on a notice of intent to excavate and to notify
affected facility owners/operators.
• The program permits a facility owner/operator to join a single 811 center
and receive all appropriate notices.
• The program is designed so that all pertinent information is shared
among 811 centers in the event more than one exists.
References:
• One Call Systems International Voluntary Recognition Program
• Existing operating practices from various states’ 811 centers
• NTSB Safety Study (NTSB/SS-97/01; PB97-917003)
3-3: Formal Agreements with Members78/

Practice Statement: Each member of the 811 center abides by state/

provincial statute where applicable or written agreement that states the
rights and the responsibilities of the excavators, member facility owners/
operators and the 811 center.
Practice Description: Operating procedures and bylaws are established.
Procedures for the operation of an 811 center are adopted to ensure
the timely and accurate communication of locate requests and positive
response between the excavator and the member facility owner/operator.
The concept is to promote service, not obstructions. Topics for procedures
can be classified as general, communications, center operations, reports,
expenses and public awareness. These topics can be expanded to include
guidelines and whatever else is needed for a particular system. Bylaws
vary, depending on the type of organization. In some instances, they may
prove unnecessary. If bylaws are adopted, effectiveness is paramount.
Items that can be incorporated include sections on membership
(including rights), financial matters, meetings, elections and duties of
officers. Any other required agreements are documented as clearly as
possible to facilitate understanding by all participants. Consideration is
given to include “hold harmless” clauses, amounts of liability insurance,
errors and omissions insurance, retention of records, cost allocations,
reimbursements, area served (with options to expand as planned), and any
special arrangements necessary. If an agreement to contract the service to
an outside concern is made, it contains controls, checks and balances.
References:
• One Call Systems International Voluntary Recognition Program
Chapter 3: 811 Center

• Existing operating practices from various states’ 811 centers

• 811 Center Information
• NTSB Safety Study (NTSB/SS-97/01; PB97-917003)
3-4: 811 Center Governance81/

Practice Statement: The 811 center is governed by a board of directors

representing the diverse makeup of stakeholders with a process in place
for recruiting, onboarding, training and and retaining board members.
Board members have appropriate industry qualifications and experience,
along with policy and financial authority within their own company to best
benefit the 811 center and its constituents.
Practice Description: To ensure that an 811 center functions to the best
benefit of the entire community, it is governed by a board of directors made up
of a diverse representation of stakeholders, such as facility owners/operators,
contractors, designers, project owners and government representatives.
Each board member has an appropriate executive level of authority within
their own company/agency and is knowledgeable in their own industry,

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 811 Center

as well as how it interacts with the 811 center and all of the represented
stakeholders. The board has a process in place for recruiting, onboarding,
training and retaining board members with appropriate qualifications.
References:
• One Call Systems International Voluntary Recognition Program
• Existing operating practices from various states’ 811 centers

Chapter 3: 811 Center

• NTSB Safety Study (NTSB/SS-97/01; PB97-917003)
3-5: Adoption of 811 Three-Digit Dialing and Single Toll-Free Statewide
Telephone Number With Nationwide Access85/

Practice Statement: The 811 center adopts 811 three-digit dialing and a
single toll-free statewide telephone number with nationwide access.
Practice Description: 811 is used by excavators within every state in
the United States to submit locate requests. In addition to 811, the center
provides a toll-free number that has nationwide access, meaning that a
caller can reach the center from anywhere in the country.
References:
• One Call Systems International Voluntary Recognition Program
• Existing operating practices from various states’ 811 centers
• 49 CFR Part 198
• NTSB Safety Study (NTSB/SS-97/01; PB97-917003)
3-6: Hours of Operation55/82/

Practice Statement: The 811 center can process locate requests 24 hours
per day, 7 days per week.
Practice Description: The 811 center has a process in place where an
excavator who has a locate request can, at any time of the day or night,
every day of the year, contact the 811 center and have that request
processed.
References:
• One Call Systems International Voluntary Recognition Program
• Existing operating practices from various states’ 811 centers
• 811 Center information
• NTSB Safety Study (NTSB/SS-97/01; PB97-917003)
3-7: 811 Center Locate Request Records Retention and Retrieval103/

Practice Statement: Retention of historical records by the 811 center

for all data, transactions, communication, and documentation related to
locate requests is performed in accordance with the 811 center’s records
retention policies or state’s legislative requirements. Records are retained
in a format which enables retrieval of related documentation of locate
request activity.
Practice Description: Transaction recordings are a documentation of the
events which occurred between all impacted stakeholders and the 811
center. Artifacts could include, but are not limited to, historical records of
all data, transactions, communications, and other documentation related
to a locate request per 811 center record retention policies or the state’s
legislative requirements.
A record of all elements which are required to process communications
for locate requests is stored to ensure that precise documentation of the
activity is retained. The record is maintained for every contact channel

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

which may include, but not be limited to, Voice, SMS, Chat, Email, and
all ticket creation and/or processing applications. This record can be
legally supported in court. The 811 center has a procedure for processing
requests for records.
These records must be maintained and retrievable minimally until the
applicable statute of limitations in the state/province has expired. Laws
vary from state to state, so no specific retention period is set forth as a best
practice.
References:
• One Call Systems International Voluntary Recognition Program
• Existing operating practices from various states’ 811 centers
• 49 CFR Part 198
• NTSB Safety Study (NTSB/SS-97/01; PB97-917003)

3-8: Vacant104/
3-9: Locate Information Communication105/

Practice Statement: The 811 center provides the excavator, in a timely

manner, with a ticket number, the names of notified facility owners/
operators and detailed information regarding communication sent.
Practice Description: Providing the locate request ticket number and the
names of the facility owners/operators who will be notified enhances the
efficiency of the 811 process. This information can be provided over the
phone and/or through electronic display or communication. When provided
the names of the facility owners/operators, the excavator knows which
owners/operators will be notified in the area of the planned excavation.
This helps the excavator determine if all affected facility owners/operators
are notified and have responded to the locate request.
The 811 center delivers a detailed record in response to the excavator’s
locate request. The excavator can verify accuracy of the information when
provided with such a record from the 811 center. This information includes
but is not limited to contact information, work type, excavation activity
duration, ticket life, ticket attachments, as well as the proposed location of
excavation activities.
References:
• One Call Systems International Voluntary Recognition Program
• “Model One Call for the 20th and 21st Century,” AT&T (was available
Chapter 3: 811 Center

when the practice was created but is no longer available)

• Existing operating practices from various states’ 811 centers
• 49 CFR Part 198
• NTSB Safety Study (NTSB/SS-97/01; PB97-917003)
• Colorado 811, North Carolina 811, Pennsylvania 811, et al
• BP 3-27, Electronic Positive Response
• BP 3-31, Enhanced Positive Response
• BP 4-9, Positive Response is Provided to Facility Locate Requests
• BP 5-8, Positive Response

3-10: Locate Request Records106/

Practice Statement: The 811 center can provide a copy of any locate
request for a period of time determined by applicable statutes.

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 811 Center

Practice Description: The 811 center maintains its locate request records
electronically for a period of time determined by applicable statutes or
retention policies. These records can be accessed in the event of a
damage investigation, litigation, or other relevant event.
References:
• One Call Systems International Voluntary Recognition Program

Chapter 3: 811 Center

• Existing operating practices from various states’ 811 centers
• 49 CFR Part 198
• NTSB Safety Study (NTSB/SS-97/01; PB97-917003)

3-11: Vacant109/
3-12: Verification of Data Submitted by Facility Owners/Operators110/

Practice Statement: The 811 center receives digital geographic

information from its member facility owners/operators periodically, defining
the geographic area for receiving notices. At a minimum, this includes
all areas where the member has underground facilities. The 811 center
requires the operator to approve their data before activation takes effect.
Practice Description: Each member owner/operator is responsible for
identifying the geographic area for receiving notifications. The 811 center
has a process in place to receive geographic data from its members and
validate changes before they become active in the system. Updates occur
and are implemented as frequently as necessary but no less than annually
to ensure that all facilities are protected.
The 811 center tracks changes made by each owner/operator and can
reproduce a member’s service area historically for the same time period
for which it retains its records. The 811 center can reproduce what each
member’s service area mapping was for all historical notifications, in
compliance with its data retention policy.
References:
• One Call Systems International Voluntary Recognition Program
• “Model One Call for the 20th and 21st Century,” AT&T (was available
when the practice was created but is no longer available)
• Existing operating practices from various states’ 811 centers
• NTSB Safety Study (NTSB/SS-97/01; PB97-917003)
• CGA Best Practices 2.18 and 6.4

3-13: Vacant111/
3-14: Meeting Between the Excavator and Facility Operator(s) Initiated
by One Call Notification

Practice Statement: The 811 center has a process for receiving and
transmitting requests for meetings between the excavator and the facility
operator(s) for the purpose of discussing locating facilities on large or
complex jobs.
Practice Description: The 811 center relays requests for job site facility
meetings with facility owners/operators to the affected facilities’ owners/
operators. If a meeting is required to show the limits and schedule of the
work, the 811 center indicates that a meeting is requested. The 811 center
requires that the excavator provide sufficient information to fully identify
the boundaries of the proposed work site. A meeting request does not
necessarily eliminate the need for a locate request.
References:
• Existing operating practices from various states’ 811 centers

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

• OCSI Resource Guide 2009 (http://goo.gl/kpIDT)

• NTSB Safety Study (NTSB/SS-97/01; PB97-917003)
3-15: 811 Center Accepts Notifications from Designers

Practice Statement: The 811 center accepts design requests and has the
ability to process them as designated by the facility owners/operators.
Practice Description: To facilitate damage prevention, project designers
have a need for access to facility location information from facility owners/
operators. If a design request is received, the 811 center provides a
listing of facility owners/operators directly to the designer. Once the list is
identified, the 811 center processes the request as designated by each
facility owner/operator.
References:
• Existing operating practices from various states’ 811 centers
• NTSB Safety Study (NTSB/SS-97/01; PB97-917003)
3-16: Locate Request

Practice Statement: The 811 center captures the following information, at

a minimum, on a locate request:
• Caller’s name and phone number
• Excavator’s/company’s name, address and phone numbers
• Specific location of the excavation
• Start date and time of the excavation
• Description of the excavation activity.
Practice Description: A locate request is a communication between
an excavator and 811 center personnel in which a request for locating
underground facilities is processed. In addition to the minimum required
information identified in the preceding paragraph, the locate request
includes any available information that will help establish the specific
location of the excavation site. This additional information could include the
following, for example:
A: More detailed information to help determine the specific location of the
excavation, such as the following:
1: City
Chapter 3: 811 Center

2: County/parish/township
3: State/province
4: Street address
5: Street name
6: Length and direction of the excavation and the nearest adjacent
cross streets (needed to bound area of excavation or extended
excavation)
7: Subdivision and lot number (for new development)
8: X/Y coordinates—a means of defining horizontal position—the
dig site can be a point, an area or box, or a polygon. For a spatial
rectangle (maximum/minimum latitude/longitude), the dig site must
be wholly within the specified area.
a: Latitude/longitude coordinate(s) or specific address of the dig
site. These may be done automatically by the GIS subsystem
or determined by a computer-assisted customer service
representative.
b: GPS coordinates. When the excavator provides GPS coordinates
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 811 Center

to the 811 center and when the call center has the technical
capabilities to capture this information, the GPS format is
also specified (decimal degrees; degrees/decimal minutes; or
degrees/minutes/seconds) and included on the ticket.61/
9: Highway mile markers
10: Railroad mileposts

Chapter 3: 811 Center

11: General directions/instructions
12: Map grids
13: Distance to nearest cross street
14: Any other pertinent references to help establish the location
of the dig site
B: The intended start date and time of the excavation (i.e., the date
excavation is actually expected to begin, which may be later than when
excavation can legally begin based on the ticket date)
C: Type of excavation activity (e.g., boring, blasting, trenching, trenchless,
etc.)
D: For whom the excavation work is being done
E: The purpose of the work (i.e., what will be installed or built)
F: Additional remarks
References:61/
• “Model One Call for the 20th and 21st Century,” AT&T (was available
when the practice was created but is no longer available)
• Existing operating practices from various states’ 811 centers
• 49 CFR Part 198
• Kansas One-Call: Excavator’s Manual. “Rural Area,” pg 9.
http://www.kansasonecall.com/excavators/reference-materials/
excavators-manual/
• Tennessee 811:
◦ Geocall V3 CGAE.28 Rev 012813 “Latitude and Longitude Searches,”
pg 1.
◦ Geocall V3 CGAE.29 Rev 062713 “Latitude and Longitude Searches,”
pg 1.
◦ Geocall V3 CGAG.40 Rev 020413 “Latitude and Longitude,” pg 1.
◦ Geocall V3 CGAG.41 Rev 020413 “Latitude and Longitude,” pg 2.
• New Mexico 811: Training Manual. 8.14 “How to Use GPS for Mapping a
Ticket,” pg 1–16.
• Mississippi 811: Training Manual. “Global Positioning System/Latitude-
Longitude,” pg 1.
• Hawaii One call: ITIC User Manual. “Submit a Locate Request,”
pg 16. http://callbeforeyoudig.org/hawaii/index.asp
• Montana One Call: ITIC User Manual. “Submit a Locate Request,”
pg 16, 23. http://callbeforeyoudig.org/montana/index.asp
• Illinois 811: Excavators. “Information Needed,”
http://www.illinois1call.com/excavators/infoneeded.html
3-17: Practices to Reduce Overnotifications

Practice Statement: The 811 center employs practices designed

specifically to reduce the number of notices transmitted to facility owners/
operators in which the reported excavation site is outside the owner’s/
operator’s desired area of notification.

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

Practice Description: The 811 center employs technology that enables

the facility owner/operator to determine its desired area of notification by
either polygons or grids. To reduce overnotifications, technology includes,
but is not limited to, the following:
• Enables the 811 center to define the proposed excavation site buffer to
within approximately 800 ft.
• Enables the facility owner/operator to identify its desired area of
notification to within approximately 100 ft.
References:
• “Model One Call for the 20th and 21st Century,” AT&T (was available
when the practice was created but is no longer available)
• Existing operating practices from various states’ 811 centers
• NTSB Safety Study (NTSB/SS-97/01; PB97-917003)
3-18: Disaster Recovery

Practice Statement: An 811 center develops, implements and maintains

an effective disaster recovery plan that enables the one call function to
continue in the event of a disaster.
Practice Description: The 811 center develops and implements an
effective disaster recovery plan that enables it to continue operations in the
aftermath of a disaster affecting the facility. Excavators and underground
facility owners/operators outside of the area affected by the disaster can
continue to conduct business with minimum to no delays in the services
provided by the 811 center. The disaster recovery plan makes provisions
for the 811 center to process emergency locate requests for the areas
affected by the disaster. The 811 center (the primary center) has a backup
arrangement with another facility at a remote location (the secondary
center). This arrangement includes the following:
• Telecommunications—alternate routing schedules are in place and ready
to be activated within minutes of the primary center’s failure.
• Software and hardware—the secondary center has compatible hardware
with the primary center. The secondary center always has a copy of the
primary’s current software.
• Database—the secondary center receives the primary center’s database,
including locate requests, on a regular basis and preferably in real time.
• Staffing—a portion of the secondary center’s staff is cross-trained for the
primary center’s operation at all times.
• Simulated emergency testing—at least once a year, on a random basis,
Chapter 3: 811 Center

the disaster recovery plan is implemented to verify that it is operational.

References:
• “Model One Call for the 20th and 21st Century,” AT&T (was available
when the practice was created but is no longer available)
• Existing operating practices from various states’ 811 centers
3-19: Direct Electronic Locate

Practice Statement: The 811 center provides users a means of direct,

electronic entry of locate requests that maintain comparable ticket quality
to an operator-assisted entry.
Practice Description: The 811 center has interactive data
communications sufficient to permit remote data entry for members and
excavators. The remote interface validates the input information and allows
the user to make corrections if necessary. This correction is accomplished
by referencing the same geographic database used at the 811 center when
taking a called-in request. This process ensures that the ticket quality is
maintained for all tickets.
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 811 Center

References:
• “Model One Call for the 20th and 21st Century,” AT&T (was available
when the practice was created but is no longer available)
• Existing operating practices from various states’ 811 centers
• NTSB Safety Study (NTSB/SS-97/01; PB97-917003)
3-20: Accept Multiple Reference Points for Locate Requests

Chapter 3: 811 Center

Practice Statement: The 811 center can accept multiple types of points of
reference to define the exact location of an excavation site (e.g., latitude/
longitude, highway/railroad/pipeline mile markers, address, street/cross
street, etc.).
Practice Description: The 811 center’s locate request-taking processes
and computer system are designed to accept and process multiple types
of reference points used by callers to (1) describe the location of their work
and (2) define the excavation site. Examples of different types of reference
points include highway mile markers, railroad mileposts, valid address
or street/cross street, latitude and longitude, township/range/section,
city, county, political and mailing address (ZIP code) boundaries, etc. All
stakeholders involved in the one call process receive a corresponding
benefit when the 811 center can define the excavation site as specifically
as possible. The facility operator’s job of determining the existence of
a potential conflict is expedited, field personnel can find and mark the
affected area much easier, and the excavator receives timely markings
covering the area of excavation. Standardizing a limited set of criteria
reduces the flexibility of the system to serve the excavator and facility
owner/operator. The 811 center invests in systems and processes that
permit inclusion of a variety of types of reference points in defining the
excavation site. The 811 center takes steps to link these reference points
to the database used to register the facility operator’s desired area of
notification, thereby helping to reduce overnotification.
References:
• “Model One Call for the 20th and 21st Century,” AT&T (was available
when the practice was created but is no longer available)
• Existing operating practices from various states’ 811 centers
3-21: 811 Center Security

Practice Statement: The 811 center provides appropriate physical and

systems security, fire protection and electrical protection to protect the 811
center and its critical components.
Practice Description: The 811 center needs protection from natural
disasters and other threats. Because the 811 center is a critical link in the
communication chain between the excavating community and facilities, it
is important that the 811 center does whatever it can to provide adequate
security, taking into account that it may well need to be operational in times
of natural disasters or in the face of other threats. Security components
could include the following:
• Physical security for the building and its employees through locked
operations areas, lighting, employee key cards and guard patrols
• Physical security for critical systems components that may include
locating the facilities in locked enclosures and restricting access to
necessary personnel
• General fire protection for the 811 center personnel and property
• Specialized fire protection for critical systems components
• Specialized theft protection for critical systems components
• Telephone demarcation points in a protected area within the 811 center

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

• Passwords and protections to limit access to computers and other

systems
• Off-site storage of a duplicate database and necessary system software
Reference:
• Existing operating practices from various states’ 811 centers
3-22: Hardware Designed to Tolerate a Single Point of Failure

Practice Statement: The 811 center uses fault-tolerant hardware for its
critical path operations, such as ticket taking, database access and ticket
delivery.
Practice Description: A fault-tolerant system can withstand any single
hardware malfunction without any interruption or degradation of service.
These systems have the ability to identify the malfunctioning hardware
component and permit its replacement while remaining online and
processing normal applications. These fault-tolerant systems maximize
the probability that the 811 center will be able to properly process an
excavation request in the event of a failure or malfunction.
References:
• “Model 811 for the 20th and 21st Century,” AT&T (was available when the
practice was created but is no longer available)
• Existing operating practices from various states’ 811 centers

3-23: 811 Center Quality Standards24/101/

Practice Statement: The 811 center establishes and monitors

performance standards for the operation of the center.
Practice Description:
A: Customer Quality of Service Performance Measurements
811 centers monitor the quality of service provided to a customer who
submits a locate request. Key performance indicators include, but need
not be limited to, average speed of answer, service level, hold time,
call abandonment rate, handle time (talk time), and quality assurance.
Recommendations to help to fulfill a high quality of customer service
while promoting accuracy, cost effectiveness, and efficiency are identified
below. Measuring performance metrics qualifies as a “best” practice.
Chapter 3: 811 Center

1: Average Speed of Answer/Service Level/Hold Time

These metrics measure the amount of time it takes from a call being
connected to being answered by an agent or customer service
representative (CSR). Some centers include the pre-announcer
menu time in this calculation.
2: Abandoned Call Rate
This measures the amount of time a caller is on hold before they
hang up or disconnect. Not meeting caller expectations could lead
to repeat calls, or worse, encourage callers to excavate without
having an 811 notice. Callers have an expectation that all calls will
be answered within a reasonable time.
3: Handle Time/Talk Time
This indicates the amount of time it takes an agent/CSR to process
a call and complete any locate requests made by that caller. It may
include time after the call to properly process the request. While this
measures internal efficiencies, higher handle time/talk time can lead
to higher levels in other areas such as average speed of answer and
abandoned call rate.

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 811 Center

The 811 center measures the amount of time each call takes at the
individual CSR level. The emphasis is on both quality and efficiency
to allow for difficult or complicated locate requests. Handle time may
vary based on the level of ticket difficulty.
4: Quality Assurance
811 centers have a defined quality assurance program with

Chapter 3: 811 Center

measurable targets. The program will ensure the accuracy of locate
requests that an 811 center processes. A quality assurance program
has processes or standards for both voice requests and electronic/
internet requests.
5: Systems Availability
811 centers measure up-time percentages for critical systems. 811
centers receive a high volume of locate requests that are processed
through electronic/internet systems. High levels of availability for all
systems are crucial components of a successful 811 center. Systems
availability may impact voice and electronic/internet capabilities for
processing requests.
B: Notification Transmission
The 811 center establishes and monitors criteria for the transmission of
notifications and notification audit reports.
The 811 center can transmit notifications in an electronic format that
allows receiving stations to parse/extract data. Typically, notification
transmission is immediate.
Notification audit reports are sent to receiving stations at a mutually
acceptable frequency. The best practice is to send an audit report at
least once every day.
References:
• One Call Systems International Voluntary Recognition Program
• “Model One Call for the 20th and 21st Century,” AT&T (was available
when the practice was created but no longer available)
• Existing practices at Arizona 811, Colorado 811, Georgia 811,
Iowa One Call, North Dakota One Call, and Pennsylvania 811
3-24: Web Services Solution17/

Practice Statement: The 811 center provides a method by which a

member operator can receive excavation notifications through a secure
web service that uses an accepted standard for its ticket format, such as
Extensible Markup Language (XML) 1.0.
Practice Description: In addition to all other methods and formats used by
811 centers to communicate excavation notifications to underground facility
owners/operators that do not have automated ticket management systems,
811 centers also should provide a method that is consistently secure and
reliable. Establishing this method within the 811 centers along with an
accepted standard format such as Extensible Markup Language (XML) 1.0
satisfies this practice. Providing email and/or File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
communications methods alone does not satisfy this practice.
References:
• Sunshine State One Call of Florida
• Utility Protection Center of Georgia
• Dig Safely New York
• Ohio Utilities Protection Service
• Arizona 811

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

3-25: Identification of Unknown Lines15/

Practice Statement: The 811 center has a defined and documented

policy for handling calls from excavators regarding the discovery of an
unidentified line.
Practice Description: To facilitate damage prevention, 811 centers have
an established procedure that is implemented when an excavator calls
and reports an unidentified facility. The action taken could be as simple
as re-notifying all affected facility operators in the absence of any other
specific requirement of state or local law.
References:
• Many 811 centers process a “Dig Up” request when an unidentified line
has been exposed (Texas). Others simply reissue the locate request with
an appropriate remark (Maryland, Delaware). Some state laws mandate
that additional specific action be taken by the facility operators upon
receipt of these ty pes of notices (Arizona, which currently requires an
“unknown line policy” to be in effect via the Arizona 811 center). The law
requires that the 811 center “establish a method of providing personnel
from a facility owner qualified to safely inspect and verify that the facility
is abandoned or active and a method for reimbursing the verifying facility
owner for the cost incurred.”
3-26: 811 Center Membership22/

Practice Statement: Any entity that furnishes or transports products

or services to a third party for its use or consumption by means of an
underground facility, or furnishes or transports products or services for
its own internal use by means of an underground facility that occupies or
crosses a right-of-way or utility easement is a member of an 811 center.
Practice Description: Underground damage prevention begins with a
notice of intent to excavate submitted by an excavator to the appropriate
811 center. The process of notification depends on all affected member
facility operators being notified of intent to excavate through the regional
811 center.
Membership in the 811 center by underground facility operators ensures
that potential conflicts with existing facilities that may be encountered
during excavation activities are identified by using a single regional point of
contact. Operators of the aforementioned underground facilities who fail to
Chapter 3: 811 Center

become members of their local 811 center risk public safety and damage
to their facilities, and endanger excavators who may come into contact with
these aforementioned underground facilities.
The following are examples of an underground facility that would probably
not require 811 center membership:
• The internal use of owned underground facilities to provide safe
operations in controlled rights of ways, such as railroad operating
corridors that facilitate the transportation of freight or passengers.
• The internal use of an entity’s underground facilities by that entity solely
on its own property. (Note: aboveground use of one’s rights of way or
property, such as the transportation of freight or passengers by rail, is not
within the purview of the CGA Best Practices.)
References:
• State One Call Laws, 1999 Common Ground Study

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 811 Center

3-27: Electronic Positive Response46/

Practice Statement: The 811 center provides a method for facility owners/
operators to electronically post their positive response status to a notice of
intent to excavate.

Chapter 3: 811 Center

Practice Description: By hosting an electronic positive response system,
the 811 center provides facility owners/operators the best means to
communicate the status of their response to a notice of intent to the person
initiating the notice.
References:
• BP 4-9 Positive Response Is Provided to Facility Locate Requests
• Existing practice in Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa,
Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

3-28: 811 Center Data53/107/

Practice Statement: All 811 centers annually submit their ticket and
transmission volumes to the OCSI Data Collection Tool.53
Practice Description: Ticket and transmission volumes from the One
Call Systems International (OCSI) data collection tool are shared with the
Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) to make a correlation between
811 center ticket and/or transmission volume to damages or events that
have occurred. Many 811 centers currently provide this data to the OCSI
data collection tool. Receiving ticket and transmission volumes from all
811 centers allows all stakeholders to review, on a national level, more
accurate projections and to determine the cause and possible solutions for
damages to subsurface installations.
References:
All 811 and one call centers throughout the United States and Canada
currently participate in data sharing with the OCSI Data Collection tool.

3-29: 811 Center Locate Request Size and Scope54/

Practice Statement: A maximum locate request area that is appropriate

for a proposed excavation site is defined for a facility locate request.
Practice Description: Designating a manageable locate request size
(work area size/scope) along with clear locate instructions will reduce
uncertainty and provide clarity to the utility operators and/or locators as to
“what” and “where” needs to be located and marked. This is designed to
prevent unnecessary locator effort and allow adequate time to locate and
mark the affected underground facilities within the time frame and marking
requirement of the appropriate state statute.
References:
• Existing state laws, including Georgia, Indiana, Pennsylvania and South
Carolina (as examples)

3-30: Vacant108/
3-31: Enhanced Positive Response66/

Practice Statement: Enhanced Positive Response is utilized, where

available, to provide additional information to the excavator about a
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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

performed locate.
Practice Description: This information provided to the excavator, prior
to excavation, will help the excavator know more about the utilities and
job site prior to dispatching resources to excavate. With this additional
information, the excavator will be able to plan the excavation to reduce
damage to underground utilities.
This communication may include documentation and any other information
that will promote safe excavation, including details about the locate and the
facility owner.
It is a common practice for utility operators and contract locators to capture
the enhanced information about locates that are performed in response to
811 centers’ requests.
Sharing this enhanced information with the excavator, prior to excavation,
will help to reduce damage to underground facilities and provide
clarification of the location of each utility.
References:
• A pilot program was successfully implemented in 2014 in Montgomery
County, MD. The success of the pilot program encouraged utilization of
the EPR throughout Washington Gas distribution system. Beginning May
2015, there have been over 1,000,000 EPR packages provided system-
wide.
• The proposed practice enhances Locating and Marking BP 4.9 and 4.13.
The proposed EPR will provide support for Excavation BP 5.8, 5.10, 5.11,
5.13, and 5.14.
• EPR is in use as a daily process by Washington Gas’, UtiliQuest and
Miss Utility (OCC) 811 center for all locate requests in Washington, D.C.
and MD.
3-32: Communicate Potential for Privately-Owned Facilities

Practice Statement: The 811 center educates individuals submitting a

locate request that privately owned and operated service lines/facilities
may exist. Owners/operators of those private service lines/facilities who are
not members of the 811 center will not be notified.
Practice Description: The purpose of this practice is to make the
individual submitting a locate request aware that the 811 center will notify
only its members who are obligated to respond. Buried private service
lines/facilities that are owned and operated by nonmembers may be
present and will not be located.
Chapter 3: 811 Center

Best Practice 4–21 in the Locating and Marking chapter recognizes the
practice and the obligation of operators to locate and mark their service
lines/facilities connected to main lines/facilities.
Practices outlined in Best Practices 2–3 and 2–14 in the Planning and
Design chapter should identify public and private lines/facilities at the
design phase. The locations of those lines/facilities should be verified and
documented before the construction phase.
Entities and individuals who are not members of the 811 center and are not
in the business of providing a product or service with service lines/facilities
will not be notified. The 811 center explains to individuals requesting a
locate or to visitors to their websites that private service lines/facilities may
exist and will not be located.
References:
• Arizona 811, Colorado 811, Kentucky 811, Pennsylvania 811,
Mississippi 811, Gopher State One Call, Georgia 811, Illinois One Call

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 CHAPTER 4

Locating and Marking

811 Center Facility Owner Excavator Locator Project Owner Designer

Chapter 4: Locating and Marking

4-1: Available Records

Practice Statement: Locators use available facility records at all times.

Practice Description: Facility locators use available records at all times.
Facility records indicate approximate location, number of facilities and
access points for buried facilities within a requested area. The use of
facility owner/operator-supplied records is an effective method of identifying
facilities as part of the locating process.
4-2: Corrections and Updates

Practice Statement: If a facility locator becomes aware of an error or

omission, then the facility locator provides information for updating records
that are in error or for adding new facilities.
Practice Description: During the course of a locating activity, a locator
may become aware of errors or omissions. Methods are in place to notify
a facility owner/operator of that error or omission. The corrections are
submitted to the appropriate person or department in a timely manner.
The method of notification is determined by the facility owner/operator and
includes the following information:
• Name (and company if contracted)
• Contact phone number of the individual(s) submitting the change
• Location (either address or reference points)
• Size and type of facility
• Nature of the error or omission
• Sketch of the change in relation to the other facilities
Omissions and errors may occur as a result of misdrawn records, changes
during construction at the job site, repair or abandonment of facilities, and
delays in posting new records. Failure to note errors or omissions when
found could result in damages to the facility at a later date. The 1994 NTSB
Excavation Damage Prevention Workshop stated that “facility operators
should be required to update maps when excavation finds errors in the
mapping system.”1/
4-3: Color Code

Practice Statement: A uniform color code and set of marking symbols is

adopted nationwide.
Practice Description: A national standard is adopted defining
color specifications relevant to facility type and marking symbols for
identifying facilities. (See Appendix B, “Uniform Color Code and Marking
Guidelines.”)9/ The December 1997 NTSB safety report cites the use of the
APWA/ Utility Location and Coordination Council (ULCC) color code as the
model example.

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

4-4: Vacant83/

4-5: Locator Training

Practice Statement: Locators are properly trained. Locator training is

documented.
Practice Description: Minimum training guidelines and practices are
adopted for locator training. These guidelines and practices include the
following:
• Understanding system design/prints/technology
• Understanding construction standards and practices for all types of
facilities
• Equipment training and techniques
• Plant recognition training
• Theory of locating
• Daily operations
• Facility owner/excavator relationships and image
• Safety procedures per Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) regulations/federal, state/provincial and local laws
• Written and field testing
• Field training
• Annual retesting
The National Utility Locating Contractors Association (NULCA) Locator
Training Standards and Practices2/ represent an accepted model within the
locate industry. Documentation of all training is maintained to ensure that
facility locators have been properly trained.
4-6: Safety
Chapter 4: Locating and Marking

Practice Statement: Locates are performed safely.

Practice Description: It is the responsibility of the owner/operator
and locator to establish when and how the underground facility will be
identified. All hazards associated with performing a locate are identified.
Appropriate measures conforming to federal, state/provincial, local and
industry standards are established. Employees are made aware of these
hazards and are properly trained in worker safety standards.
A: Pre-Work Safety Considerations
1: Site Background Data. Site information is gathered to determine
hazards, exposures and/or other potential safety problems that might
be encountered in connection with on-site locate work. This information
may be gathered from the facility records and from visual inspection.
2: Site Familiarization. Site characteristics that could affect locate work
are analyzed. Areas to be considered include the following:
a: Obstructions. The site is analyzed to determine if physical
obstructions are present on the property that would make locate work
unsafe. Means for working around such obstructions are defined.
b: Traffic. Vehicular arteries (e.g., highways, roadways, railways,
etc.) at the work site are identified to determine whether such
traffic would pose any safety hazard to locating the site.
c: Physical Site Conditions. Soil conditions and other factors (e.g.,
trenches, pits, bores, standing water, etc.) that could affect the
safety of the job site are identified. Methods are developed to
identify and safely work around these hazards.

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 Locating and Marking

3: External Resources. Information is gathered about safety-related

resources that might be required in the event of an accident or
other problem (such as an employee illness). Information needed
includes location and contact information for the nearest hospital,
fire department, police department and any other public emergency
response organization. In addition, access routes and travel plans to
emergency response facilities are defined.

Chapter 4: Locating and Marking

4: Work Plan. A work plan in which procedures, employee roles,
equipment requirements, time requirements and other factors are
considered is developed to define the most efficient means for
safely accomplishing required locate work. This work plan considers
all of the safety related information developed in connection with
paragraphs 4–6.A.2 and 4–6.A.3.
5: Job Briefing. Information developed as discussed in paragraphs
4–6.A.1 through 4–6.A.4 is used to conduct a job briefing prior to
commencement of on-site locate work. The job briefing focuses on
safety aspects of the required work.
B: Locate Work Safety Considerations
1: Personnel Protection. Watchman/lookout capabilities are provided to
ensure the safety of personnel in cases where locate work requires
that working individuals disrupt traffic flow or otherwise occupy
hazardous positions. All working individuals wear proper safety
attire. Such attire provides for adequate visibility of the worker and
personal protection against hazards.
2: Equipment. All equipment used in connection with locate work is
suitable for the intended uses. Items such as ladders, electrical
test devices, and other instruments and items are inspected from
a safety perspective prior to use. Safety features such as locking
devices, grounding, insulation, etc., are thoroughly inspected.
3: Exposures. In cases where locate work requires personnel to enter
into spaces with potentially unsafe conditions, appropriate testing
is accomplished prior to entry. During times when such spaces
are occupied, adequate monitoring and/or ventilation devices are
present and properly operating during occupancy.
4: Work Activities. All locate work activities are conducted with safety
given first priority. All employees are thoroughly trained and briefed
regarding safety measures such as minimizing exposures to
potentially hazardous conditions, avoiding unnecessary risks, and
giving priority to personal safety.
C: Post-Work Safety Considerations
1: Termination of Work Activities. After locate work is completed, the
site is restored and left in such a condition that no safety hazards
associated with the locate work activities remain. All personnel
and equipment used in connection with the work are accounted
for, and no unsafe conditions remain at the site. Any safety related
equipment used in connection with the work is returned/restored to
pre-work status.
2: Debriefing. After completion of locate work, a debriefing safety
review of work activities is conducted. The review looks at the
safety aspects of all applicable work practices to determine
if unnecessary exposures may have occurred and where
improvements could be made.

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

4-7: Visual Inspection

Practice Statement: A visual inspection is completed during the facility

locating process.
Practice Description: This inspection includes the following:
• All facilities within a facility owner/operator’s service area (to evaluate the
scope of the locate request)
• Identification of access points
• Identification of potential hazards
• Assurance that plant facilities shown on records match those of the site
A visual inspection helps determine if there are facilities placed that are
not on record. It is very important that visual inspections be completed in
areas of new construction, where records may not indicate the presence
of a facility. The visual inspection is necessary because the time between
placing a facility in the field and placing it on permanent records varies by
facility owner/operator and location. Evidence of a facility not on record
includes, but is not limited to, poles, dips, enclosures, pedestals (including
new cables found within the pedestals), valves, meters, risers and
manholes.
4-8: Facility Marking

Practice Statement: Facilities are adequately marked for conditions.

Practice Description: Facility locators match markings to the existing and
expected surface conditions. Markings may include one or any combination
of the following: paint, chalk, flags, stakes, brushes, or offsets. All marks
extend a reasonable distance beyond the bounds of the requested
area. Proper training for all facility locators includes properly identifying
the varying surface and environmental conditions that exist in the field,
and what marking methods should be used. Conditions that may affect
markings are rain, snow, vegetation, high traffic, construction, etc.
Chapter 4: Locating and Marking

4-9: Positive Response to Locate Request

Practice Statement: Positive response is provided to facility locate

requests.
Practice Description: All facility locate requests result in a positive
response from the facility owner/operator to the excavator. A positive
response may include one or more of the following: markings or
documentation left at the job site, callback, fax or automated response
system. A positive response allows the excavator to know whether all
facility owners/operators have marked the requested area prior to the
beginning of the excavation.
4-10: Marking Multiple Facilities in the Same Trench

Practice Statement: Multiple facilities in the same trench are marked

individually and with corridor markers.
Practice Description: In general, the number of lines marked on the
surface equals the number of lines buried below. In circumstances where
the total number of lines buried in the same trench by a single facility
owner/operator may not be readily known, a corridor marker is used.
The corridor marker indicates the width of the facility. (See Appendix B,
“Uniform Color Code and Marking Guidelines.”)20/

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 Locating and Marking

4-11: Abandoned Facilities

Practice Statement: Information on abandoned facilities is provided

when possible.
Practice Description: When the presence of an abandoned facility within

Chapter 4: Locating and Marking

an excavation site is known, an attempt is made to locate and mark the
abandoned facility. When located or exposed, all abandoned facilities are
treated as live facilities. Information regarding the presence or location of
an abandoned facility may not be available because of updating or deletion
of records. In addition, abandonment of an existing facility, damage
to an abandoned facility, or limited or non-existing access points may
render an abandoned line non-locatable. It should be emphasized that
recommendation of this practice is not an endorsement of the maintenance
of records for abandoned facilities.
4-12: Locating Electromagnetically

Practice Statement A: When locating electromagnetically, active/

conductive locating is preferable to passive/inductive locating.
Practice Description: The preferred method of actively applying a
signal onto a facility is to use direct connection. Direct connection is the
process of connecting a direct lead from the transmitter to the target facility
and connecting a ground lead from the transmitter to a ground point to
complete a circuit. This process provides the strongest signal on the line
and is less likely to “bleed over” to adjacent facilities than other methods
of applying a signal. This method allows a greater range of frequency
and power output options. It is good practice to use the lowest frequency
possible at the lowest power output possible to complete the locate. If
direct connection is not possible, use of an induction clamp (coupler)
is the most effective method of applying a locate signal onto the target
conductor. This method is more limiting for the choices of frequency and
power outputs than direct connection. Using an induction clamp is not as
effective at transmitting a signal as direct connection, can only be used
within certain frequency ranges, and must use a higher power output. The
least-preferred method is induction or broadcast mode on a transmitter.
This usually results in a weak signal that will “bleed over” to any conductor
in the area.

Practice Statement B: When electromagnetic locating is not possible,

radar-based technologies can be used.10/
Practice Description: In cases where non-conductive utilities cannot
be located using electromagnetic means, radar-based methods such
as ground penetrating radar and associated technologies can be used
to determine the location of such utilities. It is important to note that
these technologies are not applicable in all areas or conditions, because
conductive soils and materials obscure radar signals. Users of these
technologies should have the degree of knowledge and training required to
operate the associated equipment and/or to interpret the results. Applicable
radar frequencies range from 200 MHz to 900 MHz, where higher
frequencies provide higher resolution but shallower depth of penetration.

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

4-13: Facility Owner/Operator Identification

Practice Statement: The facility owner/operator is identified.

Practice Description: When feasible, the owner/operator of a facility
is identified by markings at the time the facility is located. This practice
facilitates a positive response for all facilities within the requested area.
(See Appendix B, “Uniform Color Code and Marking Guidelines.”)
4-14: Communication between Parties

Practice Statement: Communication is established between all parties.

Practice Description: 811 centers, facility owners/operators and
excavators all have clearly defined processes to facilitate communication
between all parties. If the complexity of a project or its duration is such
that a clear and precise understanding of the excavation site is not easily
conveyed in writing on a locate request, then a pre-location meeting is
scheduled. This pre-location meeting is on-site to establish the scope of
the excavation. Written agreements between the excavator(s) and the
locator(s) include the following information:
• Date
• Name
• Company
• Contact numbers for all parties
• A list of the areas to be excavated
• A schedule for both marking and excavating the areas
• Any follow-up agreements that might be necessary
Any changes to the areas that are to be located are in writing and include
all parties responsible for the excavation and marking of the excavation
sites. Locators also schedule meetings if the complexity of the markings
requires further explanation.
Chapter 4: Locating and Marking

4-15: Documentation of Work Performed

Practice Statement: Documentation of work performed on a locate is

maintained.
Practice Description: A facility locator always documents what work
was completed on a locate request. This assists in the locate process by
requiring a locator to review what was located and then to verify that all
facilities within the requested area were marked. Careful documentation
helps ensure that there is an accurate record of the work performed by the
locator and helps eliminate confusion over what work was requested by the
excavator.
4-16: Damage Investigation

Practice Statement: A damaged facility is investigated as soon as

possible after the occurrence of damage.
Practice Description: Anytime a damage occurs, a proper investigation
is performed to determine not only the responsible party but also the
root cause of the damage. The information gathered from damage
investigations is essential in preventing future damages.

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 Locating and Marking

4-17: Forecasting/Planning for Workload Fluctuations84/

Practice Statement: A plan including an annual forecast, quarterly

review, weekly/monthly engagement, or another agreed-upon frequency is
developed to manage ticket volume and locate workload fluctuations.

Chapter 4: Locating and Marking

Practice Description: Facility owners/operators and/or their
representatives develop methods to sufficiently forecast and plan for future
workloads so that ticket requests may be completed on time. This best
practice ensures that adequate personnel and equipment are available to
complete all locate requests.
4-18: Quality Assurance

Practice Statement: Underground facility owners/operators have a quality

assurance program in place for monitoring the locating and marking of
facilities.7/
Practice Description: The process of conducting audits for locates
is a critical component to the protection of underground facilities. The
recommended components listed below are assembled from multiple
sources and are meant to provide general guidelines for auditing the work
of locators.
Components:
A: Conduct field audits and choose some locations to be
audited/surveyed purely at random.
B: Check accuracy to within, governed, contractual and
minimum tolerance levels.
C: Measure timeliness, as defined by regulation/statute.
D: Check completion of a request.
E: Check evidence of accurate and proper communication.
F: Check that proper documentation exists.
G: Check that an audit/survey is documented.
H: Communicate results to applicable personnel.
I: Trace audits for trend analysis.
J: Verify proper hook-up and grounding procedures where applicable.
K: Verify the reference material used to document that the locate was up to
date (electronic plans or paper plans).
L: Verify that appropriate safety equipment and procedures were used by
the locator.
M: Verify that tools and equipment are in proper working order and properly
calibrated.
References:
• Health Consultants Incorporated; Central Locate Services, LTD; Great
Plains Locating, ATCO Gas; Utiliquest

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

4-19: Trenchless Excavation13/

Practice Statement: All stakeholders adhere to all best practices and

the general guidelines stated in the following practice description prior to,
during and after any trenchless excavation (as applicable).
Practice Description: Locate in the area of the entrance pit the trenchless
excavation path and the exit pit when trenchless excavation is being used.
(For additional Information, refer to Practice Statements 2–13 and 5–29.)
References:
• See Appendix D
4-20: Locating and Marking in Navigable Waterways
A: Permanent Markers for Underwater Facilities12/

Practice Statement: Permanent markers are placed as close as practical

at the entrance and exit points of facilities located underneath bodies of
water where facilities are at risk of being damaged. For natural (and other)
gas and hazardous liquids pipelines, these affected bodies of waters are
“commercially navigable waterways” that have been defined in 49 CFR
195.450 for hazardous liquids pipelines as “waterways where a substantial
likelihood of commercial navigation exists.”
Practice Description: Markers are used by underwater facility owners
(e.g., cable, telecommunication, electric, water, sewer and oil/gas pipelines,
etc.) to indicate the presence of an underwater facility in the area. There
are many excavating activities (e.g., dredging, bridge construction,
anchors, directional boring and other activities) that can damage these
underwater facilities. The proper placement and maintenance of visible
permanent markers raise the awareness of these facilities and reduce the
likelihood of damage.
Markers for underwater facilities follow local, state and federal laws and
Chapter 4: Locating and Marking

regulations. Facility type, name and contact number of the facility operator
are included on markers for all facility types. In some cases, the facility
contact is the 811 center. Markers include the words “Do Not Anchor or
Dredge” and/or applicable warning language.
Benefits:
• By alerting excavators to the presence of underwater facilities,
permanent shoreline markers provide additional protection to the
excavators, facilities and the public.
References:
• Tennessee Gas: 1995 Procedures, OPS: 49 CFR 192.707, Sunshine
State One Call of Florida, State of California Code, State of Delaware
Code, State of Alabama Code, State of Mississippi Code
B: Temporary Markers for Underwater Facilities14/

Practice Statement: Temporary markers are placed within the areas

of proposed excavations as close as practical over facilities that are
submerged in bodies of water where facilities are at risk of being damaged
without impeding or creating additional hazards.

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 Locating and Marking

Practice Description: The technology used to locate and mark the

submerged facility is dependent upon the size of the facility, depth of water,
material composition of the floor, and the depth the facility is positioned
in or on the floor of the body of water. Temporary markers such as buoys,
poles or PVC markers are used by underwater facility owners to indicate
the presence of an underwater facility in the area. At times these markers
may be supplemented with mapping, GPS coordinates and/or fixed high-

Chapter 4: Locating and Marking

bank marks. There are many excavating activities, such as dredging,
bridge construction, setting of anchors and directional boring, that can
damage underwater facilities. The proper placement of visible temporary
markers raises the awareness of these facilities and reduces likelihood
of damage. Communication between stakeholders is initiated through the
811 center to reduce potential conflicts. It is critical for stakeholders to
maintain communication throughout the excavation to ensure the safe and
successful completion of the project. Placement and removal of temporary
markers for underwater facilities follow local, state, and federal laws and
regulations.
Benefits:
By alerting excavators to the presence of underwater facilities, temporary
markers provide additional protection to excavators, facilities and the public.
References:
• Sunshine State One Call of Florida, State of California Code, State of
Delaware Code, State of Alabama Code, State of Mississippi Code
4-21: Service Lines34/

Practice Statement: A service line is marked in response to a locate

request to the operator who uses the service line to pursue a business that
derives revenue by providing a product or service to an end-use customer
via the service line. A service line is marked in response to a locate request
to a governmental entity that provides a product or service to an end-use
customer via the service line.
Practice Description: A service line is a type of underground facility that
is connected to a main facility. The service line is used by the following
entities:
• An operator who provides a product or service within a right-of-way, an
easement, or an allowed access to or through private property while
pursuing a business that generates revenue by providing a product or
service to an end-use customer (other than another operator of like kind
or themselves).
• A governmental entity that provides a product or service via that service line.
The operator or the governmental entity locates and marks these service
lines within the bounds of the locate request up to either 1) the point of their
operational responsibility, 2) the point the service line enters a building,
or 3) where the access to locate the line terminates, as designated by the
prevailing law.
References:
• South Dakota Attorney General’s official opinion 8/11/08
• Minnesota DPS Rule Ch 7560 – 5/31/05
• Colorado appellate court case: Wycon Construction Co. v. Wheat Ridge
Sanitation District, 870 P.2d 496 (Ct. App. Col. 1994)
• Leon County, FL, County Court Case No. 03-SC-6827, Mitchell
Properties, Ltd. V. Cornerstone of North Florida, Inc. v. City of
Tallahassee
• Oregon PUC Ruling 5/1/98
• State One Calls laws: AZ, GA, MN, OH, PA

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

4-22: Marking Newly Installed Facilities42/

Practice Statement: Facility operators ensure that new facilities in areas

with continuing excavation activity are marked upon installation to indicate
their presence.
Practice Description: In areas of continuing excavation, newly installed
facilities can be damaged and safety can be compromised if the facilities
are not marked. Marking facilities upon installation gives notice to other
excavators of the newly installed facilities that may not otherwise be
marked in response to a notice of intent to excavate.
References:
• CenterPoint Energy/Minnesota, Michels Construction, WE Energies/
Wisconsin

4-23: Trouble Locate (Unlocatable) Resolution Protocol98/

Practice Statement: The operator has a trouble locate resolution protocol

that emphasizes the timely and accurate completion of the trouble locate
request with communication between the parties and documentation of
actions taken.
Practice Description: The practice is intended to be applied in cases
where upon initial arrival at the location, the tolerance zone for an existing
facility cannot be established with confidence consistent with the operator’s
compliant mark out criteria.
In this scenario the locate entity/operator:
• Applies any initial locate protocols available to them that may result
in establishing the tolerance zone and placing markings to avoid
unnecessary escalation.
• After exhausting initial trouble locate protocols, and prior to the required
marking date, escalates the trouble locate internally for advanced/
Chapter 4: Locating and Marking

enhanced resolution measures, i.e., vacuum truck, line tracer, ground

penetrating radar (GPR), in-line 3D gyro mapping technology, etc.
• Attempts to make direct contact with the excavator (cell phone, text,
email) and documents the method and message. If a specific interim
positive response code is available or comments can be placed in the
811 center system, share why the locate cannot be completed, along with
contact information.
• Designates the trouble locate area consistent with their procedures and
uses paint, flags or other methods that distinguish the specific trouble
area from the locatable areas.
• Prioritizes the completion of the trouble locate and maintains
communication with the excavator until resolved. In this communication,
the operator should warn of any unique or elevated risk associated with
the unlocatable facility (high pressure gas, high voltage electric, high-
density fiber, etc.).
• Operator makes the appropriate records/mapping corrections, and when
feasible takes action to make the facility locatable going forward (tracer
wire, electronic marker system/marker balls, etc.).
• Completes the appropriate positive response in jurisdictions that provide
that option.
This practice does not relieve an owner/operator, responding to a valid
811 center notification, from complying with existing statutory language
regarding the notification and response time, but rather provides
supplemental tools to reduce damage potential and maintain excavator
productivity.

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 Locating and Marking

Benefits: Enhances communication and documentation between the

parties, keeps the excavator working in non-trouble areas when applicable,
improves operator’s facility records, and reduces damages to at-risk
facilities that could otherwise cause a delay.
References:
• Existing practice by Southwest Gas operating in Arizona, California, and

Chapter 4: Locating and Marking

Nevada; UGI Utilities, Inc., operating in Pennsylvania and Maryland;
NiSource operating in Indiana.

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY

Chapter 4: Locating and Marking

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 CHAPTER 5

Excavation
811 Center Facility Owner Excavator Locator Project Owner Designer

Chapter 5: Excavation
5-1: 811 Facility Locate Request91/

Practice Statement: The excavator requests the location of underground

facilities at each site by notifying the facility owner/operator through the 811
center. Unless otherwise specified in state/provincial law, the excavator
contacts the 811 center and requests an excavation start date, which is to
be at least two full working days, but not more than fourteen full working
days, from the date of notice to the 811 center.
Practice Description: Currently 50 states and 5 Canadian provinces
have one call legislation and/or established 811 centers recognizing that
excavation performed without prior notification poses a risk to public safety,
excavators, and the environment, and can disrupt vital services provided
by facility operators. Increased participation in this one call system
provides for improved communication between excavators and facility
operators necessary to reduce damage.
Reference:
• Existing state laws, including Ohio and West Virginia
5-2: Delineate Area of Proposed Excavation67/79/

Practice Statement: The excavator delineates the area of proposed

excavation by one or a combination of the following methods:
1: Electronic white lining (where available through the 811 center)
2: On-site pre-marking, also known as white lining, with white paint,
flags, stakes, whiskers and/or other locally accepted methods
{See Appendix B}
3: Clear description of the proposed excavation site on the locate ticket
Practice Description: A clearly delineated proposed work area allows
facility owners/operators and locators to avoid unnecessary work created
by locating facilities that are not affected by the planned excavation, and
ensure that underground facilities within the intended work area are well
marked. Electronic white lining provides a method where excavators may
indicate their defined dig area visually by electronic data entry (lines or
polygons) without the need for a physical site visit. Pre-marking, on-site and/
or electronically, allows excavators to accurately communicate to the 811
center facility owners/operators, or their locator where excavation is to occur.
References:
• Existing state laws, including California, Missouri, New Jersey and others
• Lambert’s Cable Construction, LLC and UtiliQuest, LLC; Verizon Fios
drop placement process in VA, MD and DC
• One Call Concepts; Internet Ticket Processing (ITIC)—excavation
polygon feature to define entire proposed excavation areas
• Virginia Pilot Project; Phase I—Electronic White Lining Study

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

5-3: Locate Reference Number

Practice Statement: The excavator receives and maintains a reference

number from the 811 center that verifies that the locate was requested.
Practice Description: All calls from excavators processed by the 811
center receive a unique message reference number, which is contained
on all locate request messages. The excavator records this number; it is
proof of notification to the members. The computer-generated request
identifies the date, time and sequence number of the locate request. Each
locate request ticket (notification) is assigned a unique number with that
811 center, the requestor and the facility owner/operator. This number
distinguishes this ticket from all other tickets so that it can be archived and
retrieved upon request to provide the details of that request only.
References:
• Existing state laws, all 50 states have 811 centers and/or state statues
• Existing operating procedures from various state 811 centers
5-4: Pre-excavation Meeting

Practice Statement: When practical, the excavator requests a meeting

with the facility locator at the job site prior to marking the facility locations.
Such pre-job meetings are important for major, or unusual, excavations.
Practice Description: The meeting facilitates communications,
coordinates the marking with actual excavation and ensures identification
of high-priority facilities. An on-site pre-excavation meeting between the
excavator, facility owners/operators and locators (where applicable) is
recommended on major or large projects. This includes projects such as
road, sewer, water or other projects that cover a large area, that progress
from one area to the next, or that are located near critical or high-priority
facilities. Such facilities include, but are not limited to, high-pressure gas,
high-voltage electric, fiber-optic communication, and major pipe or water
lines.
References:
• Existing insurance carrier guidelines
• Existing practice among excavators, including Pauley Construction and
W.F. Wilson & Sons, Inc.
5-5: Facility Relocations
Chapter 5: Excavation

Practice Statement: The excavator coordinates work that requires

temporary or permanent interruption of a facility owner/operator’s service
with the affected facility owner/operator in all cases.
Practice Description: Any temporary or permanent interruption requires
the active participation by the facility owner/operator and the excavator
to ensure protection of facilities through a joint preplanning meeting or
conference call. 811 centers note on the ticket any special contractor
requests for a joint meeting that require the facility owner/operator to
initiate the process.
Reference:
• Existing practice among 811 centers

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 Excavation

5-6: Separate Locate Requests

Practice Statement: Every excavator on the job has a separate one call
reference number before excavating.
Practice Description: There are often several excavators on a job

Chapter 5: Excavation
site performing work. The construction schedule may dictate different
types of work requiring excavation from different specialty contractors
simultaneously. In these situations, it is imperative for each excavator
to obtain a one call reference number before excavation to ensure that
the specific areas have been appropriately marked by any affected
underground facility owner/operator.
Reference:
• Existing state laws, including Ohio, Kansas, Michigan, Maryland, Illinois
and others
5-7: 811 Center Access (24/7)

Practice Statement: The excavator has access to an 811 center 24 hours

per day, 7 days a week.
Practice Description: Utilities service the public needs 24/7 and thus
should be protected during that same time. Certain conditions may exist
that require excavators to work during off-hours (city/road congestion,
off-peak utility service hours). Although most excavators are on the job
site during regular work hours, they need to be able to call in future work
locations after 5 p.m. This allows them more flexibility to schedule work
and to avoid peak hours of locate requests at the 811 center.
Reference:
• Existing states laws, including Texas, Idaho, Minnesota, Pennsylvania
and others (25 participating states or 811 centers with 24/7 access)
5-8: Positive Response94/

Practice Statement:
The 811 center notifies the underground facility owner/operator of the
proposed excavation area within the time specified. The owner/operator
notifies the excavator/contractor of the status of the ticket by providing an
electronic positive response through the 811 center.
Practice Description: Once a facility owner/operator marks the location
of existing facilities in the proposed excavation area or determines
that excavation or demolition is not in conflict with any of its existing
underground facilities, it notifies the excavator of the status of the ticket
by appropriate response code through the 811 center’s positive response
system. In addition to positive response, additional communication may be
made by any reasonable manner including, but not limited to, face-to-face
communications, phone or other electronic means.
The excavator reviews positive response from the notified owner/
operator on the ticket before beginning excavation. If an excavator
identifies or has knowledge of the existence of an unmarked underground
facility, the excavator notifies the 811 center that a conflict exists. Better
communication between the excavator and the facility owner/operator
is required as an area of excavation becomes more crowded with new
underground facilities.

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

When the excavator makes the request to the 811 center, the excavator
is informed which facility owners/operators will be notified. The excavator
reviews all positive responses and compares these to the list of all owner/
operators notified on the ticket prior to beginning excavation. Upon review,
the excavator notifies the 811 center of any discrepancy between the
positive responses and the field conditions.
References:
• Existing state laws, including California, Maryland, Nevada, and others
• Existing operating procedure for various 811 centers (over 40
participating states or 811 centers)
5-9: Facility Owner/Operator Failure to Respond92/

Practice Statement: If the facility owner/operator fails to respond to the

excavator’s timely request for a locate (e.g., within the time specified by
state/provincial requirements) or if the facility owner/operator notifies the
excavator that the underground facility cannot be marked within the time
frame and a mutually agreeable date for marking cannot be arrived at, then
the excavator re-notifies the 811 center. Once positive response is received
from all operators, or if the appropriate waiting period as defined by state/
provincial law has lapsed, the excavator may proceed with excavation,
provided the excavator exercises due care in all endeavors.
Practice Description: The facility owner/ operator and the excavator
partner together to ensure that facilities are marked in an acceptable time
frame to allow for underground facility protection.
Reference:
• Existing state laws, including Ohio, Kansas, South Carolina, Michigan,
California, Pennsylvania and others
5-10: Locate Verification93/

Practice Statement: Prior to excavation, excavators verify that they are at

the correct location, verify locate markings have been performed by facility
owners/operators who have responded as “marked,” and, to the best of
their ability, check for unmarked facilities.
Practice Description: Upon arrival at the excavation site and prior to
beginning the excavation, an excavator does the following:
Chapter 5: Excavation

• Verifies that the dig site matches the 811 request and that the waiting
period has ended as defined by state/provincial law.
• Verifies all facility markings are in agreement with the positive responses.
• Checks for any visible signs of underground facilities, such as pedestals,
risers, meters, and new trench lines.
• Checks for any facilities that are not members of the 811 center and
contacts responsible parties to request their assistance for locates.
Use of a pre-excavation checklist is recommended by insurers and
practiced by responsible excavating contractors.
Reference:
• Existing practice by excavators, including Pauley Construction, Charge
EPC, Inc., and W.F. Wilson & Sons, Inc.
• CGA Best Practice 4-21

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 Excavation

5-11: Documentation of Marks

Practice Statement: An excavator uses dated pictures, videos or sketches

with distance from markings to fixed objects recorded, to document the
actual placement of markings.

Chapter 5: Excavation
Practice Description: In most situations when underground facilities
are not properly marked, excavators have no way of knowing where
underground utilities are located. If locate markings are adequately
documented through the use of photographs, video tape or sketches
before excavation work begins, it is easier to resolve disputes if an
underground facility is damaged as a result of improper marking, failure
to mark, or markings that have been moved, removed or covered. It is
important for excavators and locators to document the location of markings
before excavation work begins. The primary purpose of this best practice
is to avoid unnecessary litigation and expensive legal fees for all parties
involved.
Reference:
• Existing practice by excavators, including Pauley Construction
5-12: Work Site Review with Company Personnel

Practice Statement: Prior to starting work, the excavator reviews the

location of underground facilities with site personnel.
Practice Description: Sharing information and safety issues during an on-
site meeting between the excavator and the excavating crews helps avoid
confusion and needless damage to underground facilities.
Reference:
• Existing practice by excavators, including Pauley Construction, A&L
Underground, and W.F. Wilson & Sons, Inc.
5-13: 811 Center Reference at Site59/

Practice Statement: Except in case of an emergency, the excavator at

each job site has available a complete description of the dig site, a list of
the facility owner members impacted at that dig site as identified by the 811
center, and the 811 center ticket number.
Practice Description: The availability of locate request details on site
is useful because excavators can easily access information about the
location and extent of work, the valid start time and the list of operators
notified. The documentation also provides an excavator with appropriate
information for daily tailgate meetings for crews, provides quick references
for excavation equipment operators, and facilitates communications
between the excavator and the 811 center with respect to that particular
locate request, should it become necessary. When multiple crews are
working on the same project at separate locations or when different
employers have crews working at the same location, each crew has the
information.
References:
• Existing state regulations, including Michigan DOT
5-14: Contact Names and Numbers

Practice Statement: The excavator’s designated competent person at

each job site has access to the names and phone numbers of all facility
owner/operator contacts and the 811 center.
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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

Practice Description: Situations arise on the job site that require

immediate notification of the facility owner/operator, 811 center or local
emergency personnel. To avoid costly delays, the excavator ensures that
the designated job site personnel have all appropriate names and phone
numbers. If telephone communication is unavailable, radio communication
to the “home office” is available so that timely notification can be made.
The “home office” also has immediate access to all appropriate names and
telephone numbers.
Reference:
• Existing state regulations, including Michigan DOT
5-15: Facility Avoidance89/

Practice Statement: The excavator uses reasonable care, such as

potholing and other safe excavation practices, to avoid damaging
underground facilities. The excavator plans the excavation so as to avoid
damage or to minimize interference with the underground facilities in or
near the work area.
Practice Description: Foremost on any construction project is safety.
Excavators using caution around underground facilities significantly
contribute to safe excavation of existing facilities.
Reference:
• Existing state laws, including Kansas, Ohio, West Virginia and others
5-16: Federal and State Regulations

Practice Statement: The excavator complies with all applicable federal

and state/provincial safety regulations, and, when required, provides
training as it relates to the protection of underground facilities.
Practice Description: Although most existing state/provincial damage
prevention legislation does not include reference to federal and state/
provincial regulations, it is important to include reference to worker safety
and training in the best practices. Excavators are required to comply with
federal and state/provincial occupational safety and health requirements
to protect employees from injury and illness. These regulations include
reference to training each employee to recognize and avoid unsafe
conditions in the work environment, and to control or eliminate any hazards
or exposures to illness or injury. Therefore, the excavator’s crew, as part
Chapter 5: Excavation

of its safety training, is informed of the best practices and regulations

applicable to the protection of underground facilities.
References:
• Required by federal and state law
• Existing practice by excavators and facility owners/operators
5-17: Marking Preservation99/

Practice Statement: The excavator protects and preserves the staking,

marking, or other designation of underground facilities until no longer
required for proper and safe excavation. The excavator stops excavating
and notifies the 811 center for re-marks if any facility mark is removed or is
no longer visible.
Practice Description: During an excavation project, the marks for
underground facilities may need to be in place far longer than the utility
marks are durable. Painting, staking, and other marking techniques can be
compromised by construction activity, weather and unauthorized removal,

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 Excavation

and last only as long as they are visible. When a mark is no longer visible,
but work is scheduled to continue around the facility, the excavator
requests a re-mark to ensure the protection of the facility.
Reference:
• Existing state law, including Ohio
5-18: Excavation Observer

Chapter 5: Excavation
Practice Statement: The excavator has an observer to assist the
equipment operator when operating excavation equipment around known
underground facilities.
Practice Description: The excavator designates a worker (an observer)
who watches the excavation activity and warns the equipment operator
while excavating around a utility to prevent damaging that buried facility.
References:
• Existing state law, including Ohio
• Existing practice among large facility owners/operators, including
Southern Natural Gas, Bell South and Columbia Gas
5-19: Excavation Tolerance Zone

Practice Statement: The excavator observes a tolerance zone that is

comprised of the width of the facility plus 18 in. on either side of the outside
edge of the underground facility on a horizontal plane. This practice is
not intended to preempt any existing state/provincial requirements that
currently specify a tolerance zone of more than 18 in.
Practice Description: (See Practice Statement 5–20.)
References:
• Existing state laws, including New Mexico, Pennsylvania, South Dakota
and others
• Telecommunications Industry Association and Electronic Industry
Association (TIA/EIA), “Standard for Physical Location and Protection of
Below-Ground Fiber Optic Cable Plant” (ANSI/TIA/EIA-590-A-1996)
• American Public Works Association (APWA), “Guidelines for Uniform
Temporary Marking of Underground Facilities”
5-20: Excavation within Tolerance Zone90/

Practice Statement: When excavation is to take place within the specified

tolerance zone, the excavator exercises such reasonable care as may
be necessary for the protection of any underground facility in or near
the excavation area. Methods to consider, based on certain climate or
geographical conditions, include pot holing, hand digging when practical,
soft digging, vacuum excavation methods, pneumatic hand tools, other
mechanical methods with the approval of the facility owner/operator, or
other technical methods that may be developed. Hand digging and non-
invasive methods are not required for pavement removal.
Practice Description: Safe, prudent, non-invasive methods that require
the excavator to manually determine the actual location of a facility are
considered “safe excavation practices” in a majority of state/provincial
laws. A majority of states outline safe excavation practices to include hand
digging and/or pot holing. Some states specifically allow for the use of
power excavating equipment for the removal of pavement. Each state/
province must take differing geologic conditions and weather-related
factors into consideration when recommending types of excavation within
the tolerance zone.
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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

Reference:
• Existing state laws, including Arizona, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania
and others
5-21: Mismarked Facilities

Practice Statement: The excavator notifies the facility owner/operator

directly or through the 811 center if an underground facility is not found
where one has been marked, or if an unmarked underground facility is
found. Following this notification, the excavator may continue work if
the excavation can be performed without damaging the facility, unless
specified otherwise in state/provincial law.
Practice Description: When an excavator finds an unmarked or
inaccurately marked facility, excavation stops in the vicinity of the facility
and notification takes place. If excavation continues, the excavator plans
the excavation to avoid damage and interference with other facilities and
protects facilities from damage.
References:
• Existing state/local laws, including Arizona
• Existing practice among excavators, including W.F. Wilson & Sons, Inc.
5-22: Exposed Facility Protection

Practice Statement: Excavators support and protect exposed

underground facilities from damage.
Practice Description: Protecting exposed underground facilities is as
important as preventing damage to the facility when digging around the
utility. Protecting exposed underground facilities helps ensure that the
utility is not damaged and, at the same time, protects employees working
in the vicinity of the exposed facility. Exposed facilities can shift, separate,
or be damaged when they are no longer supported or protected by the soil
around them. Excavators support or brace exposed facilities and protect
them from moving or shifting, which could result in damage to the facility.
This can be accomplished in different ways; for example, by shoring the
facility from below or by providing a timber support with hangers across the
top of an excavation to ensure that the facility does not move or bend. In
addition, workers are instructed to not climb on, strike or attempt to move
exposed facilities that could damage protective coatings, bend conduit,
Chapter 5: Excavation

separate pipe joints, damage cable insulation, damage fiber optics or in

some way affect the integrity of the facility. The Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA) also has addressed this issue in Subpart
P—Excavation Standard 29 CFR 1926.651(b)(4), which states “While the
excavation is open, underground installations shall be protected, supported
or removed as necessary to safeguard employees.” For example, an
unsupported sewer main could shift, causing the pipe joints to separate,
which could result in the trench where employees are working to flood,
endangering the safety of employees.
Reference:
• Existing state/local laws, including Washington, D.C., Idaho, Utah,
Arizona, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York and others

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 Excavation

5-23: Locate Request Updates

Practice Statement: The excavator calls the 811 center to refresh the
ticket when excavation continues past the life of the ticket (sometimes, but
not always, defined by state/provincial law). This recognizes that it is a best
practice to define ticket life. If not currently defined in state/provincial law,

Chapter 5: Excavation
ticket life is ideally 10 working days, but does not exceed 20 working days.
Original locate request tickets are generated so that the minimum number
of locate request updates are necessary for the duration of a project. After
all the excavation covered by a locate request is completed, no additional
locate request updates are generated. Communication between excavation
project planners, field personnel and clerical personnel is essential in
accomplishing this task.36/
Practice Description: Refreshing the ticket recognizes that markings
are temporary and provides notification to facility owners/operators of
ongoing excavation when a job is started but not completed as planned.
Any excavation not begun during the life of the ticket is recalled to the
811 center. Any excavation that covers a large area and will progress
from one area to the next over a period of time is broken into segments
when notifying the 811 center in order to coordinate the marking with
actual excavation. The possibility exists that new facilities have been
installed in the area where the excavation is to be conducted after the
original notification and marking. This practice also helps in situations
where multiple excavators are working in the same area at essentially
the same time. An example of when this can occur is when two facility
owners, such as a cable television company and a telephone company,
are planning to serve a new section of a subdivision. In their pre-
planning process, they see a vacant space in the right-of-way to place
their new facility. Each excavator (internal or external) calls the 811
center for locates, and each facility owner/operator comes and marks
their respective facilities, indicating that nothing exists. For one reason
or another, one of the excavators gets delayed and does not start
construction as planned, and when returning to the job site to place the
newfacility, finds new lines have been installed in the previously vacant
space. Many facility owners/operators do not perform their own locates
and utilize the services of a contracted facility locator.
These contracted facility locators may not be aware of work planned in the
near future. By excavators refreshing the locate ticket, the contract locator
has another opportunity to identify newly placed facilities. This practice also
gives the facility owner/operator another chance to identify the location
of their facilities, and to avoid possible damage and disruption of service
if something was marked incorrectly or missed on a previous locate.
Excellent planning, generation and updating of tickets enhance safety and
reduce the unnecessary use of locate resources.37/
Reference:
• Existing state laws that specify 10 working days include Kansas, Ohio,
Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Texas. Existing state laws that specify 15
working days include Virginia and Tennessee.
• Existing practices by Progress Energy, Duke Energy of Houston, Texas,
and Arizona 811.

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

5-24: Facility Damage Notification

Practice Statement: An excavator discovering or causing damage to

underground facilities notifies the facility owner/operator and the 811
center. All breaks, leaks, nicks, dents, gouges, grooves, or other damages
to facility lines, conduits, coatings or cathodic protection are reported.
Practice Description: A majority of states require notification for damage
or substantial weakening of an underground facility (27 states). The
possibility of facility failure or endangerment of the surrounding population
dramatically increases when a facility has been damaged. Although the
facility may not immediately fail, the underground facility owner/operator
is provided the opportunity to inspect the damage and make appropriate
repairs.
Reference:
• Existing state laws, including Arkansas, Idaho, Maryland and others
5-25: Notification of Emergency Personnel

Practice Statement: If the damage results in the escape of any

flammable, toxic, or corrosive gas or liquid, or endangers life, health or
property, the excavator responsible immediately notifies 911 and the
facility owner/operator.3/ The excavator takes reasonable measures to
protect everyone in immediate danger, the general public, property, and
the environment until the facility owner/operator or emergency responders
arrive and complete their assessment.4/
Practice Description: This practice is already required by many of the
states’ one call legislation. This practice minimizes the danger to life, health
or property by notifying the proper authorities to handle the emergency
situation. In these situations, local authorities are able to evacuate as
appropriate and command substantial resources unavailable to the
excavator or underground facility owner/operator. The excavator takes
reasonable measures based on their knowledge, training, resources,
experience, and understanding of the situation to protect themselves,
people, property and the environment until help arrives. The excavator
responsible remains on-site to convey any pertinent information to
responders that may help them to safely mitigate the situation.4/
Reference:
• Existing state laws, including Kansas, Ohio, Oregon and Minnesota
Chapter 5: Excavation

5-26: Emergency Excavation

Practice Statement: In the case of an emergency excavation, maintenance

or repairs may be made immediately, provided that the excavator notifies
the 811 center and facility owner/operator as soon as reasonably possible.
This includes situations that involve danger to life, health or property, or that
require immediate correction in order to continue the operation of or ensure
the continuity of public utility service or public transportation.
Practice Description: This practice allows excavation to begin
immediately to restore service or to stop a hazardous situation from getting
worse in the case of a gas or pipeline leak, cut telephone cable or other
facility damage.
Reference:
• Existing state laws, including Colorado, Nevada, West Virginia and
others (49 participating states or 811 centers)

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 Excavation

5-27: Backfilling

Practice Statement: The excavator protects all facilities from damage

when backfilling an excavation. Trash, debris, coiled wire, or other material
that could damage existing facilities or interfere with the accuracy of future
locates are not buried in the excavation.

Chapter 5: Excavation
Practice Description: Extra caution must be taken to remove large rocks,
sharp objects, and large chunks of hard-packed clay or dirt. No trash or
pieces of abandoned lines are backfilled into the trench. This helps prevent
inadvertent damage to the facility during the backfill process.
References:
• Michigan DOT specification
• Existing insurance carrier guidelines
5-28: As-built Documentation

Practice Statement: Contractors installing underground facilities notify

the facility owner/operator if the actual placement is different from the
expected placement.
Practice Description: For a facility owner/operator to maintain accurate
records of the location of their facilities, it is critical that the contractor
installing the new facility be required to notify the facility owner/operator
of deviations to the planned installation. Some facility owners/operators
do not require a full-time inspector and use a sampling process to ensure
that a new facility is correctly installed in compliance with specifications.
When this occurs, it becomes much more critical for the contractor to
notify the facility owner/operator of changes. For example, it is common
for the contractor to make adjustments to the location of the new facility
when rocks or other underground obstructions are encountered, or when
the location of the new facility conflicts with another existing underground
facility. This change in plan can represent changes in horizontal or
vertical distances from the specified plans. The facility owner/operator
establishes standards that require notification if a deviation is beyond
specified tolerances, such as changes in depth of 6 in. or more and lateral
measurement changes of greater than 1 ft. When these changes to the
expected location are communicated to the facility owner/operator, it is the
owner/operator’s responsibility to take appropriate action to update their
records so that an accurate locate can be conducted in the future.
Reference:
• Existing operating practice among facility operators, including Ameritech,
Sprint, Columbia Gas and others
5-29: Trenchless Excavation13/

Practice Statement: All stakeholders comply with all best practices and
the following general guidelines prior to, during and after any trenchless
excavation (as applicable).
Practice Description:
• The excavator requests the location of underground facilities at the
entrance pit, trenchless excavation path and the exit pit by notifying the
facility owner/operator through the 811 center.
• The trenchless equipment operator performs a site inspection, walking
the trenchless excavation path prior to commencing work, and has a
good understanding of the job.

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

• The trenchless excavation operator confirms and maintains the path

and minimum clearances established by the project owner and design
engineer by tracking and recording the path of the trenchless excavation
until complete. Means of tracking trenchless excavations include
electronic locating/guidance devices, pipe lasers, water levels, visual
inspection, etc.
• When existing facilities are known to be present but cannot be potholed
as a result of local conditions, the facility owner and the excavator meet
to discuss how to safely proceed with the excavation.
• The excavator stops the trenchless excavation operations if an abnormal
condition, unknown substructure or other hidden hazard is encountered.
The excavator proceeds safely only after making positive identification.
(Refer to Practice Statements 2–13 and 4–19 for additional information.)
References:
• See Appendix D
5-30: Emergency Coordination with Adjacent Facilities16/

Practice Statement: Emergency response planning includes coordination

with emergency responders and other aboveground and/or underground
infrastructure facility owners/operators identified by the Incident
Commander through the Incident Command System/Unified Command
(ICS/UC) during an emergency.
Practice Description: During emergency situations, there are many
stakeholders involved: excavators, locators, owners/operators, first
responders, 811 centers and the general public. Any actions taken by
one stakeholder could adversely affect other stakeholders. Accordingly,
emergency planning and response are coordinated.
References:
• XCEL Energy, Minnesota
• Public Service Electric and Gas, Newark, New Jersey, Gas Emergency
Procedure Manual
5-31: No Charge for Providing Underground Facility Locations23/

Practice Statement: Upon notification by 811 centers, locations of

underground facilities are provided by operators at no cost to excavators.
Chapter 5: Excavation

Practice Description: It is the basic underpinning of the call-before-

you-dig process that persons involved in excavation activities receive
facility locates at no charge when they contact their local 811 center to
give notice of intent to excavate. This service is critical to maintaining the
communication between operators and excavators. Call-before-you-dig
education and marketing campaigns, such as 811 and those promoted
by 811 centers and associated industries, advise persons involved in
excavation activities, including the public, homeowners and professional
excavators, that the service is provided by facility operators at no charge to
the person providing the notice of intent to excavate.
References:
• Minnesota state statutes, Alberta pipeline

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 Excavation

5-32: Vacuum Excavation39/

Practice Statement: Vacuum excavation, when used appropriately,

is an efficient, safe and effective alternative to hand digging within the
designated underground facility tolerance zone. Use of equipment also
follows state/provincial laws and/or local ordinances.

Chapter 5: Excavation
Practice Description: The safe exposure of underground facilities within
the tolerance zone is essential to damage prevention. Site conditions may
make the use of hand tools to expose underground facilities difficult or
even impractical. Vacuum excavation is often an appropriate alternative.
Locates must be obtained prior to the commencement of work (see
One Call Facility Locate Request). Many underground facility owners/
operators have specific criteria for safe excavation/exposure practices
around their facilities. Some underground facility owners/operators accept
vacuum excavation as equivalent to hand excavation for exposing their
facilities, and others have restrictions on its use. Vacuum excavation is an
appropriate method of excavating safely around underground facilities,
provided that the equipment:
• has been specifically designed and built for this purpose;
• is operated by a worker trained and experienced in its operation;
• is operated in accordance with practices that provide appropriate levels
of worker and public safety, and prevent damage to buried facilities; and
• is used in compliance with state/provincial laws and/or local ordinances.
References:
• Existing state laws, including South Carolina and North Carolina
• B.R.S., Inc.
5-33: Facility Owner Provides a Monitor During Excavation64/

Practice Statement: If a facility owner/operator considers it necessary

to be on site during excavation activities to work with the excavator
in protecting their existing facilities, the facility owner/operator makes
arrangements with the excavator to be present during those excavation
activities within the time specified by state/provincial law.
Practice Description: The facility owner/operator may determine it
necessary to be on site during excavation activities taking place near
their facilities to help protect them. A facility owner/operator has access to
information and resources that may not be available to the excavator. This
practice should be considered in conjunction with Practice Statement 2–4:
Utility Coordination.
References:
• North Carolina, Delaware, Florida, Ohio and California regulations
5-34: Designating and Depicting for the Protection of Known
Underground Facilities in the Construction Path112/

Practice Statement: Project Owners have a process that identifies the

responsibility for preventing damages to existing facilities during the
construction and design phase. In cases where projects are moved to the
construction phase without adequately accounting for the precise location
of known existing public and private underground facilities within the scope
of the project, as outlined in Practices 2.2 and 2.3 of this publication, the
contractor should follow Practice 5.10 (Locate Verification) or processes
as required by state/provincial applicable law. It is important that any
associated contract language be specific, so all parties understand and
accept their responsibilities.

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

Practice Description: If the construction plans do not provide the

applicable quality level of the SUE process in the planning and design
phase, as outlined in Practice 2.14 – Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE),
a process is required that ensures the precise location of facilities within
the construction path are adequately accounted for and protected during
excavation and backfill operations.
With the adoption of alternative project delivery methods, there is a need
to reinforce proven damage prevention best practices and ensure they are
understood and accepted. Identifying and verifying the location of existing
underground facilities in advance of construction is a proven method to
prevent damages and the responsibility should be detailed contractually so
there is no ambiguity.
Benefits: The benefits associated with this practice are multiple: service
interruptions to customers are minimized, productivity and bid/estimate
accuracy are maintained, employee and public safety are achieved by the
avoidance of excavation related damage.
References:
• AQUA of Pennsylvania, Design and Construction Requirements
• Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Indiana state law
Chapter 5: Excavation

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 CHAPTER 6

Mapping
811 Center Facility Owner Excavator Locator Project Owner Designer

Chapter 6: Mapping
The Mapping Team chose to look at mapping practices from the viewpoint
of the different areas represented by team members. From this viewpoint,
the best practices for mapping can be listed in five distinct areas: 811
Center, Locator, Excavator, Facility Owner/Operator, and Project Owner.
By consensus of the Mapping Task Team, all of the findings listed below
are best practices.

811 Center
An 811 center uses an electronic mapping database system that includes
the following:
6-1: Land Base Accuracy

Practice Statement: The land base is accurate.

Practice Description: The land base is the most precise geographical
information available to the 811 center. The 811 centers in these states follow
this practice: Arizona, Minnesota, North Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin.
6-2: Latitude/Longitude

Practice Statement: The land base and database use latitude/longitude

(Lat/Long) coordinates.
Practice Description: The land base and database can produce Lat/Long
information based upon street address, street/road name, intersection,
milepost marker, etc. It also is possible to determine the street address,
street/road name, intersection or milepost based upon Lat/Long
information. The translation of Lat/Long information is automatic. A map
point (i.e., a rural area not in the immediate vicinity of a road or known map
landmark) can be identified by Lat/Long information. The 811 centers in
these states follow this practice: Ohio, South Dakota, New Jersey, Missouri
and Tennessee.
6-3: Up-to-date Land Base Information

Practice Statement: The land base is up-to-date.

Practice Description: The land base is kept up-to-date, and a process
is in place that periodically adds new street information, name changes,
aliases and municipal boundaries. The 811 centers in these states follow
this practice: Arizona, Ohio and New Jersey.
6-4: Timely Database Updating

Practice Statement: The database is updated by information from facility

owners/operators.
Practice Description: The database is promptly updated as information
is provided or becomes available from the facility owner/operator. The
system can accept information in standard file format with minimal human
intervention. The 811 centers in these states follow this practice: Arizona,
North Carolina, Ohio, New Jersey and Wisconsin.

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

6-5: Electronic Mapping Location Area

Practice Statement: The electronic mapping system can produce a ticket

for the smallest practical geographical area.
Practice Description: The electronic mapping system can produce a
ticket for the smallest practical geographical area. The 811 centers in these
states follow this practice: Arizona, Tennessee, Minnesota, Oregon and
Wisconsin.
6-6: Availability

Practice Statement: The land base is available to the public.

Practice Description: The land base is available to the public for
the identification of the excavation area. The land base and database
are available to the 811 center membership for the update of member
database information. The 811 centers in these states follow this practice:
North Carolina, Ohio and South Dakota.

Locator
Locators use maps to help find the excavation site and to help determine
the general location of the buried facility.
6-7: Training

Practice Statement: Locators are trained in map reading and symbology.

Practice Description: Locators are trained in map reading and symbology
to help determine the location of the buried facility. The following
association trains its members to carry out this practice: National Utility
Locating Contractors Association (NULCA).
6-8: Discrepancies

Practice Statement: The locator provides precise facility location to the

facility owner/operator when there is a discrepancy.
Practice Description: The locator provides to the facility owner/operator
the most precise facility location information obtained from a locate when
there is a discrepancy.
Chapter 6: Mapping

References:
• Arizona Blue Stake law
6-9: Feedback

Practice Statement: The locator supplies feedback to the 811 center.

Practice Description: The locator provides to the 811 center feedback on
land base mapping and location discrepancies. The following states carry
out this practice: Ohio, Tennessee and North Carolina.

Excavator

6-10: Accuracy of Location Information

Practice Statement: The excavator provides accurate location information

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 Mapping

to the 811 center.

Practice Description: The excavator takes responsibility for giving
accurate location information to the 811 center. This information includes a
street address, street intersection, legal description or other appropriately
formatted information, and latitude/longitude (if feasible).
6-11: Excavation Area Details

Chapter 6: Mapping
Practice Statement: The excavator provides to the 811 center basic
attributes about the excavation area.
Practice Description: The excavator provides details about the excavation
area location, such as starting and ending points, the side of the property
(north, south, east, west, front, back, rear, sides, etc.) and the side of
the street. If the excavator cannot meet the above criteria, the excavator
directly coordinates with the 811 center to establish the excavation area.
References:
• Michaels Pipeline Company, Brownsville, Wisconsin
• Hooper Corporation, Pewaukee, Wisconsin
• Intercon Construction, Madison, Wisconsin

Facility Owner/Operator

6-12: Mapping Data

Practice Statement: The facility owner/operator provides mapping data to

the 811 center.
Practice Description: The facility owner/operator provides the 811 center
with data that will allow efficient and accurate notification of excavation
activities near the facility owner/operator’s infrastructure. Facility owners/
operators in all mandatory one call states follow this practice.
6-13: Access to Mapping Data

Practice Statement: The facility owner/operator provides mapping

data access.
Practice Description: The facility owner/operator provides access to
a mapping system that can be used by both the locator and the facility
owner/operator. These facility owners/operators follow this practice: Atlanta
Gas Light, Sprint Long Distance, AT&T, Questar Regulated Services.
6-14: Mapping Standards

Practice Statement: The facility owner/operator adheres to mapping

standards.
Practice Description: The facility owner/operator requires the designer to
adhere to the facility owner/operator’s mapping standards. These facility
owners/operators follow this practice: AT&T, Sprint Long Distance.
6-15: Quality of Information

Practice Statement: The facility owner/operator provides consistent,

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

current information to the 811 center.

Practice Description: The facility owner/operator provides consistent,
current information to the 811 center for the proper receipt of ticket
notification. Basic information includes latitude and longitude, and pertains
to a physical attribute where available, such as a milepost marker. This
facility owner/operator follows this practice: Sprint Long Distance.
6-16: Information Capture

Practice Statement: The facility owner/operator collects detailed mapping

information.
Practice Description: The facility owner/operator captures through the
electronic database the following information to ensure project safety in the
plan, design, construction, documentation, location and maintenance of
their longitudinal utility
• Any new construction that was entered at the time of installation
• The location of abandoned or sold facilities
• Engineering stationing and milepost/marker post location (with latitude
and longitude), using common mapping coordinate systems that allow
conversion to latitude and longitude
• Alignment of the utility with engineering stationing at each running line
change or point of inflection (PI), including signs and markers
• Bridges, culverts and rivers
• All road crossings; overhead viaducts and underpasses, including name
of the street (public or private); and mile-marker/marker-post designation
• Small-scale maps showing the overall utility route
• Physical characteristics and attributes of the system, such as pedestal,
pole, transformer, meter number, anode bed, size, material, product
and pressure
• The number of utility lines or conduits owned by the facility owner/
operator in a corridor, or the size of the duct package bank (universally a
general practice of major pipeline and long-distance telecommunication
operators and railroads)
• When available, any digital imagery that is used to identify facility
locations in relation to the surrounding environment35/
Chapter 6: Mapping

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 Mapping

Project Owner

6-17: Accuracy of Location Information

Practice Statement: The project owner provides accurate information.

Chapter 6: Mapping
Practice Description: The project owner provides the excavator with
accurate location information about the proposed excavation area using
mapping information used by the 811 center. This information includes a
street address, street intersection, legal description or other appropriately
formatted information, such as orthophotography and latitude/longitude (if
feasible).26/
6-18: Excavation Area Details

Practice Statement: The project owner determines the excavation area’s

basic coordinates.
Practice Description: The project owner determines details about the
excavation area location, such as starting and ending points, the side of
the property (north, south, east, west, front, back, rear, sides, etc.), and
side of the street.
Reference:
• These are general practices of the state departments of transportation
regarding highway projects.
• These are general practices of most National Utility Contractors
Association (NUCA) members. The references listed in each best
practice are not all inclusive.

Facility Owner/Operator

6-19: As-Built Mapping of Underground Electronic Utility Markers73/

Practice Statement: The location of underground electronic utility markers

is identified on as-built mapping, GIS mapping and/or other underground
facility mapping documents.
Practice Description: Appropriate asset data collection and data
management procedures are in place after completion of the underground
facility installation. Primary among these is the practice to note in all as-
built mapping where path and point markers are installed to increase the
awareness of the existence of underground facility markers during the
locate process.
References:
• ASCE 38-02 “Standard Guideline for the Collection and Depiction of
Existing Subsurface Utility Data”
• See Practice Statement 2-18, “Identifying Newly Installed or Under-
Construction Facilities”
• Consolidated Edison guideline, “Installation of electronic markers on gas
mains and services”

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

Emerging Technologies
Technology is rapidly changing. Many of the best practices identified in
this chapter could be obsolete in the near future. Although the following
technologies are now used in other applications, their use is not
widespread in the damage prevention field:
• Geographic Information System (GIS)
• Global Positioning System (GPS)
• Orthographic and satellite imagery
GIS allows the integration of digital maps with other databases to view the
relationship of physical features, conducts relational queries and obtains
additional information on a particular feature. The GIS infrastructure or
base will support all of the advanced technologies of GPS, orthographic
and satellite imagery.
Combining orthographic and satellite imagery with an overlay of a line map,
street names, addresses and GPS coordinates of utility lines will allow 811
centers, excavators, locators, facility owners/operators and project owners
to view the accurate and relative location of utility lines.
Advanced use of these technologies in combination with advances to
locating technologies is expected to reduce damage to underground
facilities.
Chapter 6: Mapping

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 CHAPTER 7

Compliance
811 Center Facility Owner Excavator Locator Project Owner Designer

Chapter 7: Compliance
7-1: Public and Enforcement Education

A: Public Education
Practice Statement: Public education programs are used to promote
compliance.
Practice Description: A single entity is charged to promote
comprehensive and appropriate programs to educate all stakeholders
about the existence and content of the damage prevention laws and
regulations. This is not meant to discourage individual stakeholders from
providing educational programs.
Reference:
• New York: “Each one call notification system shall perform the following
duties:…(b) Conduct a continuing program to: (1) Inform excavators
of the one call notification system’s existence and purpose and their
responsibility to notify the one call notification system of proposed
excavation and demolition and to protect underground facilities. (2)
Inform operators of the responsibility to participate in the one call
notification system, to respond to a notice relating to a proposed
excavation and demolition, and to designate and mark facilities according
to the provisions of this Part.” New York Code, 16 NYCRR Part 753,
§ 753-5.3(b)(1)-(2)
B: Enforcement Education
Practice Statement: Mandatory education is considered as an alternative
or supplement to penalties for offenders of the damage prevention laws
and regulations.
Practice Description: When a violation of the damage prevention laws or
regulations has occurred, mandatory education is an effective alternative or
supplement to civil penalties. Mandatory education as an enforcement tool
promotes compliance with damage prevention laws and regulations.
References:
• Arizona: “When a notice of violation (NOV) is issued, the following may
be followed: 1. First Time Offenders: A. May be given a warning letter
and Item C below...C. Given the opportunity to attend Blue Stake Training
Course provided by the Arizona Corporation Commission’s Pipeline
Safety Section.” Arizona Corporation Commission policy, “Notice of
Violation,” § 1(A) and (C)
• New Hampshire: “Any excavator or operator who does not comply with
RSA 374:51-54 shall be required on first offense to go through either
a Dig Safe training program or be subject to a civil penalty...” New
Hampshire Code, RSA 374, § 374:55(VIII)

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

7-2: Incentives

Practice Statement: Damage prevention programs include incentives to

promote compliance with laws and regulations.
Practice Description: Incentives can include, but are not limited to, ease
of access to 811 center, membership and participation considerations,
representation on 811 center boards, reasonable enforcement of
regulations, safety and liability protection, access to alternative dispute
resolution (ADR), and public education.
Incentive—Membership: Membership facilitates communication between
an excavator and facility owner/operator, which helps prevent damage to
underground facilities.
References:
• Arizona: “If the owner or operator fails to locate or incorrectly locates
the underground facility, pursuant to this article, the owner or operator
becomes liable for resulting damages, costs, and expenses to the injured
party.” Arizona Code, Article 6.3, § 40-360.27(C)
• Minnesota: “Reimbursement is not required if the damage to the
underground facility was caused by the sole negligence of the operator
or the operator failed to comply with section 216.04, subdivision 3.”
Minnesota Code, Chapter 216D.06, Subd. 2(b)
• Pennsylvania: Stakeholders who do not join the 811 system in violation
of state law are not permitted to recover damages for injury to their
property: “If a facility owner fails to become a member of a One Call
System in violation of this act and a line or lines of such nonmember
facility owner are damaged by a contractor by reason of the contractor’s
failure to notify the facility owner because the facility was not a member
of a One Call System serving the location where the damage occurred,
such facility owner shall have no right of recovery from the contractor
of any costs associated with the damage to its lines. The right herein
granted shall not be in limitation of any other rights of the contractor.”
Pennsylvania Code, 73 P.S. § 176 et. seq., Section 2(9)
Incentive—Membership Accommodations: To avoid cost being a barrier
to membership, several states have made membership accommodations
for smaller municipals and authorities.
References:
• Arizona: “Each one call notification center shall establish a limited basis
participation membership option, which may be made available to all
Chapter 7: Compliance

members, but which must be made available for any member serving
less than one thousand customers or any member irrigation or electrical
district. A facility owner who elects limited basis participation membership
will provide to the one call center the location of its underground facilities
by identifying the incorporated cities and towns, or for unincorporated
county areas, by identifying the townships, in which it has facilities. The
service level provided to the limited basis participation members by the
one call notification center is limited to providing excavators with names
and telephone numbers the excavator should contact to obtain facilities
location. Each one call center shall establish fair and reasonable fees
for limited basis participation members, based on customer count, areas
occupied or miles of underground facilities.” Arizona Code, Article 6.3,
§ 40-360.32. Note, Arizona’s system somewhat defeats the purpose of
“one call,” but is successful because Arizona 811 goes the extra mile
to assist the excavator in contacting the small facility owners, many of
which do not have a manned telephone line.
• Minnesota: The Gopher State One Call Center instituted a no-locate-
required policy, which credits the facility operator those charges for “not-
involved” tickets. It results in cost savings to the facility owners/operators
because 811 center membership rates are based on the number of
tickets received by the facility owners/operators.

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 Compliance

• New York: “3. Costs. The costs of operating the system shall be
apportioned equitably among the members of the system, with the
exception of municipalities and authorities that operate underground
facilities and any operator of underground facilities that provides water
service to less than four thousand customers. In apportioning such costs,
the system shall take into account the number of customers, extent
of underground facilities, and frequency of use.” New York General

Chapter 7: Compliance
Business Law Article 36, § 761
• Pennsylvania: “Operation costs for the One Call System shall be shared,
in an equitable manner for services received, by facility owner members
as determined by a One Call System’s board of directors. Political
subdivisions with a population of less than two thousand persons or
municipal authorities having an aggregate population in the area served
by the municipal authority of less than five thousand persons shall be
exempt from payment of any service fee.” Pennsylvania Code, 73 P.S.
§ 176 et. seq., Section 2(8)
Incentive—811 Center Board of Directors: Boards are composed
of representatives of all stakeholders. Representation of all stake
holders in the governance of the 811 center (although not necessarily
in the administration of the 811 center) ensures that the viewpoint of all
stakeholders will be considered in the policies and programs of the 811
center.
References:
• Minnesota: “The nonprofit corporation must be governed by a board of
directors of up to 20 members, one of whom is the director of the office of
pipeline safety. The other board members must represent and be elected
by operators, excavators, and other persons eligible to participate in the
center...” Minnesota Code, Chapter 216D.03, Subd. 2(a)
• Pennsylvania: “A one call system shall be governed by a board of
directors, to be chosen by the facility owners. No less than twenty
percent of the seats shall be held by municipalities or municipal
authorities. The board shall include the following: (1) The Chairman of
the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission or his designee. (2) The
Director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency or his
designee. (3) The Secretary of Labor and Industry or his designee.
(4) The Secretary of Transportation or his designee. (5) A contractor
or industry representative. (6) A designer or industry representative.”
Pennsylvania Code, 73 P.S. § 176 et. seq., Section 7.1(b)
Incentive—Safety and Liability Protection: Compliance with 811 center
requirements promotes worker safety and public safety, and reduces
exposure to liability.
References:
• New York: “The penalties provided for by this article shall not apply to
an excavator who damages an underground facility due to the failure
of the operator to comply with any of the provisions of this article nor
shall in such instance the excavator be liable for repairs as prescribed in
subdivision four of this section.” New York Code, 16 NYCRR Part 753,
§ 765(b).
• Pennsylvania: “The designer who has complied with the terms of this
act and who was not otherwise negligent shall not be subject to liability
or incur any obligation to facility owners, operators, owners, or other
persons who sustain injury to person or property as a result of the
excavation or demolition planning work of the designer.” Pennsylvania
Code, 73 P.S. § 176 et. seq., Section 3(7).
Incentive—Reasonable Enforcement of Regulations: Reasonable

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

enforcement of regulations refers to actions by enforcement authority

officials and enforcement processes, both of which aim to fairly arrive at
rational outcomes, such as education and penalties that correspond to the
gravity of the violation, without imposing unnecessarily high transaction
costs on any participant, including the enforcement authority.
Reference:
• In Massachusetts, a state where a violator’s “history” is considered when
addressing a violation, repeat offenders of the one call law can attain
first-time offender status if they demonstrate compliance for a solid year.
“Any person, contractor, excavator, or company found by the Department
to have violated any provision of the Dig Safe law or regulation adopted
by the Department thereunder shall be subject to a civil penalty not to
exceed $500 for the first offense and not less than $1,000 nor more than
$5,000 for any subsequent offense within a 12 month period after the
Department issues a remedial order or executes a consent order for the
first offense. Any excavator whose subsequent violation occurs after 12
consecutive months of no violations shall be subject to a civil penalty of
$500.” Massachusetts Regulation, 220 C.M.R. § 99.12(1)
7-3: Penalties

Practice Statement: Compliance programs include penalties for violations

of the damage prevention laws or regulations.
Practice Description: Within the context of one call statutes, there exists
specific provisions for penalties for failure to comply with the damage
prevention laws and regulations. Performance and penalty incentives are
equitably administered among stakeholders subject to one call provisions.
A penalty system includes education as an alternative or supplement to
civil or other penalties.
Reference:
• New Hampshire: “Any excavator or operator who does not comply with
RSA 374:51-54 shall be required on first offense to go through either
a ‘Dig Safe’ training program or be subject to a civil penalty...” New
Hampshire Code, RSA 374, § 374:55(VIII)
A penalty system also uses a tiered structure to distinguish violations by
the level of severity or repeat offenses (e.g., warning letters, mandatory
education, civil penalty amounts).
Chapter 7: Compliance

References:
• Arizona: “When a notice of violation (NOV) is issued, the following may
be followed: 1. First Time Offenders: A. May be given a warning and
Item C below or B. May be fined $250 per violation and C. Given the
opportunity to attend a Blue Stake Training Course provided by the
Arizona Corporation Commission’s Pipeline Safety Section. Note: the
investigator may use the NOV as a warning, if they feel a warning would
suffice. 2. Second Offense: A. May be fined $250 per violation and B.
Given the opportunity to attend a Blue Stake Training Course provided
by the Arizona Corporation Commission Pipeline Safety Section. 3.
Repeat Offenders: A. Third Time: May be fined $500 per violation. B.
Four or More Times: Could be fined up to $2000 per violation. Flagrancy
or magnitude of offense could cause pipeline safety to deviate from this
policy. Any deviation to the above-stated policy will jointly be determined
by the Chief of Pipeline Safety and the Investigator.” Arizona Corporation
Commission policy, “Notice of Violation,” section 1-3

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• New York: “Warning letters: Upon determining that a probable violation(s)

of a provision of Part 753 has occurred or is continuing, the Department
may issue a warning letter notifying the Respondent of the probable
violation and advising him or her to correct it, if it is correctable, and to
comply henceforth, or be subject to enforcement actions under this Part.”
NY Public Service Commission policy (proposed code § 753-6.3)
A penalty system also establishes mitigating and aggravating factors for

Chapter 7: Compliance
determining the penalty for a violation by statute or regulation.
References:
• Massachusetts: “In determining the amount of the civil penalty, the
Department shall consider the nature, circumstances, and gravity of the
violation; the degree of the respondent’s culpability; the respondent’s
history of prior offenses; and the respondent’s level of cooperation with
the requirements of this regulation.” Massachusetts Regulation, 220
C.M.R. § 99.12(2)
• Minnesota: “In assessing a civil penalty under this part, the office shall
consider the following factors: A. the nature, circumstances, and gravity
of the violation; B. the degree of the person’s culpability; C. the person’s
history of previous offenses; D. the person’s ability to pay; E. good
faith on the part of the person in attempting to remedy the cause of the
violation; F. the effect of the penalty on the person’s ability to continue
business; and G. past reports of damage to an underground facility by a
person.” Minnesota Rules, 7560.0800, Subpart 3
• New Hampshire: “In determining the assessment, the following factors
shall be considered: (1) Severity of the consequences resulting from
the violation: the more severe the consequences, the higher the civil
penalty; (2) Mitigating circumstances: i.e., how quickly actions were
taken to rectify the situation, how much control the company had over
the situation, and other circumstance which would tend to less fault; and
(3) Prior violations of Puc 800.” New Hampshire Regulation, Chapter Puc
800, § Puc 805.06(b)(1)-(3)
• New York: “...the commission shall determine the amount of the penalty
after consideration of the nature, circumstances, and gravity of the
violation, history of prior violations, effect on public health, safety or
welfare, and such other matters as may be required and shall send a
copy of its determination to the excavator, operator, commissioner of
labor, and attorney general.” New York Public Service Law, § 119-b(8)
• Virginia: “In determining the amount of any civil penalty included in a
settlement, the nature, circumstances, and gravity of the violation; the
degree of the Respondent’s culpability; the Respondent’s history of
prior offenses; and such other factors as may be appropriate shall be
considered.” Virginia “Rules for Enforcement of the Underground Utility
Damage Prevention Act,” § 6
A penalty system does not allow any violator or class of violators to be
shielded from the consequences of a violation (i.e., all stakeholders should
be accountable).
Reference:
• New Hampshire: “Any excavator or operator who does not comply with
RSA 374:51-54 shall be required on first offense to go through either
a ‘Dig Safe’ training program or be subject to a civil penalty...” New
Hampshire Code, RSA 374, § 374:55(VIII)

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7-4: Damage Recovery

Practice Statement: State damage prevention laws and regulations

recognize the right to recover damages and costs resulting from
noncompliance.
A: Right of Recovery
Practice Description: The statute recognizes an injured party’s right to
recovery when damages and/or costs are incurred as the direct result of
an entity’s failure to comply with the one call laws and regulations. For
example, Arizona endorses an injured party’s right to recover damages
when the other party has failed to comply with the one call law.
References:
• Arizona: “If an underground facility is damaged by any person as a result
of failing to obtain information as to its location, failing to take measures
for protection of the facilities, or failing to excavate in a careful and
prudent manner as required by this article, the person is liable to the
owner of the underground facility for the total cost of the repair of the
facility.” Arizona Code, Article 6.3, § 40-360.26(A)
• Arizona: “If the owner or operator fails to locate or incorrectly locates
the underground facility, pursuant to this article, the owner or operator
becomes liable for resulting damages, costs, and expenses to the injured
party.” Arizona Code, Article 6.3, § 40-360.28(C)
B: Alternative Dispute Resolution
Practice Description: Avenues for settlement of disputes include
alternative dispute resolution. Minnesota endorses ADR through the
state court system, New Jersey endorses ADR in construction contract
documents, and the federal government endorses ADR through the federal
courts.
References:
• Minnesota: “The Supreme Court shall establish a statewide alternative
dispute resolution program for the resolution of civil cases filed with
the courts. The Supreme Court shall adopt rules governing practice,
procedure, and jurisdiction for alternative dispute resolution programs
established under this section. Except for matters involving family law,
the rules shall require the use of nonbinding alternative dispute resolution
processes in all civil cases, except for good cause shown by the presiding
judge, and must provide an equitable means for the payment of fees
Chapter 7: Compliance

and expenses for the use of alternative dispute resolution processes.”

Minnesota Code, Chapter Title: District Courts, § 484.76
• New Jersey: “All construction contract documents entered into in
accordance with the provisions of P.L. 1971, c. 198 (C.40A:11-1 et seq.)
after the effective date of P.L. 1997, c.371 (C.40A:11-50) shall provide
that disputes arising under the contract shall be submitted to a process
of resolution pursuant to alternative dispute resolution practices, such
as mediation, binding arbitration, or non-binding arbitration pursuant to
industry standards, prior to being submitted to a court for adjudication.
Nothing in this section shall prevent the contracting unit from seeking
injunctive or declaratory relief in court at any time. The alternative dispute
resolution practices required by this section shall not apply to disputes
concerning the bid solicitation or award process, or to the formation of
contracts or subcontracts to be entered into pursuant to P.L. 1971, c. 198
(C.40A:11-1 et seq.).” New Jersey Code, Title 40A, § 40A-11-50

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 Compliance

• Federal: “Congress finds that (1) alternative dispute resolution, when

supported by the bench and bar, and utilizing properly trained neutrals
in a program adequately administered by the court, has the potential to
provide a variety of benefits, including greater satisfaction of the parties,
innovative methods of resolving disputes, and greater efficiency in
achieving settlements; (2) certain forms of alternative dispute resolution,
including mediation, early neutral evaluation, minitrials, and voluntary

Chapter 7: Compliance
arbitration, may have potential to reduce the large backlog of cases now
pending in some federal courts throughout the United States, thereby
allowing the courts to process their remaining cases more efficiently; and
(3) the continued growth of Federal appellate court-annexed mediation
programs suggests that this form of alternative dispute resolution can be
equally effective in resolving disputes in the federal trial courts; therefore,
the district courts should consider including mediation in their local
alternative dispute resolution programs...Each United States district court
shall authorize, by local rule adopted under section 2071(b) 2071(a), the
use of alternative dispute resolution processes in all civil actions, including
adversary proceedings in bankruptcy, in accordance with this chapter,
except that the use of arbitration may be authorized only as provided
in section 654 [(1) the action is based on an alleged violation of a right
secured by the Constitution of the United States; (2) jurisdiction is based in
whole or in part on section 1343 of this title; or (3) the relief sought consists
of money damages in an amount greater than $150,000.].” Alternative
Dispute Resolution Act of 1998, enacted October 1998.
7-5: Enforcement

A: Authority
Practice Statement: An authority is specified through state statutes and
given the resources to enforce the law.
Practice Description: The enforcement authority in each state has
the resources to enforce the laws and regulations. Experience has
demonstrated that enforcement of the one call laws and regulations that
did not identify a specific authority other than the attorney general has not
been effective.
Characteristics of such an authority include the following:
• A process for receiving reports of violations from any stakeholder
• An operating budget source other than fine revenue, such as a line
item in the state budget, excluding fines as a source of income for the
authority
• Stakeholder involvement in periodic review and modification of
enforcement processes
• Resources to respond to notifications of alleged violations in a timely
manner
• A method of investigating alleged violations prior to issuing a notice of
probable violation
• Impartial authority adjudicating violations
• An initial informal means of contesting a notice of violation
• A published violation review process and violation assessment
considerations
References:
• Arizona: The Pipeline Safety Division of the Arizona Corporation
Commission is funded by the Commission budget. “Any penalties
received by the state shall be deposited in the general fund.” Arizona
Code, Article 6.3, § 40-360.28

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• Massachusetts: “... Any other person may report a suspected violation of

M.G.L. c. 82 s. 40 to the Department. All such reports shall be in a form
deemed appropriate and necessary by the Department.” Massachusetts
Regulation, 220 C.M.R. §99.01(1)
• Massachusetts: The Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications
and Energy investigates all complaints received from excavators and
facility owners/operators and conducts random field investigations. The
Department then issues a Notice of Probable Violation if, based on the
investigation, it has reason to believe that a violation has occurred or is
occurring. “The Department may begin a proceeding by issuing a notice
of probable violation (“NOPV”) if the Department has reason to believe
that a violation of the M.G.L. c. 82, § 40, has occurred or is occurring...
The NOPV shall state the factual basis for the allegation of a violation...”
Massachusetts Regulation, 220 C.M.R. § 99.07(1)
• Minnesota: “The office shall issue a notice of probable violation when
the office has good cause to believe a violation of Minnesota Statutes,
sections 216D.01 to 216.D.09 of this chapter has occurred...A notice
of violation must include: A. a statement of the statute or rule allegedly
violated by the person and a description of the evidence on which the
allegation is based.” Minnesota Rules, 7560.04000, Subp.1 - Subp. 2(A)
• Minnesota: See also Minnesota Rules, 7560.0400, Subp. 1, Notice
of Violation; 7560.0500 Response Options; 7560.0600, Director
Review; 7560.0800 Civil Penalties; Subp. 3, Assessment considerations
• New Hampshire: “Upon receipt of the NOPV [Notice of Probable
Violation] the respondent shall either: (1) Submit in writing, within 30
days, evidence refuting the probable violation referenced in the NOPV;
or (2) Request in writing within 30 days, an informal conference with
commission staff to examine the basis of the violation, at which time
the respondent may be represented by an attorney or other person; or
(3) Waive procedural schedule by signing a consent agreement.” New
Hampshire Regulation, Chapter Puc 800, § Puc 805.02
• New Hampshire: See also New Hampshire regulations, Chapter Puc
800, sections Puc 805.01, “Notice of Probable Violation”; Puc 805.02,
Alternative Responses to Notice of Probable Violation; Puc 805.03,
Notice of Violation; Puc 805.04, Response to Notice of Violation; Puc
805.05 Commission Action; Puc 805.06, Civil Penalties
• Virginia: The Advisory Committee, which is established by statute to
include “representatives of the following entities: Commission staff,
utility operator, notification center, excavator, municipality, Virginia
Department of Transportation, Board of Contractors, and underground
line locator,” meets one day annually (in addition the monthly hearings)
Chapter 7: Compliance

for “issue day,” a day to discuss issues and make recommendations

to the State Corporation Commission (SCC) administrative three-
judge panel on issues related to damage prevention. Sub-teams of the
Advisory Committee are also formed to develop recommendations.
“The purpose of the Committee is to…make recommendations with
regard to Public Education and Awareness Programs that further public
safety by the reduction of damage to the underground utility facilities
in the Commonwealth and to monitor, analyze, influence, propose,
support, or oppose programs or regulations that directly affect damage to
underground facilities serving the citizens of the Commonwealth.” Bylaws
of the Advisory Committee, Article II
• Virginia: “Upon receipt of a report of a probable violation, the Commission
staff (“Staff”) shall conduct an investigation to examine all the relevant
facts regarding the reported probable violation. The investigation may
include, among other things, records verification, informal meetings,
teleconferences, and photo-documentation. Upon completion of the
investigation, the Staff shall review its findings and recommendations
with the Advisory Committee established in accordance with 56-265.31
of the Act.” Virginia “Rules for Enforcement of the Underground Damage
Prevention Act,” § 3

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 Compliance

B: Structured Review Process

Practices Statement: A structured review process is used to impartially
adjudicate alleged violations.
Practice Description: Two types of review processes currently used are
outlined below. These type of processes differ in terms of 1) who receives
reports of alleged violations, 2) who investigates the reports, 3) possible

Chapter 7: Compliance
outcomes of the investigation, 4) who conducts first tier (informal) hearings,
5) possible outcomes of first tier hearings, and 6) appeal rights following
a second tier (formal) hearing. It is important that review processes are
constructed to avoid abuses of authority and prevent any individual,
industry, stakeholder or agency from exercising undue power or influence
over the process.
Type 1: Traditional Enforcement Authority—This system is currently used
in Arizona, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New
Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Reports of alleged violations are sent
to the State Agency. A state investigator investigates the reports. If the
investigator decides not to issue a NOPV (Notice of Probable Violation),
the matter is concluded. If not, the NOPV is issued, and the investigator
conducts an informal hearing or review. If the investigator determines that
no violation was committed, the matter is concluded. If the investigator
determines that a violation was committed, the NOV (Notice of Violation)
is issued. If the alleged violator does not contest the NOV, the alleged
violation is bound by the facts, findings, orders and penalties set forth in
the NOV. If the alleged violator so requests, the State Agency conducts a
formal hearing. The alleged violator may appeal the decision reached in
the formal hearing to the state court system.
Type 2: Advisory Committee (made up of stakeholders) partnered with
State Agency—This system is currently used in Virginia. Reports of
alleged violations are sent to the State Enforcement Agency. The State
Agency investigates the alleged violations and reports to an advisory
committee. The committee is made up of stakeholders representing the
following statutorily mandated fields: excavators, facility owners/operators,
notification centers, contract locators, local governments, State Department
of Transportation, the Board of Contractors, and the State Enforcement
Agency. If the advisory committee decides not to issue a NOPV (Notice
of Probable Violation), the matter is concluded, possibly with a “letter
of concern” containing one call information. If the advisory committee
decides to issue an NOPV, it is issued by the State Agency. If the alleged
violator does not request a hearing, the alleged violator is bound by
the enforcement action set forth in the NOPV. If the alleged violator so
requests, an informal hearing is held by the advisory committee. If the
advisory committee decides that no violation was committed, the matter is
concluded, subject to the right of the State Agency to contest that decision
in an administrative proceeding conducted by the agency. If not, the NOV
is issued. If the alleged violator then settles the matter with the advisory
committee, the settlement is subject to approval by the State Agency in
an administrative proceeding. If there is no settlement, the State Agency
conducts a formal administrative hearing. The alleged violator may appeal
the decision reached in the formal hearing to the state court system.

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LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY

Chapter 7: Compliance

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 CHAPTER 8

Public Education and Awareness

811 Center Facility Owner Excavator Locator Project Owner Designer

Chapter 8: Public Education and Awareness

8-1: Marketing Plan

Practice Statement: An effective damage prevention education program

includes a comprehensive, strategic marketing/advertising plan.
Practice Description: A comprehensive, strategic marketing/advertising
plan enables better implementation, control and continuity of advertising/
public relations programs, and ensures the most effective and efficient
use of limited resources. These plans focus on setting realistic goals and
allocating sufficient resources required to achieve those goals within a
specified time frame. The marketing plan is a set of action steps based on
a comprehensive situation analysis that clearly states the following:
• What is to be achieved
• How it will be achieved
• When it will be achieved
• Who is responsible for achieving each goal
• What amount of resources (time, people and money) will be allocated to
achieving each goal
References:
• Louisiana 811 Systems, Inc. Project 2000, 1998 Marketing Plan
• Public Awareness Marketing Plan for Underground Utility Damage
Prevention, prepared for the Damage Prevention Quality Action Team by
The Daily Planit, November 20, 1997
• Underground Protection Center (UPC) of Georgia
• Various 811 centers, including AL, AZ, CT, GA, IL, IA, KY, MO, NM, NY
(City), NC, OK, OH, OR, WV, and WI
8-2: Marketing 811—A National One Call Number32/

Practice Statement: An effective damage prevention education program

includes promoting the national 811 number and awareness campaign by
communicating the number and “call before you dig” process to excavators
and the general public.
Practice Description: Practice Statement 8-1 identifies the need for a
marketing plan and specifies that the plan include the promotion of the 811
number.
Stakeholder and marketing groups include the following:
• 811 notification centers
• Owners and operators of underground facilities
• Construction industry
• Regulatory agencies
Product and services representatives from the one call industry actions that
lead to a successful incorporation of 811 into your marketing plan include
the following:
• Inclusion of the 811 logo on websites and newsletters
• Placing the 811 logo on owner/operator vehicles and equipment
• TV and radio promotions and public service announcements
• Billboard advertising
• Inclusion of the 811 logo on products and in service promotions

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

References:
• State 811 centers
• Krylon Industries
• Colonial Pipeline
8-3: Target Audiences and Needs32/100/

Practice Statement: An effective damage prevention education program

identifies and implements a plan that addresses individual needs, including
languages other than English where appropriate.
Practice Description: Identification of target audiences ensures maximum
impact for the Dig Safely message. The following target audiences are
identified as examples:
• Professional designers
• Surveyors
• Equipment suppliers, distributors, and rental companies
• Construction management officials
• Excavation equipment operators
• Excavation equipment rental stores
• Excavators
• Public works excavators
• Locators
• Railroads
• Participating facility owners/operators
Chapter 8: Public Education and Awareness

• Non-participating facility owners/operators (i.e., not one call members)

• Agricultural industry members
• Public officials
• Planning, zoning, licensing, permitting, and code enforcement officials
• Public utility board members
• Homeowners and associations
• Schools
• Landscape companies
• Geotechnical and environments soil testing laboratories
• Insurance industry members
• Marine operators
• Children
• Property owners/tenants
• Emergency responders/local emergency planning committee members
• News media
When target audiences are identified, their specific needs can be more
readily addressed. This helps identify which media (e.g., free advertising,
advertising, brochures, meal meetings, handouts, door hangers, yard
cards, etc.) can most effectively be used to deliver the message. This also
facilitates customization of the message itself. Coordination with other
strategic partners can assist in reaching the greatest number of people.
References:
• Various 811 centers, including AL, AZ, CO, CT, GA, FL, ID, IL, IA, KY,
MS, MO, NM, NY (City), NC, OK, OH, OR, TX, VA, WV, and WI
• NUCA and various NUCA state chapters
• API, INGAA, and AGA member companies
• Associated General Contractors (AGC) chapters
• Door hangers from TCS Communications, LLC, of Florida
• Yard cards from Ohio Utilities Protection Service

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 Public Education and Awareness

8-4: Structured Education Programs65/

Practice Statement: An effective damage prevention education program is

structured to accommodate the needs of stakeholder audiences.
Practice Description: Organizations that implement damage prevention

Chapter 8: Public Education and Awareness

programs need flexibility in selecting communication tactics based on
demographics, damage events, effectiveness measurements and other
relevant factors. A wide range of methods and tools, including mailings,
in-person meetings, events, mass media communications, educational
videos, and electronic and social media, may be considered for damage
prevention messaging. Examples for target audiences are provided below:
• CONTRACTORS, ROAD BUILDERS and EXCAVATORS—Local
and national trade shows and state/local chapters of contractor trade
associations may provide opportunities for outreach. Group meetings
focused on damage prevention education conducted by vendors and 811
centers, as well as local utility coordinating committee (UCC) meetings,
may also be valuable options for sharing damage prevention information.
Consider educational materials that are portable and suitable for a mobile
workforce.
• FARMERS and RANCHERS—Messages for this audience should focus
on damage prevention during agricultural-related activities, such as
fencing and tiling. Local agriculture extension offices and state/local
chapters of agriculture trade associations may be helpful in promoting
education and messaging. Local farm days and county/state fairs can
provide opportunities for broader outreach.
• SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS—Contacting 811 prior to any digging
on school property is an important message for administrators. Arbor
Day and Earth Day are natural opportunities to promote safe digging
messages at schools. Boards of education and local parent/teacher
organizations (PTOs) may also provide support and resources.
• SCHOOL STUDENTS—Schools provide an opportunity to “grow”
damage prevention awareness among younger audiences and their
families. School education programs, offering a damage prevention
curriculum and guest speakers, provide structured learning. Local
scouting troops and student clubs focused on safety, environment and
civics may also provide opportunities for damage prevention education.
• LOCATORS—Locator training programs sponsored by 811 centers, utility
operators or third-parties provide opportunities for damage prevention
education. Locator trade associations and locator safety meetings may
also be leveraged to provide outreach. Consider educational materials
that are portable and suitable for a mobile workforce.
• PUBLIC OFFICIALS—Public officials can influence local damage
prevention procedures in their communities. Focus messaging on
suggestions for including 811 in local permitting requirements to keep
communities safer. Tours of 811 centers and local utility facilities can also
improve awareness among this audience.
• EMERGENCY RESPONDERS—Outreach to emergency responders
can leverage existing public awareness programs, such as meetings with
local emergency planning committees (LEPCs), local associations of fire
chiefs and sheriffs, and organized group meetings. Focus messages on
811 requirements and recognizing the signs of an un-ticketed excavation,
such as a lack of flags, paint or utility personnel at dig sites, to raise
responder awareness of damage prevention in their communities.
• GENERAL PUBLIC AND HOMEOWNERS—Homeowner/neighborhood
association meetings provide opportunities for sharing the damage
prevention message. Also consider attending and/or exhibiting at local
home and garden shows. Social media messaging may also provide
options for communication of damage prevention messages to this
audience.

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

• MEDIA—Promoting damage prevention through the media helps to

broaden awareness. Events such as 811 Day, National Safe Digging
Month and local planned events can be communicated through press
releases, print, TV and radio interviews. As appropriate, media tours of
operator facilities may also be useful.
• EQUIPMENT SUPPLIERS, DISTRIBUTORS and RENTAL
COMPANIES—Equipment points of sale or points of rental provide
opportunities to educate potential excavators about 811 and damage
prevention. It may be helpful to provide these companies with damage
prevention brochures, 811 stickers for equipment, etc., to provide “just in
time” reminders about the importance of calling 811 before digging.
References:
• Various 811 centers, including AL, AZ, CO, CT, GA, ID, IL, IA, KY, MS,
MO, NM, NY (City), NC, OK, OH, OR, TX, WV and WI
• Current industry materials, programs and practices
• National Land Improvement Contractors Association
• American Petroleum Institute (API), Interstate Natural Gas Association
of America (INGAA), and American Gas Association (AGA) member
companies
• Industry associations, including AGC chapters, NUCA, and National
Telecommunications Damage Prevention Council (NTDPC)
• Various contract locating firms
• American Petroleum Institute (API) Recommended Practice (RP) 1162,
“Public Awareness Programs for Pipeline Operators”
8-5: Target Mailings
Chapter 8: Public Education and Awareness

Practice Statement: An effective damage prevention education program

communicates vital damage prevention, safety and emergency response
information to target audiences through periodic mailings.
Practice Description: Target mailings can effectively communicate
essential damage prevention, safety and emergency response information.
Direct mailings containing local information can be mailed to residents and
businesses that lie within a specified area. Such mailings are especially
useful for reaching those residents and businesses that are in the corridor
of the underground facility or proposed excavation route. Some examples
are listed below:
• Direct-mailed billing statements are ideal for including inserts provided
by the 811 center because the connection between underground facilities
and Dig Safely can be readily made by the consumers.
• Additionally, space for a damage prevention message can be dedicated
on the facility owners/operators’ newsletters that are often included with
the billing statements.
• Direct mailings, either in the form of letters or newsletters, are effective in
targeting audiences such as lumber yards and stores, hardware stores,
heavy equipment sellers and rental equipment stores. These mailings
can offer support materials, such as point of-purchase brochure displays
for sales counters, posters for retail aisles where digging equipment is
found, and key chains for rental equipment ignition keys.
• An annual excavator newsletter, originated and mailed directly by the 811
center to all identifiable excavators in the call center’s jurisdiction, keeps
the customer base involved and informed of changes to the damage
prevention system.
• Specialized brochures or letters can be mailed directly to address such
issues as failure to follow local damage prevention laws, guidance to
homeowners to understand the damage prevention process, and special
requirements when excavations occur in agricultural or rural settings.

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 Public Education and Awareness

• Target mailing lists are developed using a combination of facility owners/

operators’ and the 811 center’s internal sources, support partner mailing
lists, and ZIP-code + 4/SIC code mailing lists. There are numerous
software applications and databases available in the marketplace to
support this.
References:

Chapter 8: Public Education and Awareness

• Various 811 centers, including AL, AZ, CT, GA, ID, IL, IA, KY, MS, MO,
NM, NY (City), NC, OK, OH, OR, WV and WI
• API Recommended Practice 1123
• 49 CFR Parts 192, 194, and 195
8-6: Paid Advertising

Practice Statement: An effective damage prevention education program

includes paid advertising to increase damage prevention awareness
and practices.
Practice Description: Paid advertising through event sponsorships,
radio, television and print media is an effective means for communicating
811 center information and safe digging requirements to target audiences.
Paid advertising is particularly effective for reaching general excavators,
construction designers and managers, equipment operators, property owners
and tenants, farmers, facility owners/operators, and the general public.
However, the use of paid advertising can be very costly, and a measurement
for success should be implemented early in the advertising campaign to gauge
effectiveness. Measurements can include increased locate ticket volume or
increased number of first-time callers to an 811 center. Additionally, creative
placement of the message can ease the expense of paid advertising and
enhance its effectiveness. Examples include transit system signs, sponsorship
of news and weather reports on radio and television, industry trade exhibits
and events, and print messages in trade publications.
References:
• Various 811 centers, including AL, CO, CT, GA, ID, IL, IA, KY, MS, MO,
NM, NY (City), NC, OK, OH, OR, WV and WI
• Current facility owner practices, including various oil pipeline companies
such as Marathon-Ashland Pipeline Company, Northwest Pipeline
Company, and Equilon Pipeline Company
8-7: Free Media33/

Practice Statement: An effective damage prevention education program

utilizes all available free media.
Practice Description: When identified and used correctly, free media can
be highly effective to communicate the Dig Safely message at minimal
cost. For organizations with limited budgets, use of free media should be
emphasized.
Press Releases: This tool is the preferred method to communicate
“newsworthy” information about your damage prevention program to
newspapers, trade publications and radio stations. Examples of occasions/
events that are appropriate for press releases include the following:
• Call center milestones (millionth call, record month, record day)
• Year in review (call volume statistics, damage reduction/increases)
• Election of new board members
• Announcement of excavator safety program schedule
• Announcement of a new utility member
• Changes to the state/local damage prevention law
• Seasonal “call before you dig” reminders

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

A basic press release, containing the damage prevention message and

fundamental program information, is on file for distribution to newspapers
and other periodicals that often run special sections on topics such as home
improvements, safety around the home and damage prevention actions
related to severe weather. See Appendix C for a sample press release.
Not-for-Profit Public Service Announcements (PSAs): Television and
radio stations, as well as billboard companies, often are willing to donate
airtime or space for public service announcements (PSAs) to not-for-profit
organizations. To qualify, the organizations must have a safety-related
message that benefits the general public.
Member Facility Owners/Operators: The member facility owners/
operators of the damage prevention system are, in effect, another source
of free media for the Dig Safely message:
• Major facility owners/operators who purchase paid advertising on
television, radio and billboards can require that free Dig Safely PSAs be
included in any media buy they make.
• Cable TV members should be provided copies of any Dig Safely
commercial and encouraged to run it as a PSA on their system. (Many
cable members have created their own messages for this purpose!)
• All member facility owners/operators should be offered vehicle bumper
stickers and posters to place on their locating and service vehicles
promoting the “Call Before You Dig” phone numbers.
State/Local Government: State and local governments can be yet
another source of free media for your damage prevention education
program. The following are successful examples of their use:
• Use of proclamations by state and local governments to support “National
Safe Digging Month.” (see Appendix C for a sample press release)
Chapter 8: Public Education and Awareness

• Inclusion of safe-digging messages on state tollway/highway electronic

message boards
• Damage prevention messages in community newsletters of member
municipal facility operators
References:
• Various 811 centers, including AL, AZ, CO, CT, GA, ID, IL, IA, KY, MS,
MO, NM, NY (City), NC, OK, OH, OR, TX, WV and WI
• Various 811 center member companies, such as Media-One, GTE, TCI
Cable Co., Ameritech and others
• Proclamations from various state and local governments
• Press release from Ohio Utilities Protection Service announcing Ohio’s
Safe Digging Month (see Appendix C)
8-8: Giveaways

Practice Statement: An effective damage prevention education program

uses promotional giveaway items to increase damage prevention
awareness.
Practice Description: Effective damage prevention education programs
use giveaways to reach targeted audiences. Examples include note pads,
pens, Rolodex® cards, mouse pads, ignition protectors, clipboards and
magnets. Items used should reflect the unique needs and interests of
the target audiences and the regions served. For example, sports towels
work in many areas and with many audiences. However, beach towels
are probably only effective in states or areas near beaches. Giveaways
can be distributed via awareness and safety meetings, targeted mailings,
sponsored events, trade shows and other methods. In all cases, items
should be usable both for work and recreation.
Reference:
• Various 811 centers, including AL, AZ, CO, CT, GA, ID, IL, IA, KY, MS,
MO, NM, NY (City), NC, OK, OH, OR, TX, WV and WI

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 Public Education and Awareness

8-9: Establishing Strategic Relationships

Practice Statement: An effective damage prevention education program

establishes strategic relationships.
Practice Description: Strategic relationships can be defined as “Making

Chapter 8: Public Education and Awareness

Friends Before You Need Them.” This means having working relationships
in place to leverage common resources. Successful damage prevention
education programs establish strategic relationships with governmental
agencies, emergency responders, associations of all types, media outlets,
grassroots organizations and others. These relationships involve partnering to
further damage prevention education efforts. One example of such strategic
relationships includes partnering with the state bureau of utilities, 811 centers,
OCSI members, the Equipment Manufacturers Institute (EMI) and original
equipment manufacturers to install “North American Equipment Decals” on the
dashboards of new excavating equipment. Another example is the One Call
Systems Study (OCSS) for which this report is written. The OCSS represents
the establishment of a strategic relationship among various one call systems
stakeholders to further damage prevention education and awareness.
References:
• Various 811 centers, including AL, AZ, CO, CT, GA, ID, IL, IA, KY, MS,
MO, NY (City), NC, OK, OH, OR, TX, WV and WI
• Illinois Commerce Commission
• Existing strategic relationships, such as APWA/AGC and API/NTDPC
8-10: Measuring Public Education Success

Practice Statement: An effective damage prevention education program

includes structured annual or biennial (every two years) measurement(s) to
gauge the success of the overall program.
Practice Description: Damage prevention education program
effectiveness can be gauged in several ways. Consider the following
examples:
• Use of a direct-mail or telephone survey to effectively determine how 811
center and/or member facility customers are hearing and recalling the
damage prevention message.
• Use of Arbitron Areas of Dominant Influence (ADI) boundaries to measure
increases in 811 center call volume and/or member facility owners/
operators’ one call messages is also an effective measurement. For a
given area, these can be compared against the money and resources
used in that area for further indications of program effectiveness.
• The collection and tracking of individual or collective facility owners/
operators’ damage information from year to year is another outstanding
method of measuring success, providing that other internal factors at a
given facility owner/operator remain constant.
References:
• Various 811 centers, including CT, GA, IL, IA, KY, MS, MO, NC, OK,
OH and WI
• API Data Collection Initiative
• INGAA Foundation Pipeline Safety Awareness Material Focus Group
Research Report
• “Presentation of Findings: OPS/DAMQAT Underground Facility Damage
Prevention Study” (nationwide survey)
• “Presentation of Findings: DAMQAT Pilot Evaluation Study” (regional survey)
• Great Lakes Common Carrier Committee Six-State Survey
• Virginia State Corporation Commission survey on why damages occur
• PHMSA 9 Elements (PIPES ACT)

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

8-11: Cross Bore Determination and Mitigation69/

Practice Statement: A facility owner/operator has in place a robust,

proactive mitigation program to identify and mitigate cross bores where
its facilities may intrude upon another owner/operator’s facility. The facility
owner/operator program promotes safe mitigation of cross bores. A facility
owner/operator provides a communications network as a conduit for third
parties to report potential cross bores.
Practice Description: A facility owner/operator implements a program to
identify and mitigate instances where its facility may intrude upon another
facility owner/operator’s facility.
When a foreign object such as a conduit, cable or pipe is suspected to
be within a non-pressurized underground facility, or when the operation
of that facility is impaired, a report of a “potential cross bore” is placed
to a centralized point of contact (communications network). The
communications network may be a service sponsored by the underground
facility owner/operator or the 811 center. The communications network
notifies or provides the facility owner/operator’s contact information for the
reported location. These reports are treated as an “emergency” under the
overriding state law.
After identifying potential cross bore(s), the facility owner/operator takes
appropriate action using the latest technologies to inspect the facilities.
Utilizing technologies such as camera inspection both pre- and post-
construction is effective in preventing new cross bores and mitigating
legacy cross bores.
Chapter 8: Public Education and Awareness

References:
This practice is currently in place in multiple states/locations, including
Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Virginia, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C., as
well as through the regular ticket process in other states. The practice
is performed in several different ways to convey a potential cross bore
report to the involved party, and to prevent injury to the drain-cleaning
professional and/or the property owner.

References: Trenchless Technology Center Louisiana Tech University

http://www.pgecrossboresafety.com/
http://crossboresafety.org/Drain%20Cleaner%20Safety.htm
http://frontline-energy.com/fes-services/cross-bore
http://www.norfolknews.ca/news-story/4336639-union-gas-cross-bore-safety-prog
rolls-out-in-norfolk/
http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/gov/depts/utl/residents/safety/cross_bore.asp
http://www.hydromaxusa.com/services/gas
Cross Bore Safety Association (CBSA)
www.crossboresafety.org

Common Ground Alliance (CGA)

www.commongroundalliance.com

American
References: Trenchless Technology Center Louisiana GasUniversity
Tech Association (AGA)
http://www.pgecrossboresafety.com/ www.aga.org
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http://crossboresafety.org/Drain%20Cleaner%20Safety.htm
Distribution Contractors Association (DCA)
http://frontline-energy.com/fes-services/cross-bore
www.dcaweb.org
http://www.norfolknews.ca/news-story/4336639-union-gas-cross-bore-safety-program-
rolls-out-in-norfolk/
http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/gov/depts/utl/residents/safety/cross_bore.asp
http://www.hydromaxusa.com/services/gas
 CHAPTER 9

Reporting and Evaluation

811 Center Facility Owner Excavator Locator Project Owner Designer

Chapter 9: Reporting and Evaluation

Best Practices Associated with Reporting Damage, Near Miss
and Incident Data58/
The following best practices related to reporting damage prevention data were
reviewed by the CGA’s Data Reporting & Evaluation Committee (DR&EC).
Under each particular best practice is a partial list of examples identified during
the creation of that best practice. Understanding this is a partial list, it should be
recognized that other options may be available.
From a national data perspective, CGA stakeholders recognize the CGA DIRT
tool as the most beneficial source currently available for nationwide data
regarding damages, near misses and incident data.

9-1: All Stakeholders Report Information

Practice Statement: Facility owners/operators, locators, excavators or

stakeholders with an interest in underground damage prevention report
qualified information on events45/ that could have, or did, lead to a damaged
underground facility.
References:
• API/Association of Oil Pipelines (AOPL) Voluntary Accident Tracking
Initiative
• Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control/Call Before You Dig, Inc.
• Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.
• Florida Sunshine State One Call
• Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Energy
• New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission
• Pennsafe Bureau, Department of Labor and Industry
• Tennessee One Call System, Inc.
• Tierdael Construction Company—General Contractors
• U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Pipeline Safety
• Virginia State Corporation Commission

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

9-2: Standardized Information Is Reported by All Stakeholders58/

Practice Statement: The requested data is standardized and consists of

essential information that can be analyzed to determine what events could,
or did, lead to a damaged facility. This means that collected data includes
damage information, downtime and near misses. All stakeholders submit
the same damage, near miss and downtime data via simple answers and
checkboxes. (Refer to Appendix C for example form)
References:
• API/AOPL Voluntary Accident Tracking Initiative
• Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control/Call Before You Dig, Inc.
• Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.
• Florida Sunshine State One Call
• Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Energy
• New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission
• Pennsafe Bureau, Department of Labor and Industry
• Tennessee One Call System, Inc.
• Tierdael Construction Company—General Contractors
• U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Pipeline Safety
• Virginia State Corporation Commission
9-3: Identify the Noncompliant Stakeholder

Practice Statement: It is important to identify the noncompliant

stakeholder (facility owner/operator, excavator, locator or 811 notification
center) so that this group can be targeted with education and training.
It may not be necessary to pinpoint the names and addresses of the
offenders for the purpose of improving the damage prevention program.
Chapter 9: Reporting and Evaluation

References:
• API/AOPL Voluntary Accident Tracking Initiative
• Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control/Call Before You Dig, Inc.
• Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.
• Florida Sunshine State One Call
• Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Energy
• New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission
• Pennsafe Bureau, Department of Labor and Industry
• Tennessee One Call System, Inc.
• Virginia State Corporation Commission
9-4: Person Reporting Provides Detailed Information

Practice Statement: If all of the requested data is not available, the

person reporting the information provides the most complete information
possible.
Reference:
• Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.
9-5: Requested Information May Change

Practice Statement: Requested information changes as additional or

different data is deemed necessary for the evaluation process. The report
is revised, as needed, to adapt to the changes in the state’s statutes, the
evolution of industry technology and the awareness of root causes.
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 Reporting and Evaluation

References:
• Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control/Call Before You Dig, Inc.
• Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Energy
• Tennessee One Call System, Inc.
• Virginia State Corporation Commission
9-6: A Standardized Form Is Adopted

Chapter 9: Reporting and Evaluation

Practice Statement: A standardized form that includes the mandatory
DIRT fields is adopted and distributed to all facility owners/operators,
locators, excavators and other appropriate stakeholders. (Refer to
Appendix C for example form)58/
References:
• API/AOPL Voluntary Accident Tracking Initiative
• Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control/Call Before You Dig, Inc.
• Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Energy
• NC811 DIRT Lite Form
• PA PDD (PA Damage Database)
• New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission
• Tennessee One Call System, Inc.
• United States Department of Transportation, Office of Pipeline Safety
• Virginia State Corporation Commission
9-7: The Form Is Simple

Practice Statement: Data is reported using a simple, standardized form.

By limiting the number of hand-written responses, the information is easy
to complete. Checkboxes or other simple answering techniques help the
person reporting the information and make the evaluation process easier.
(Refer to Appendix C for a example form)58/
References:
• API/AOPL Voluntary Accident Tracking Initiative
• Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control/Call Before You Dig, Inc.
• Florida Sunshine State One Call
• Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Energy
• NC811 DIRT Lite Form
• PA PDD (PA Damage Database)
• New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission
• Tennessee One Call System, Inc.
• U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Pipeline Safety
• Virginia State Corporation Commission
9-8: Training Is Provided

Practice Statement: Training and education on how and when to complete

the form are made available.
References:
• Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control/Call Before You Dig, Inc.

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

• New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission

• Tennessee One Call System, Inc.
9-9: Flexibility on Completing and Returning Form Is Provided

Practice Statement: Flexible options are provided for both completing

and returning the form. This may include providing self-addressed and
webpage forms, and enabling completed forms to be faxed or reported by
telephone.
References:
• API/AOPL Voluntary Accident Tracking Initiative
• Florida Sunshine State One Call
• New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission
• Pennsafe Bureau, Department of Labor and Industry
• Tennessee One Call System, Inc.
• Virginia State Corporation Commission
9-10: Vacant57/
9-11: Stakeholders Complete the Same Form

Practice Statement: If possible, facility owners/operators, excavators,

locators and anyone else involved in the damage prevention process
complete the same form.
Reference:
• Virginia State Corporation Commission
9-12: An Organization Is Identified to Receive the Information
Chapter 9: Reporting and Evaluation

Practice Statement: A centralized and independent organization is

identified to receive and process completed forms. DIRT is currently
recognized as the national repository for housing damage data. All
stakeholders submit damage, near miss and downtime data via simple
answers and checkboxes. (Refer to Appendix C for example form)58/

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 Reporting and Evaluation

References:
• API/AOPL Voluntary Accident Tracking Initiative
• Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control/Call Before You Dig, Inc.
• Florida Sunshine State One Call
• New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission
• Pennsafe Bureau, Department of Labor and Industry

Chapter 9: Reporting and Evaluation

• Tennessee One Call System, Inc.
• U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Pipeline Safety
• Virginia State Corporation Commission
9-13: The Organization Is Able to Interface With All Stakeholders

Practice Statement: The organization collecting the information is able

to interface with all groups to promote completion and return of completed
forms.
References:
• API/AOPL Voluntary Accident Tracking Initiative
• Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control/Call Before You Dig, Inc.
• Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.
• Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Energy
• New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission
• Tennessee One Call System, Inc.

Best Practices Associated with Evaluating Damage

Prevention Data
The following best practices are related to evaluating damage prevention data
and are developed by the Reporting and Evaluation Task Team. Under each best
practice is a list of resources that were used as examples during the Task Team’s
discussions and may not be inclusive of all stakeholders that utilize the best
practice.

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

9-14: An Organization Evaluates the Data

Practice Statement: A centralized and independent organization, such as

the Data Reporting and Evaluation Committee, is identified to evaluate the
completed forms and publish the data.58/
References:
• API/AOPL Voluntary Accident Tracking Initiative
• Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control/Call Before You Dig, Inc.
• New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission
• Tennessee One Call System, Inc.
9-15: The Organization Has Representation from All Stakeholders

Practice Statement: An organization such as the Data Reporting and

Evaluation Committee, with representation from all interested stakeholders,
assists in the evaluation process.58/
References:
• New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission
• Tennessee One Call System, Inc.
• Virginia State Corporation Commission
9-16: Data Is Used to Improve Damage Prevention Efforts

Practice Statement: The reported data is used to assess and improve

underground damage prevention efforts.
References:
Chapter 9: Reporting and Evaluation

• API/AOPL Voluntary Accident Tracking Initiative

• Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control/Call Before You Dig, Inc.
• Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.
• Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Energy
• New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission
• Tennessee One Call System, Inc.
• Virginia State Corporation Commission
9-17: Data Is Used to Promote Underground Damage Awareness58/

Practice Statement: The reported data is not used to penalize or punish;

rather, it is used to promote underground damage awareness through
recommended training and education.
References:
• Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control/Call Before You Dig, Inc.
• Tennessee One Call System, Inc.
9-18: Data Is Summarized by Key Components

Practice Statement: The reported data is summarized by key

components.
References:
• Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control/Call Before You Dig, Inc.
• Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.
• New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission
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 Reporting and Evaluation

• Tennessee One Call System, Inc.

• Virginia State Corporation Commission
9-19: Root Causes Are Identified

Chapter 9: Reporting and Evaluation

Practice Statement: Root causes of events are identified.58/
References:
• API/AOPL Voluntary Accident Tracking Initiative
• Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control/Call Before You Dig, Inc.
• Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.
• New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission
• Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Energy
• Virginia State Corporation Commission
9-20: Results Are Quantified Against a Standardized Risk Factor

Practice Statement: Results are quantified against a standardized risk

factor. The risk factor considers a stakeholder’s exposure to potential
damage. This risk factor may be based on factors such as the number of
miles of line installed or the number of 811 center notification tickets. For
example, a risk factor may compare how many underground damages
occurred in a certain time period versus the total number of notification
tickets issued.
References:
• Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control/Call Before You Dig, Inc.
• Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.
• National Transportation Safety Board Safety Study: Protecting Public
Safety through Excavation Damage Prevention (NTSB/SS-97-01)
9-21: Performance Levels and Trends Are Assessed

Practice Statement: Performance levels and trends are assessed against

those of other organizations.
References:
• API/AOPL Voluntary Accident Tracking Initiative
• Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control/Call Before You Dig, Inc.
• Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.
• New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission
• Tennessee One Call System, Inc.

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY

Chapter 9: Reporting and Evaluation

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 CHAPTER 10

Miscellaneous
811 Center Facility Owner Excavator Locator Project Owner Designer

Chapter 10: Miscellaneous

10-1: Homeland Security

Practice Description: Many of the recommended practices contained

within the CGA’s Best Practices Manual require the sharing of critical
infrastructure information. This sharing is an important aspect of ensuring
that parties involved with the identification of, the excavation around, and
the general protection of underground facilities have adequate information
to protect underground infrastructures. However, in the interest of
Homeland Security, all parties must ensure that such information is shared
only with individuals who truly require this critical information.
To this end, parties who employ or contract with individuals who may
have access to such information should ensure that those individuals or
contractors have the appropriate credentials to prevent the information
from being accessed by individuals or groups that may intend to damage,
alter or destroy the infrastructure in question.5/
References:
• Existing state laws, including South Carolina and North Carolina

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY

Chapter 10: Miscellaneous

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 APPENDIX A

Glossary of Terms and Definitions

For the purpose of the Common Ground Study, a common set of definitions is
used. These definitions were arrived at through a consensus process similar to

Appendix A: Glossary of Terms and Definitions

the methodology used to identify the best practices.
811 Center: A communications center that administers a system through
which excavators request buried facilities to be marked by owners/operators.
Centers in the United States are referred to as “811 centers” due to their use
of the 811 three-digit phone number. Similar centers with a variety of names
exist internationally.75/
Abandoned Line or Facility: Any underground or submerged line or facility no
longer in use.
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR): Any process or procedure other than
litigation that is agreed to by the disputing parties as the means for resolving a
dispute, and is binding or non-binding pursuant to the agreement by the disputing
parties. ADR includes, but is not limited to, advisory boards, arbitration, mini-
trials, mediation, partnering and standing neutrals.
Alternative Project Delivery Methods: Infrastructure projects can be delivered
through various alternative methods, including, but not limited to:
1: Design-Bid-Build (DBB): Traditional method where the project owner contracts
separately with a designer/architect for the design phase, then with a
construction contractor for the construction phase.
2: Design-Build (DB): A single entity is responsible for both the design and
construction phases, streamlining the process and potentially reducing project
duration.
3: Public-Private Partnership (PPP or P3): Involves collaboration between a
public agency and a private sector entity to finance, design, construct, operate,
and maintain infrastructure projects.
4: Construction Management at Risk (CMAR): The construction manager
works with the project owner and designer during the design phase and then
assumes responsibility for delivering the project within a guaranteed maximum
price.
5: Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT): A private entity finances, builds, and operates a
facility for a specified period before transferring ownership to the public sector.
6: Design-Build-Operate-Maintain (DBOM): Similar to BOT, but the private entity
also operates and maintains the facility after construction.
7: Progressive Design-Build (PDB): PDB uses a qualifications-based or best
value selection, followed by a process whereby the owner then “progresses”
towards a contract price with the team (thus the term “Progressive”).
Each method has its own advantages and challenges, and the choice often
depends on project requirements, risk allocation preferences, and funding
mechanisms.102/
As-built Drawing: A detailed depiction of facilities as installed in the field.
Attribute: Characteristic that helps describe the data.
Backfill: To fill the void created by excavating.
Business Day (or Working Day): Any day of the week except Saturday and
Sunday and state/provincial and federal legal holidays.
Cathodic Protection: The process of arresting corrosion on a buried or
submerged structure by electrically reversing the natural chemical reaction.
This includes, but is not limited to, installation of a sacrificial anode bed, use of
a rectifier-based system, or any combination of these or other similar systems.
Wiring is installed between the buried or submerged structure and all anodes

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

and rectifiers; wiring is also installed to test stations that are used to measure the
effectiveness of the cathodic protection system.
Compliance: Adherence to the statute and its regulations.
Cross Bore: An intrusion of an existing underground utility or underground
structure by a second utility, resulting in direct contact between the transactions
of the utilities that compromises the integrity of either the utility or underground
structure.69/
Damage: Any impact or exposure that results in the need to repair an
underground facility due to a weakening or the partial or complete destruction
of the facility, including, but not limited to, the protective coating, lateral support,
cathodic protection, or housing for the line, device or facility.
Damage Reporting: The immediate reporting to an 811 center and the facility
owner/operator of any damage caused or discovered in the course of excavation
or demolition work; to immediately alert the occupants of premises as to any
emergency that such person may create or discover at or near such premises; to
contact emergency responders, if necessary, as quickly as practical.
Demolition Work: The partial or complete destruction by any means of a
structure served by, or adjacent to, an underground line or facility.
Designer: Any architect, engineer or other person who prepares or issues a
drawing or blueprint for a construction or other project that requires excavation or
demolition work.
Digital Imagery: A computer-compatible version of land-related information
including, for example, topography, physical features, road/street networks and
Appendix A: Glossary of Terms and Definitions

buried facility networks obtained from a variety of sources including, for example,
aerial photographs, satellite photographs, road maps, survey plans and buried
facility records.31/
Downtime: Lost time reported by a stakeholder on the Damage Information
Reporting Tool (DIRT) field form for an excavation project due to failure of one or
more stakeholders to comply with applicable damage prevention regulations.51/
Electronic Positive Response: Communication by telephone, fax, email or
internet from a facility owner/operator to an excavator providing the status of an
owner/operator’s statutorily required response to a notice of intent to excavate.42/
Electronic White Lining (EWL): The process in which an excavator identifies
where proposed excavation will occur by drawing a polygon shape on a GIS
map; that shape is delivered electronically by the 811 center to its member facility
operators. 80/
Emergency: A sudden or unforeseen occurrence involving a clear and imminent
danger to life, health or property; the interruption of essential utility services; or
the blockage of transportation facilities that requires immediate action.
Emergency Notice: A communication to the 811 center to alert the involved
underground facility owners/operators of the need to excavate as a result of
a sudden or unforeseen occurrence or national emergency involving a clear
and imminent danger to life, health, environment or property (including the
interruption of essential utility services or the blockage of transportation facilities)
that requires immediate excavation.
Emergency Response: A facility owner/operator’s response to an emergency
notice.
Event: The occurrence of facility damage, near miss or downtime.
Excavate or Excavation: Any operation using non-mechanized or mechanized
equipment, demolition or explosives in the movement of earth, rock or other
material below existing grade.50/
Excavator: Any person proposing to or engaging in excavation or demolition
work for himself or for another person.
Facility: An underground or submerged conductor, pipe or structure used to
provide electric or communications service (including, but not limited to, traffic

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 Glossary of Terms and Definitions

control loops and similar underground or submerged devices); or an underground

or submerged pipe used in carrying, providing or gathering (typically between the
wellhead and transmission line) gas, oil or oil product, sewage, storm drainage,
water, or other liquid service (including, but not limited to, irrigation systems) and
appurtenances thereto.56/
Facility Owner/Operator: Any person, utility, municipality, authority, political
subdivision, or other person or entity who owns, operates or controls the

Appendix A: Glossary of Terms and Definitions

operation of an underground line/facility.
Geographic Information System (GIS): An organized collection of computer
hardware, software and geographic data used to capture, store, update,
maintain, analyze and display all forms of geographically referenced information.
Geospatial Data: Data that identifies the geographic location and characteristics
of natural or constructed features and boundaries on the earth.
Global Positioning System (GPS): A system consisting of 25 satellites used
to provide precise position, velocity and time information to users anywhere on
Earth. Location information can be received using a GPS receiver. The GPS
receiver helps determine locations on the earth’s surface by collecting signals
from three or more satellites through a process called triangulation. Simple and
inexpensive hand-held receivers provide an accuracy of ±100 meters of a true
position. More sophisticated receivers that use additional technologies or that
post-process the original GPS data can provide sub-meter accuracy.
Grade: The surface of the earth (i.e., ground level) upon which a structure is built
or prepared.
Grounding Systems: A system of one or more ground conductors or ground
rods providing a low-resistance path-to-earth ground potential through a
mechanical connection to structures, conductors and equipment.
Joint Trench: A trench containing two or more facilities that are buried together
by design or agreement.52/
Land Base: Mapped data that depicts features of the surface of the earth and is
tied to real-world geographic coordinates, such as latitude and longitude.
Large/Complex Project: A single project, or a series of repetitive, small, short-
term projects that are related in scope, that impact facilities over a long period of
time or a large area.30/
Latitude (Lat): Distance measured north or south of the equator.
Line: See “Geographic Information System (GIS).”
Locate: To indicate the existence of a line or facility by establishing a mark
through the use of stakes, paint, flagging, whiskers or some other customary
manner that approximately determines the location of that line or facility.44/
Locate Request: A communication between an excavator and 811 center
personnel in which a request for locating underground facilities is processed.
Locator: A person whose job is to locate lines or facilities.47/
Longitude (Long): Distance measured east or west from a reference meridian
(Greenwich).
Marking Standards: The methods by which a facility owner/operator indicates
its line or facility in accordance with the APWA guidelines. (See Appendix B,
“Uniform Color Code and Marking Guidelines.”)
Member Database: Structured collection of data defined for a particular use,
user, system or program; it may be sequential, network, hierarchical, relational
or semantic.
Membership: Persons who participate voluntarily in an 811 center because they
have an interest in the protection of lines or facilities, or because they have a
statutory responsibility to protect lines or facilities.
Minor or Routine Maintenance of Transportation Facilities: The adding of
granular material to unpaved roads, road shoulders, airport runways, airport

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

taxiways and railroad roadbeds; removal and application of patches to the

surface of paved roads, runways and taxiways; cleaning and sealing road,
airport and canal lock facility cracks or joints; replacing railroad ties and related
appliances, excluding road crossings; adjusting ballast on top of railroad
roadbed; cleaning of paved drainage inlets and paved ditches or pipes.
Near Miss: An event where damage (as defined on page 91) did not occur, but a
clear potential for damage was identified.43/
Notice: The timely communication by the excavator/designer to the 811 center
that alerts the involved underground facility owners/operators of the intent to
excavate.
Notification Period: The time beginning when notice is given and ending when
the work may begin.
One Call Center: See “811 Center.”
Orthophoto: An aerial photograph of a site that has been differentially rectified
to correct the distortion caused by the terrain and attitude (tip, tilt and yaw) of the
camera. A multicolored, distortion-free, photographic image.
Person: Any individual or legal entity, public or private.
Planning: An activity at the beginning of a project where information is gathered
and decisions are made regarding the route or location of a proposed excavation
based on constraints, including the locations of existing facilities, anticipated
conflicts and the relative costs of relocating existing facilities, or more expensive
construction for the proposed facility.
Appendix A: Glossary of Terms and Definitions

Plat: A map or representation on paper of a piece of land subdivided into lots,

with streets, alleys, etc., usually drawn to a scale.
Positive Response: Communication with the excavator prior to excavation to
ensure that all contacted (typically via the 811 centers) owners/operators have
located their underground facilities and have appropriately marked any potential
conflicts with the areas of planned excavation.
Pothole (a.k.a., test hole): Exposure of a facility by safe excavation practices
to ascertain the precise horizontal and vertical position of underground lines
or facilities. Accepted safe excavation practices vary by state/local jurisdiction,
but the preferred techniques include hand digging with extreme caution and/or
vacuum excavation. (See Best Practice 5-32).86/
Pre-marking or Positive Site Identification: The marking of the proposed
excavation site/work area consistent with APWA guidelines.
Private Service Line: A buried facility/line wholly owned and operated on private
property by an entity or individual who is not in the business of providing a
product or service via that buried facility/line.71/
Project Owner: The person financially responsible for the undertaking of a
project that involves excavation or demolition.27/
Public: The general population or community at large.28/
Railroad Operating Corridor: The property that is essential to a railroad
company to enable it to discharge its function and duties as a common carrier by
rail. It includes the roadbed, right of way, tracks, bridges, stations and such like
property.29/
Root Cause: The primary reason an event occurred.48/
Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE): An engineering process for accurately
identifying the quality of underground utility information needed for excavation
plans, and for acquiring and managing that level of information during the
development of a project.
Test Hole: See definition for “Pothole.” 86/
Ticket Number: A unique identification number assigned by the 811 center to
each locate request.49/

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 Glossary of Terms and Definitions

Tolerance Zone: The space in which a line or facility is located and in which
special care is to be taken.
Vacuum Excavation: A means of soil extraction through vacuum; water or air jet
devices are commonly used for breaking the ground.38/

Appendix A: Glossary of Terms and Definitions

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

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Appendix A: Glossary of Terms and Definitions

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 APPENDIX B

Uniform Color Code and

Marking Guidelines
The information contained in this appendix is intended to supplement information

Appendix B: Uniform Color Code and Marking Guidelines

for existing practices found within CGA Best Practices.8/
BEST PRACTICES CHAPTER 4—LOCATING AND MARKING
Practice Statement 4–3: Color Code: A uniform color code and set of marking symbols is
adopted nationwide.

Uniform Color Code9/

The following APWA uniform color code (ANSI Z535.1) shall be adopted as the
uniform color code for marking excavation sites and underground facilities in
conflict with an excavation. This recommendation is not intended to preempt any
existing state requirement that specifies other colors.

White Proposed Excavation

Pink Temporary Survey Markings

Red Electric Power Lines, Cables, Conduit, and Lighting Cables

Yellow Gas, Oil, Steam, Petroleum, or Gaseous Materials

Orange Communication, Alarm or Signal Lines, Cables, or Conduit

Blue Potable Water

Purple Reclaimed Water, Irrigation, and Slurry Lines

Green Sewers and Drain Lines

References:
.

• APWA Uniform Color Code

• Existing operating practices from various states’ 811 centers
• Existing 811 laws from various states
• ANSI Standard Z535.1 Safety Color Code

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

BEST PRACTICES CHAPTER 5—EXCAVATION

Practice Statement 5–19: Excavation Tolerance Zone: The excavator observes a
tolerance zone that is comprised of the width of the facility plus 18 in. on either side
of the outside edge of the underground facility on a horizontal plane. This practice
is not intended to preempt any existing state/provincial requirements that currently
specify a tolerance zone of more than 18 in.

Tolerance Zone40/
The following examples are of tolerance zones for a 1 in. and 12 in. line:
Appendix B: Uniform Color Code and Marking Guidelines

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 Uniform Color Code and Marking Guidelines

BEST PRACTICES CHAPTER 5—EXCAVATION

Practice Statement 5–2: White Lining67/: When the excavation site cannot be clearly and
adequately identified on the locate ticket, the excavator designates the route and/or
area to be excavated using white pre-marking, either onsite or electronically (when
available through the 811 center), prior to or during the request for the locate ticket.

Appendix B: Uniform Color Code and Marking Guidelines

Guidelines for Excavation Delineation9/
The following marking illustrations are examples of how excavators may choose
to mark their area of proposed excavation. The use of white marking products
(e.g., paint, flags, stakes, whiskers or a combination of these) may be used to
identify the excavation site.

Single Point Excavations Markings

Delineate in white62/ the proposed area of excavation using a continuous

line, dots marking the radius or arcs, dashes marking the four corners of the
project, or dashes outlining the excavation project. Limit the size of each
dash to approximately 6 in. to 12 in. long and 1 in. wide with interval spacing
approximately 4 ft. to 50 ft. apart. Reduce the separation of excavation marks to
a length that can reasonably be seen by the operator’s locators when the terrain
at an excavation site warrants. Dots of approximately 1 in. diameter typically
are used to define arcs or radii and may be placed at closer intervals in lieu of
dashes.

Single Stake Marking Center Point of Excavation Site

When an excavation site is contained within a 50 ft. maximum radius or less, it

can be delineated with a single stake that is positioned at the proposed center
of the excavation. If the excavator chooses this type of delineation, they must
convey that they have delineated the excavation site with a single stake at the
center of the excavation and include the radius of the site in the notification to
the 811 center. This single stake is white in color and displays the excavator’s
company identifier (name, abbreviations or initials) and the radius of the
excavation site in black letters on the stake or with a notice attached to the stake.

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

Trenching, Boring or Other Continuous-Type Excavations

Continuous Excavation Marking

Mark in white the proposed centerline of planned excavation using 6 in.
62/

to 12 in. × 1 in. arrows approximately 4 ft. to 50 ft. apart to show direction of

excavation. Reduce the separation of excavation marks to a length that can
reasonably be seen by the operator’s locators when the terrain at an excavation
Appendix B: Uniform Color Code and Marking Guidelines

site warrants. Mark lateral excavations with occasional arrows showing

excavation direction from centerline with marks at curb or property line if crossed.
Dots may be used for curves and closer interval marking.

Stake, Flag or Whisker Excavation Markers

Delineate the proposed area of excavation using stakes, flags or whiskers

instead of spray paint to mark radius or arcs, the four corners of the project, or
when outlining the excavation project. Limit the interval spacing to approximately
4 ft. to 50 ft. Reduce the separation of excavation marks to a length that can
reasonably be seen by the operator’s locators when the terrain at an excavation
site warrants. Stakes, flags or whiskers provided to illustrate arcs or radii
may be placed at closer intervals to define the arc or radius. Stakes, flags or
whiskers are white in color and display the excavator’s company identifier (name,
abbreviations or initials).

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 Uniform Color Code and Marking Guidelines

BEST PRACTICES CHAPTER 4—LOCATING AND MARKING

Practice Statement 4–3: Color Code: A uniform color code and set of marking symbols is
adopted nationwide.

Guidelines for Operator Facility Field Delineation9/

Appendix B: Uniform Color Code and Marking Guidelines

Operator markings of facilities include the following:
• The appropriate color for their facility type
• Their company identifier (name, initials or abbreviation) when other
companies are using the same color
• The total number of facilities and the width of each facility
• A description of the facility (HP, FO, STL, etc).
Use paint, flags, stakes, whiskers or a combination to identify the
operator’s facility(s) at or near an excavation site.
1. Marks in the appropriate color are approximately 12 in. to 18 in. long
and 1 in. wide, spaced approximately 4 ft. to 50 ft. apart. When marking
facilities, the operator considers the type of facility being located, the terrain
of the land, the type of excavation being done, and the method required to
adequately mark the facilities for the excavator.

2. The following marking examples illustrate how an operator may choose to

mark their subsurface installations:
a. Single Facility Marking: Used to mark a single facility. This can be
done in one of two ways—1) placing the marks over the approximate
center of the facility:

or 2) placing the marks over the approximate outside edges of the

facility with a line connecting the two horizontal lines (in the form of an
H) to indicate there is only one facility:

These examples indicate an operator’s 12 in. facility. When a facility can

be located or toned separately from other facilities of the same type, it is
marked as a single facility.41/
b. Multiple Facility Marking: Used to mark multiple facilities of the same

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

type (e.g., electric), where the separation does not allow for a separate
tone for each facility, but the number and width of the facilities is known.
Marks are placed over the approximate center of the facilities and
indicate the number and width of the facilities.
Example: four plastic facilities that are 4 in. in diameter (4/4” PLA)

c. Conduit Marking: Used for any locatable facility being carried inside
Appendix B: Uniform Color Code and Marking Guidelines

conduits or ducts. The marks indicating the outer extremities denote the
actual located edges of the facilities being represented.
Example: four plastic conduits that are 4 in. in diameter (4/4” PLA), and
the marks are 16 in. apart, indicating the actual left and right edges of
the facilities

d. Corridor Marking: Used to mark multiple facilities of the same type

(e.g., electric), bundled or intertwined in the same trench, where the
total number of facilities is not readily known (operator has no record on
file for the number of facilities). Marks are placed over the approximate
center of the facilities and indicate the width of the corridor. The width of
the corridor is the distance between the actual located outside edges of
the combined facilities.
Example: a 12 in. corridor (12” CDR)

3. Changes in direction and lateral connections are clearly indicated at the

point where the change in direction or connection occurs, with an arrow
indicating the path of the facility. A radius is indicated with marks describing
the arc. When providing offset markings (paint or stakes), show the direction
of the facility and distance to the facility from the markings.

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 Uniform Color Code and Marking Guidelines

Example: radius

Appendix B: Uniform Color Code and Marking Guidelines

Example: lateral connection

Example: painted offset (off)

Example: staked offset (off)

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

4. An operator’s identifier (name, abbreviation or initials) is placed at the

beginning and at the end of the proposed work. In addition, subsequent
operators using the same color mark their company identifier at all points
where their facility crosses another operator’s facility using the same color.
Reduce the separation of excavation marks to a length that can reasonably
be seen by the operator’s locators when the terrain at an excavation site
warrants.
Examples:
CITYCO ELECO TELCO

5. Information regarding the size and composition of the facility is marked at an

appropriate frequency.
Examples: the number of ducts in a multi-duct structure, width of a pipeline,
and whether it is steel, plastic, cable, etc.
TELCO GASCO WATERCO
9/4” CAB 4” PLA 12” STL

6. Facilities installed in a casing are identified as such.

Appendix B: Uniform Color Code and Marking Guidelines

Examples: 6 in. plastic in 12 in. steel and fiber optic in 4 in. steel
GASCO TELCO
6” PLA/12” STL FO (4” STL)
7. Structures such as vaults, inlets and lift stations that are physically larger
than obvious surface indications are marked so as to define the parameters
of the structure.
Example:

8. Termination points or dead ends are indicated as such.

Example:

9. When there is “No Conflict” with the excavation, complete one or more of the
following:
• Operators of a single type of facility (e.g., TELCO) mark the area “NO”
followed by the appropriate company identifier in the matching APWA
color code for that facility.
Example: NO TELCO

• Operators of multiple facilities mark the area “NO” followed by the

appropriate company identifier in the matching APWA color code for that
facility with a slash and the abbreviation for the type of facility for which
there is “No Conflict.”
Example: NO GASCO/G/D illustrates that GASCO has no gas
distribution facilities at this excavation site. The following abbreviations
are used when appropriate: /G/D (gas distribution); /G/T (gas
transmission); /E/D (electric distribution); /E/T (electric transmission).

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 Uniform Color Code and Marking Guidelines

• Place a clear plastic (translucent) flag that states “No Conflict” in lettering
matching the APWA color code of the facility that is not in conflict. Include
on the flag the operator’s identifier, phone number, a place to write the
locate ticket number and date. Operators of multiple facilities indicate on
the flag which facilities are in “No Conflict” with the excavation (see the
previous example).
• If it can be determined through maps or records that the proposed

Appendix B: Uniform Color Code and Marking Guidelines

excavation is obviously not in conflict with their facility, the locator or
operator of the facility may notify the excavator of “No Conflict” by
phone, fax or email, or through the 811 center, where electronic positive
response is used. Operators of multiple facilities indicate a “No Conflict”
for each facility (see the previous examples).
• Place “No Conflict” markings or flags in a location that can be observed
by the excavator and/or notify the excavator by phone, fax or email
that there is “No Conflict” with your facilities. When the excavation is
delineated by the use of white markings, place “No Conflict” markings or
flags in or as near as practicable to the delineated area.
Caution: Allow adequate space for all facility mark-outs.
“No Conflict” indicates that the operator verifying the “No Conflict” has no
facilities within the scope of the delineation; or when there is no delineation,
there are no facilities within the work area as described on the locate ticket.
Example:

Color Code Identifiers

White Proposed Excavation

Pink Temporary Survey Markings

Red Electric Power Lines, Cables, Conduit, and Lighting Cables

Yellow Gas, Oil, Steam, Petroleum, or Gaseous Materials

Orange Communication, Alarm or Signal Lines, Cables, or Conduit

Blue Potable Water

Purple Reclaimed Water, Irrigation, and Slurry Lines

Green Sewers and Drain Lines

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

Common Abbreviations
Facility Identifier
CH Chemical
E Electric
FO Fiber Optic
G Gas
LPG Liquefied Petroleum Gas
PP Petroleum Products
RR Railroad Signal
S Sewer
SD Storm Drain
SS Storm Sewer
SL Street Lighting
STM Steam
Appendix B: Uniform Color Code and Marking Guidelines

SP Slurry System
TEL Telephone
TS Traffic Signal
TV Television
W Water
W Reclaimed Water “Purple”

Underground Construction Descriptions

C Conduit
CDR Corridor
D Distribution Facility
DB Direct Buried
DE Dead End
JT Joint Trench
HP High Pressure
HH Hand Hole
MH Manhole
PB Pull Box
R Radius
STR Structure (vaults, junction boxes, inlets, lift stations)
T Transmission Facility

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 Uniform Color Code and Marking Guidelines

Infrastructure Material
ABS Acrylonitrile - Butadiene - Styrene
ACP Asbestos Cement Pipe
CI Cast Iron
CMC Cement Mortar Coated

Appendix B: Uniform Color Code and Marking Guidelines

CML Cement Mortar Lined
CPP Corrugated Plastic Pipe
CMP Corrugated Metal Pipe
CU Copper
CWD Creosote Wood Duct
HDPE High Density Polyethylene
MTD Multiple Tile Duct
PLA Plastic (conduit or pipe)
RCB Reinforced Concrete Box
RCP Reinforced Concrete Pipe
RF Reinforced Fiberglass
SCCP Steel Cylinder Concrete Pipe
STL Steel
VCP Vitrified Clay Pipe

Guide for Abbreviation Use

Follow these guidelines when placing abbreviations in the field:
• Place the Company Identifier at the top or at the left of the abbreviations.
• Place the abbreviations in the following order: Company Identifier /
Facility Identifier / Underground Construction Descriptions /
Infrastructure Material
Example: TELCO/TEL/FO/PLA indicates that TELCO has a
telecommunication fiber optic line in a single plastic conduit. The
use of the abbreviation /TEL is not necessary, because the orange
marking would indicate that the facility was a communication line;
but its use is optional.

• To omit one or more of the abbreviation types, use the order described
above but omit the slash and abbreviation that does not apply.
Example: to omit /TEL), the result would be TELCO/FO/PLA.

Guidelines for Underground Electronic Utility Marker

Technology74/
Underground electronic utility markers incorporate unique frequencies and/
or data transfer capabilities to identify an underground asset. In general,
radio frequency identification (RFID) has been in use for a few decades and
incorporates unique frequencies for each type of utility; this allows locators and
operators to identify specific types of underground utilities. Data-transfer RFID
allows users to write to and read information from the marker. Advantages of
utility-specific frequency RFID markers include greater depth of detection, no
need to read data to identify a utility type, and tradition of use. Advantages of
data-transfer RFID markers include utility agnosticism (does not require different
frequencies to communicate utility type) and ability to write and read specific
underground utility information from the marker.
Underground electronic utility markers fall into two primary use case categories:

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

point marking and path marking. Both device types generate an electromagnetic
radio frequency to provide accurate location information. Point markers are
installed along the vertical axis to identify the specific location of an underground
facility feature, component or utility type. Path markers are installed along the
horizontal axis along a buried underground facility and provide a running line
direction and location of an underground utility. Examples of point markers
include: ultra-high frequency (UHF) RFID subsurface tags, high frequency (HF)
subsurface markers, UHF RFID magnets, active UHF RFID subsurface tags,
marker balls, disk markers, near surface markers, full range markers, mini
markers, box markers, tap tee markers, duct markers, and RFID tags. Path
markers include intrinsically locatable plastic pipe, UHF RFID tape and rope, and
HF RFID tape and rope.
Facility owners/operators consider several factors associated with the installation,
location and data integration of electronic markers, including
the following:
Installation Factors
• Signal drift, burial depth and power loss over time due to changing
environmental conditions
Appendix B: Uniform Color Code and Marking Guidelines

• Signal loss that occurs with distance traveled

• Electronic markers’ operating specifications to maximize underground
facility and marker lifetime
• Ease of integration with other systems
According to VDOT’s paper, Electronic RFID Marking and GPS Based Utility As-
Built Mapping System, additional potential spacing protocols for electronic point
maker placement for new construction are:
• Every 25 ft. along the facility path
• At significant horizontal and vertical changes in direction
• At critical utility crossings, tees and service connection
• On appurtenances that are important to the utility owner
Location Factors
The quality of the locating frequency may deteriorate if the underground utility
marker is adjacent to a plurality of underground facilities with underground utility
markers operating at a similar frequency. The following potentially applicable
point marker locating frequencies, according to VDOT’s paper (Electronic RFID
Marking and GPS Based Utility As-Built Mapping System), can be used to avoid
signal interference and identify and locate a specific utility type. The verification
frequency associated with the RFID tag can vary.
Commonly-Used Frequencies for Various Underground Electronic Utility Markers

Underground Facility Point Path US UHF RFID

Frequencies Frequencies
Power 169.8 kHz 34.9kHz 902-928 MHz
Water 145.7 kHz 73.5kHz 902-928 MHz
Wastewater 121.6 kHz 41.4kHz 902-928 MHz
Telecommunication 101.4 kHz 48.8kHz 902-928 MHz
Gas 83 kHz 53.9kHz 902-928 MHz
Cable TV and 77 kHz 48.8 kHz 902-928 MHz
Communications
General Purpose/ 66.35 kHz 44.9 kHz 902-928 MHz
Reclaimed Water
Data Integration Factors

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 Uniform Color Code and Marking Guidelines

Additional factors are related to the storage and labeling of data tagged to an
underground utility marker via RFID technology, including:
• Information to be stored with the unique identifier
• Metadata template definition and creation to promote data collection
consistency and underground utility marker operation across varying
technology solutions

Appendix B: Uniform Color Code and Marking Guidelines

◦ Sample data elements to collect may include: asset type, asset
material, asset class, asset owner, burial depth, latitude/longitude, EM
manufacturer and emergency contact information.
• Underground utility marker with RFID tagging integration into routine QLA
investigations (subsurface utility engineering quality level) to label the
location and burial distance of the exposed pipe

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0
Appendix B: Uniform Color Code and Marking Guidelines

LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY

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 APPENDIX C

Sample Forms, Reports

and Releases

Appendix C: Sample Forms, Reports and Releases

During the Common Ground Study, the Reporting and Evaluation Task Team
drafted a sample report form (originally referred to as figure 9-1) to demonstrate
what may be reported when collecting damage prevention information. The
team created this sample form (illustrated on the following page) using the best
practices from 811 center, regulatory agency, facility, locator, excavator and
industry group report forms. The form was created to enable data collection from
all stakeholders involved in the damage prevention process, including facility
owners/operators, excavators and locators.

Appendix C Sample Form

The 9-1 form was the basis for the development of the CGA’s Damage
Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) launched in December 2003. The Data
Reporting & Evaluation Committee approved minor modifications to the original
9-1 form when creating DIRT. These modifications were later approved by the
CGA Best Practices Committee. The approved DIRT form has been included in
Appendix C. To review the electronic version and tool, visit
http://form.cga-dirt.com.

References:
The following references were used as examples during the Task Team’s
discussions and the development of the composite 9-1 reporting form. These
sources do not include all stakeholders that may report any of the same
information shown on the sample form.
• Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control/Call Before You Dig, Inc.
• Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.
• Florida Sunshine State One Call
• Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Energy
• National Transportation Safety Board Safety Study: Protecting Public
Safety Through Excavation Damage Prevention (NTSB/SS-97-01)
• New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission
• Tennessee One Call System, Inc.
• Tierdael Construction Company—General Contractors
• Virginia State Corporation Commission

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

BEST PRACTICES CHAPTER 9—REPORTING AND EVALUATION

Practice Statement 9–6: A Standardized Form Is Adopted: A standardized form that
includes the mandatory DIRT fields is adopted and distributed to all facility owners/
operators, locators, excavators and other appropriate stakeholders. (Refer to Appendix C
for example form)58/

Sample Form: Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT)—Field Form

FIELD FORM
SM

Rev: 12/10/2024
* Indicates a Required Field

PART A – ORIGINAL SOURCE OF EVENT INFORMATION

Who is providing the information?

Electric Engineer/Design Equipment Manufacturer Excavator Federal / State Regulator
Liquid Pipeline Locator Natural Gas Private Water Public Works
Railroad Road Builders Telecommunications Unknown/Other

Name of person providing the information:

PART B – TYPE, DATE, AND LOCATION OF EVENT

*Date of Event: *Type: DIRT Event Underground Damage Underground Near Miss
Non-DIRT Event Above Grade Aerial Natural Cause Submarine
*Street Address:
Appendix C: Sample Forms, Reports and Releases

Nearest Intersection:
City: *County: *State: *Country:
Latitude: Longitude: Decimal Degrees DMS
*Right-of-way where the event occurred:
Public City Street State Highway County Road Interstate Highway Public - Other
Private Private Business Private Land Owner Private Easement Pipeline Power/Transmission Line
Dedicated Public Utility Easement Federal Land Railroad Unknown/Other

PART C – AFFECTED FACILITY INFORMATION

*What type of facility operation was affected? Cable Television Electric Liquid Pipeline Natural Gas Sewer
Steam Telecommunications Water Unknown/Other
*What type of facility was affected? Distribution Gathering Service/Drop Transmission Unknown/Other
Was the facility part of a joint trench? Yes No Unknown
Did this event involve a Cross Bore? Yes No Unknown
Was facility owner a member of the 811/One Call Center? Yes No Unknown
If no, is facility owner exempt from 811/One Call Center membership? Yes No Unknown
Measured Depth From Grade: Embedded in concrete/asphalt pavement <18” / 46 cm 18” – 36” / 46 - 91 cm
>36” / 91 cm Measured depth from grade in/cm

PART D – EXCAVATION INFORMATION

*Type of Excavator Contractor County Developer Farmer Municipality Occupant Railroad State
Utility Unknown/Other
*Type of Excavation Equipment Auger Backhoe/Trackhoe Boring Bulldozer Drilling Directional Drilling
Explosives Farm Equipment Grader/Scraper Hand Tools Milling Equipment Probing Device Trencher
Vacuum Equipment Unknown/Other
*Type of Work Performed Agriculture Bldg. Construction Bldg. Demolition Cable Television Curb/Sidewalk
Drainage Driveway Electric Engineering/Survey Fencing Grading Irrigation Landscaping Liquid Pipeline
Milling Natural Gas Pole Public Transit Auth. Railroad Road Work Sewer Site Development Steam
Storm Drain/Culvert Street Light Telecommunication Traffic Signal Traffic Sign Water Waterway Improvement
Unknown/Other

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

SM

Common Ground Alliance cga-dirt.com

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 Sample Forms, Reports and Releases

Sample Form for Reporting Data

Appendix C: Sample Forms, Reports and Releases

PART E – NOTIFICATION AND LOCATING

*Was the 811/One Call Center notified of intent to excavate? Yes No Ticket Number:
If yes, type of locator: Facility Owner Contract Locator Unknown
If no, is excavation activity and/or excavator type exempt from notification? Yes No Unknown
Was work area white-lined? Yes No Unknown

PART G – EXCAVATOR DOWNTIME

Did excavator incur down time? Yes No Unknown

If yes, how much time? < 1 hr 1 - <2 hrs 2 - <3 hrs 3+ hrs Unknown Exact duration in hours:
Estimated cost of down time? $0 $1-1000 $1,001-5,000 $5,001-25,000 $25,001-50,000 >$50,000 Unknown
Exact estimated cost:

PART H – INTERRUPTION AND RESTORATION

*Did the damage cause an interruption in service? Yes No Unknown

If yes, duration of interruption: < 1 hr 1 - <6 hrs 6 - <12 hrs 12 - <24 hrs 24 - <48 hrs 48+ hrs Unknown
Exact duration in hours:
Approximately how many customers were affected? 0 1 2-10 11-50 51+ Unknown Exact #:
Estimated cost of damage/repair/restoration: $0 $1 - 1,000 $1,001- 5,000 $5,001 - 25,000 $25,001 - 50,000
> $50,000 Unknown Exact estimated cost:

*PART I – ROOT CAUSE Select only one!

Notification Issue Locating Issue

No notification made to One Call Center/ 811 Facility not marked due to:
Invalid Use of Request Abandoned facility
Excavator dug outside area described on ticket Incorrect facility records/maps
Excavator dug prior to valid start date/time Locator error
Excavator dug after valid ticket expired No response from operator/contract locator
Excavator provided incorrect notification information Incomplete marks at damage location
Excavation Issue Tracer wire issue
Excavator dug prior to verifying marks by test-hole (pothole) Unlocatable Facility
Excavator failed to maintain clearance after verifying marks Facility marked inaccurately due to:
Excavator failed to protect/shore/support facilities Abandoned facility
Improper backfilling practices Incorrect facility records/maps
Marks faded or not maintained Locator error
Improper excavation practice not listed above Tracer wire issue

Miscellaneous Root Causes

PART J – ADDITIONAL COMMENTS One Call Center Error
Deteriorated facility
Previous damage
Root Cause not listed (comment required)

SM

Common Ground Alliance cga-dirt.com

Starting with 2018 data, all submissions should use the new field form outlined
above. Please visit http://form.cga-dirt.com for additional details and to access
the updated field form.

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

BEST PRACTICES CHAPTER 8—PUBLIC EDUCATION AND AWARENESS

Practice Statement 8–7: Free Media33/: An effective damage prevention education program
utilizes all available free media.

Sample Press Release

Appendix C: Sample Forms, Reports and Releases

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 APPENDIX D

Additional References and Endnotes

Additional References

Appendix D: Additional References and Endnotes

The references contained in Appendix D are intended to be supplemental
references for existing and/or new practices found within the CGA Best Practices.
Trenchless Excavation
Chapter 2: Practice Statement 2–13
Chapter 4: Practice Statement 4–19
Chapter 5: Practice Statement 5–29
References
American Gas Association (AGA), “Directional Drilling Damage Prevention
Guidelines for the Natural Gas Industry,” Technical Note, December 30, 2004.
American Society of Civil Engineers, ASCE Manuals and Reports on Engineering
Practice No. 89, “Pipeline Crossings,” 1996.
Bennett, R.D., S.T. Ariaratnam, and C. Como, “Horizontal Directional Drilling
Good Practices Guidelines,” HDD Consortium, Washington, DC, ISBN 1-928984-
13-4, 2001.
California Department of Transportation, CALTRANS, “CALTRANS
Encroachment Permits—Guidelines and Specifications for HDD Installations,”
July 14, 2003.
Directional Crossing Contractors Association (DCCA), “Guidelines for Successful
Directional Crossing Survey Standards,” Dallas, TX, 1999.
Directional Crossing Contractors Association (DCCA), “Horizontal Drilling Safe
Operations Guidelines,” Dallas, TX, 1995.
Gas Research Institute, “Final Report—Guideline for the Application of Guided
Horizontal Drilling to Install Gas Distribution Piping,” GRI-96-0368, September
1996.
National Transportation Safety Board, “Safety Study: Protecting Public Safety
Through Excavation Damage Prevention,” Washington, DC, December 1999.
National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA), “Trenchless Construction
Methods and Soil Compatibility Manual,” 3rd Edition, Washington, DC.
National Utility Locating Contractors Association (NULCA), “Excavation Practices
& Procedures for Damage Prevention,” Spooner, WI, 1996.

Endnotes
When endnotes begin with a date, this is the date that the amendment or addition
was approved by CGA’s Board of Directors.
1. National Transportation Safety Board, 1995. Proceedings of the Excavation
Damage Prevention Workshop; 1994 September 8-9; Washington, DC,
Report of Proceedings NTSB/RP-95/01 (pp.177-178), Washington, DC.
2. National Utility Locating Contractors Association, 2002. Locator Training
Standards and Practices, Spooner, WI
3. 11/30/2001 Amendment approved by the CGA Board via TR-2001-02A
4. 09/27/2002 Amendment approved by the CGA Board via TR-2001-02B
5. 04/08/2003 Addition approved by the Best Practices Committee
6. 09/25/2003 Amendment approved by the CGA Board via TR-2001-04

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

7. 03/26/2004 Amendment approved by the CGA Board via TR-2003-02

8. 09/24/2004 Information contained in this appendix approved by the CGA
Board
9. 09/24/2004 Amendment approved by the CGA Board via TR-2001-05
10. 03/04/2005 Amendment approved by the CGA Board via TR-2004-02
11. 03/04/2005 Amendment approved by the CGA Board via TR-2004-03
12. 04/15/2005 Amendment approved by the CGA Board via TR-2004-04A
13. 09/16/2005 Amendment approved by the CGA Board via TR-2002-03
14. 09/16/2005 Amendment approved by the CGA Board via TR-2004-04B
15. 09/08/2006 Amendment approved by CGA Board via TR-2002-04
16. 09/08/2006 Amendment approved by the CGA Board via TR-2005-02
17. 11/16/2006 Amendment approved by CGA Board via TR-2006-02
18. 08/24/2007 Modification to statement approved by the CGA Board via TR-
2007-01
19. 08/24/2007 Modification to statement approved by the CGA Board via TR-
2007-02
20. 08/24/2007 Modification to description approved by the CGA Board via TR-
2007-03
21. 11/15/2007 Amendment approved by the CGA Board via TR-2007-04
Appendix D: Additional References and Endnotes

22. 08/08/2008 Amendment approved by CGA Board via TR-2007-05

23. 08/08/2008 Amendment approved by the CGA Board via TR-2007-06
24. 11/14/2008 Amendment approved by the CGA Board via TR-2005-05
25. 12/12/2008 Amendment approved by the CGA Board via TR-2006-03
26. 05/15/2009 Amendment approved by the CGA Board via TR-2008-01
27. 10/16/2009 Addition approved by the CGA Board via TR-2009-01
28. 10/16/2009 Addition approved by the CGA Board via TR-2009-04
29. 10/16/2009 Addition approved by the CGA Board via TR-2009-05
30. 10/16/2009 Addition approved by the CGA Board via TR-2009-07
31. 10/16/2009 Amendment approved by the CGA Board via TR-2009-08
32. 12/04/2009 Addition approved by the CGA Board via TR-2009-17
33. 12/04/2009 Amendment approved by the CGA Board via TR-2009-20
34. 03/03/2010 Amendment approved by the CGA Board via TR-2008-02
35. 07/16/2010 Amendment approved by the CGA Board via TR-2008-03
36. 07/16/2010 Amendment approved by the CGA Board via TR-2009-16
37. 07/16/2010 Final wording approved by the CGA Board via TR-2009-16
38. 09/10/2010 Addition approved by the CGA Board via TR-2009-09
39. 09/10/2010 Amendment approved by the CGA Board via TR-2009-09
40. 09/10/2010 Amendment approved by the CGA Board via TR-2010-01A
41. 09/10/2010 Amendment approved by the CGA Board via TR-2010-01B
42. 06/17/2011 Addition approved by the CGA Board via TR-2009-12
43. 08/26/2011 Addition approved by the CGA Board via TR-2010-05
44. 12/01/2011 Amendment approved by the CGA Board via TR-2010-04
45. 08/10/2012 Amendment approved by CGA Board via TR-2010-02
46. 08/10/2012 Addition approved by CGA Board via TR-2011-02
47. 08/10/2012 Addition approved by the CGA Board via TR-2011-06
48. 08/10/2012 Addition approved by the CGA Board via TR-2011-07

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 Additional References and Endnotes

49. 08/10/2012 Addition approved by the CGA Board via TR-2011-08

50. 08/10/2012 Amendment approved by the CGA Board via TR-2011-09
51. 12/13/2012 Addition approved by the CGA Board via TR-2011-03
52. 12/13/2012 Addition approved by the CGA Board via TR-2011-05
53. 12/13/2012 Addition approved by CGA Board via TR-2012-05

Appendix D: Additional References and Endnotes

54. 10/24/2013 Addition approved by CGA Board via TR-2011-01
55. 12/05/2013 Amendment approved by the CGA Board via TR-2009-14
56. 12/05/2013 Amendment approved by the CGA Board via TR-2013-02
57. 06/19/2014 Practice removal approved by the CGA Board via TR-2010-02
58. 06/19/2014 Wording approved by CGA Board via TR-2010-02
59. 06/19/2014 Wording approved by CGA Board via TR-2011-11
60. 12/11/2014 Wording approved by CGA Board via TR-2012-01
61. 11/04/2015 Amendment approved by Best Practices Committee via
TR‑2013-03
62. 11/04/2015 Approved by Best Practices Committee via TR-2015-03
63. 07/22/2016 Approved by CGA Board via TR-2015-01
64. 12/13/2016 Approved by CGA Board via TR-2014-01
65. 12/13/2016 Approved by CGA Board via TR-2015-02
66. 12/13/2017 Approved by CGA Board via TR-2015-03
67. 12/13/2017 Approved by CGA Board via TR-2016-01
68. 07/27/2018 Approved by CGA Board via TR 2017-02
69. 03/26/2019 Approved by CGA Board via TR 2014-02
70. 07/24/2019 Approved by CGA Board via TR 2013-01
71. 01/16/2020 Approved by Best Practices Committee via TR-2018-01
72. 04/12/2021 Approved by CGA Board via TR 2019-02
73. 04/12/2021 Approved by CGA Board via TR 2019-02
74. 04.12.2021 Approved by CGA Board via TR 2019-02
75. 04/06/2022 Approved by CGA Board via TR 2021-02
76. 04/06/2022 Approved by CGA Board via TR 2021-02
77. 04/06/2022 Approved by CGA Board via TR 2021-02
78. 04/06/2022 Approved by CGA Board via TR 2021-02
79. 07/28/2022 Approved by CGA Board via TR 2021-01
80. 10/20/2022 Approved by CGA Board via TR 2021-01
81. 10/20/2022 Approved by CGA Board via TR 2021-02
82. 10/20/2022 Approved by CGA Board via TR 2021-02
83. 10/20/2022 Approved by CGA Board via TR 2022-04
84. 10/20/2022 Approved by CGA Board via TR 2022-05
85. 12/06/2022 Approved by CGA Board via TR 2021-02
86. 12/06/2022 Approved by CGA Board via TR 2022-01
87. 12/06/2022 Approved by CGA Board via TR 2022-01
88. 12/06/2022 Approved by CGA Board via TR 2022-01
89. 12/06/2022 Approved by CGA Board via TR 2022-01
90. 12/06/2022 Approved by CGA Board via TR 2022-01

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

91. 12/04/2023 Amendment approved by CGA Board via TR 2023-02

92. 12/04/2023 Amendment approved by CGA Board via TR 2022-06
93. 12/04/2023 Amendment approved by CGA Board via TR 2022-06
94. 12/04/2023 Amendment approved by CGA Board via TR 2022-06
95. 12/04/2023 Amendment approved by CGA Board via TR 2023-01
96. 12/04/2023 Amendment approved by CGA Board via TR 2023-01
97. 12/04/2023 Amendment approved by CGA Board via TR 2023-01
98. 12/04/2023 Approved by CGA Board via TR 2023-03
99. 12/04/2023 Amendment approved by CGA Board via TR 2023-05
100. 12/05/2024 Amendment approved by CGA Board via TR 2023-04
101. 12/05/2024 Amendment approved by CGA Board via TR 2021-01
102. 12/05/2024 Addition approved by CGA Board via TR 2023-01
103. 12/05/2024 Amendment approved by CGA Board via TR 2021-01
104. 12/05/2024 Practice removal approved by CGA Board via TR 2021-01
105. 12/05/2024 Amendment approved by CGA Board via TR 2021-01
106. 12/05/2024 Amendment approved by CGA Board via TR 2021-01
107. 12/05/2024 Amendment approved by CGA Board via TR 2021-01
108. 12/05/2024 Practice removal approved by CGA Board via TR 2021-01
109. 12/05/2024 Practice removal approved by CGA Board via TR 2021-01
110. 12/05/2024 Amendment approved by CGA Board via TR 2021-01
111. 12/05/2024 Practice removal approved by CGA Board via TR 2021-01
112. 12/05/2024 Addition approved by CGA Board via TR 2023-01
Appendix D: Appendix D:

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 APPENDIX E

CGA Member Organizations

List current as of Dec. 15, 2024 Alliant Energy
Allied Corrosion Industries, Inc

Appendix E: CGA Member Organizations

1 Stop Utility & Construction Services LLC Allison Sierra Inc.
1155 Infrastructure Solutions, LLC Alpha Pacific Engineering & Contracting, Inc.
2M General Engineering Alta Archaeological Consulting LLC
3B Enterprises, LLC ALTA Concrete, Inc.
3D Partners LLC Alta Fence Company
3M Alternative Structural Technologies Inc
4 Warriors Hydro Excavation, LLC Alvah Contracting, LLC
4G Excavation LLC Alvah Group, Inc.
4th Generation Tree Alvarado Construction Inc.
679692 BC LTD DBA On Call Service Center AMAROK, LLC
811 Assist AMcomm Telecommunications Inc.
A Plus Tree LLC Ameren Illinois
A Plus Utility Locating American Asphalt Repair & Resurfacing Company, Inc.
A. J. Excavation, Inc. American Boring Company Inc
A-1 Advantage Asphalt American Construction & Supply, Inc.
A3GEO, Inc. American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers
AA Asphalting LLC American Gas Association
AAA Tree Service LLC American Integrated Services, Inc.
Aaron Enterprises, Inc. American Petroleum Institute
ABC Liovin Drilling Inc American Power, LLC
Abercrombie Pipeline Services, LLC American Public Gas Association
Able Maintenance, Inc. American Public Works Association
Aboveboard Consulting, LLC Ample Electric, Inc.,
ACC Construction, Inc. AMPP Construction Inc.
Accelerated Construction & Metal, LLC AMS Construction Inc
Access General Contracting, Inc. Anderson Burton Construction
ACCO Engineered Systems, Inc. Angkor Engineering, Inc.
Accurate Corrosion Control, Inc. Anrak Corporation
Action Asphalt Maintenance Inc. Anvil Builders Inc.
Action Environmental Anvil Power
ACTS Now Inc. Apex Environmental & Engineering Inc.
ACV Environmental Apex Pipeline Services, Inc.
Adelphia Gateway, LLC Appellation Construction Services, LLC.
Advance Asphalt, Inc. Applied Construction Solutions, INC
Advanced Chemical Transport Inc. dba ACTenviro Applied Earthworks, Inc.
Advanced Hydrovac Inc Aquatic Designing Inc dba North Coast Fabricators
Advanced Lighting Services, Inc. ARB Inc.
Advanced Line Systems ArborWorks, LLC
AEGIS Insurance Service, Inc. Arc American Inc
AES Industrial Arcadis
Ahlborn Fence & Steel, Inc. Aristeo Construction
Ahtna Government Services Corporation Arizona 811
Aiken & Fairbanks Inc. dba Fairbanks Paving Co. Arizona Pipeline Company
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Arkansas 811
AirX Utility Surveyors, Inc Armour Fence
AJ Ventures, Inc. Arrow Drillers Inc DBA Arrow Construction
A-Jay Excavating, Inc. ASAP Paving Inc.
AJW Construction Asphalt Technology Inc
Alabama 811 Asplundh Construction, LLC
ALB Inc. Associated General Contractors of America
Albion Environmental, Inc. Associated Traffic Safety Inc.
Alisto Engineering Group, Inc. Association of Equipment Manufacturers
All American Paving Asta Construction Co., Inc.
All Commercial Fence ASW Pipeline LLC
Allegheny Contracting, LLC AT&T
Alliance Environmental Services, Inc. Atlantic Civil Design Corp.

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

Atlantic Construction Co., Inc. Blue Grit Robotics

Atlas Foundation Co., LLC Blue Iron Foundations and Shoring, LLC
Atlas Trenchless, LLC Blue Sky Construction LLC
Atmos Energy Corporation Blue Sky Weed & Pest Control, Inc.
Austin’s Concrete & Asphalt Cutting dba Blue Sky Pipeline Services
Avina Equipment Rental Incorporated Blue Stakes of Utah 811
Avista Corporation BluRoc, LLC
Avtech Construction Inc Boardwalk Pipelines
Aztrack Construction BOND Civil & Utility Construction, Inc.
B & H Construction, LLC Bonilla Equipment, Inc.
B & M Ashman, Inc. Bordges Timber Inc.
B&B Hughes Construction, Inc. BOSS Solutions
B&G Pipeline Company Bottom Line Services, LLC.
B. Frank Joy LLC Boundary Fence and Supply Co.
B. Jackson Construction & Engineering Inc. Bowen Industrial Contractors
Badger Infrastructure Solutions bp America & bp Pipelines North America
Bailey’s Trenchless, Inc. Brad Malley Well Drilling Inc.
Ballard Marine Construction LLC Bradley Tanks Inc.
Baltimore Gas and Electric Company Bradshaw Construction
Bancroft Construction Services, LLC Brand X Hydrovac Services, Inc.
Bargas Environmental Consulting, LLC Bray Construction Services
Barnard Pipeline Inc Brennstuhl Construction, Inc.
Barr Engineering Co. Brightview Landscape
Barrow’s Landscaping BRIXCO Construction, Inc.
Barton Malow Company Brookhart Electric, Inc.
Basin Enterprises Brotherton Pipeline, Inc.
Bass Engineering Company Bruce Howard Contracting, Inc
Bay Area Geotechnical Group Brucon Inc.
Bay Area Hydrovac Brunk Excavating INC.
Bay Area Paving BT Construction, Inc.
Appendix E: CGA Member Organizations

Bay Cities Asphalt, Inc. Buchanan Contracting, Inc

BDS Enterprises LLC Buckeye Partners, LP
Bear Electrical Solutions, Inc Buckeye Pipeline Construction, Inc.
Beeghly Tree, LLC Bullert Industrial Electric, Inc.
BEI Construction, Inc C & R Fence Contractors Inc
Benchmark Subsurface Utility Services C&C Utility, Inc.
Benchmark Utility Services C. Overaa & Co
Bennett Construction, Inc. C. W. Lance LLC
Benton-Georgia, LLC C.F. Archibald Paving, Inc.
Bermex, Inc C.J. Hughes Construction Company Inc.
Bess TestLab, Inc. C2R Engineering, Inc.
Beta Engineering, LLC CAC Industries, Inc.
Beyond Underground Cal Empire Engineering, Inc.
BH Holmes Construction Co. Cal Valley Construction, Inc.
BHE GT&S California Auger Boring
BHI Inc California Boring, Inc
Big S Asphalt, Co. California Cut & Core, Inc.
Bill Nelson General Engineering Construction Inc. California Locating Services, Inc
Bill Petty’s Backhoe Service, Inc. California Reforestation, Inc.
Bjork Construction CO. INC. Call Before You Dig, Inc.
BKF Engineers Callahan Paving Corp.
Black & Veatch Corporation Campos EPC, LLC
Black Hills Energy Canadian Common Ground Alliance
Black Widow Energy Inc Cannon Construction, LLC
Blackburn Mfg. Co. Cannon Constructors, LLC
Blackeagle Energy Services Canyon Dirt Works LLC
Blacks Electrical Canyon Springs Enterprises
Blaine Tech Services, Inc. Carl Bolander and Sons
Blair, Church & Flynn Consulting Engineers Carly Howell DBA DC Construction
Blake Pipeline Inc. Carolina Power and Signalization, Inc.
Blood Hound, LLC. Carone & Company, Inc.
Blount Electrical Services, LLC Carpi USA

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 CGA Member Organizations

Carri Construction, Inc. Clearwater Gas System

Cascade Drilling LP Clearwater Landscape Services, Inc
Casey Utility Services, Inc. Clell Construction, LLC
Castle Energy Group, LLC CMV Landscape & Equipment Co.
CB2 Builders, Inc. Coastal Fiber, LLC
CC Power Coastal Paving & Excavating Inc.
Cedar Creek Corporation Coastal R.O.W. Services Company, Inc.

Appendix E: CGA Member Organizations

Cencal Directional Drilling, Inc. Cogstone Resource Management
CENCAL Services Inc. Cole Contracting Inc.
Cenergy, LLC Colibri Ecological Consulting, LLC
Centerline Energy Construction LLC Colonial Pipeline
CenterPoint Energy Colonnelli Brothers, Inc.
Central Coast Land Services, Inc. Colorado 811
Central Michigan Contracting, Inc. Colorado Springs Utilities
Central Sierra Enterprise Inc. Colorado Utilities Services LLC
Central Valley Engineering & Asphalt, Inc. Columbia Electric, Inc.
Centrica Business Solutions Services, Inc. Comcast
CERVERA BACKHOE & EXCAVATION SERVICES Commercial Contracting Corporation
CGI TECHNICAL SERVICES, INC Communication Construction & Engineering, Inc.
CH2M HILL Engineers, Inc., a wholly owned Community Tree Service, LLC
subsidiary of Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. Compass Energy Services
Chain Link Fence and Supply, Inc. Competers US
Champion Cleaning Specialists, Inc. Complete Mechanical Services, LLC.
Champion Electric Complete Pipeline Services, Ltd
Charge EPC Complete Underground LLC
Charps LLC Condon-Johnson & Associates, Inc.
Cheniere Pipeline ConeTec Investigations Ltd
Chesapeake Energy Corporation Confluence Technical Services, Inc.
Chesapeake Utilities Corporation Connor Concrete Cutting and Coring
Chet Morrison Contractors, LLC Consolidated Edison of New York
Chevron Corporation Constru One Inc
Chiapperino & Sons Inc Consumers Energy
dba All County Asphalt Maintenance Contra Costa Water District
Chinchen Electric Cooper Energy Services Inc
Chris Swanson Trucking LLC Copperhead Industries
CHS Inc. Cordoba Corporation
Chucks Septic Tank dba CST Utilities Core Construction Builders and Associates, Inc
Circle M Construction Co Inc Corner Bit Excavation
Citizens Energy Group Cornerstone Energy Services Inc.
City of Arvada Cornforth Consultants, Inc.
City of Chicago - 811 Chicago Corrpro
City of Corpus Christi Gas Department CoServ
City of Duluth Cotton, Shires and Associates, Inc.
City of Ellensburg Gas Division Countrymark Refining & Logistics, LLC
City of Fountain Cowan & Thompson Construction, Inc.
City of Las Cruces Cox & Cox Construction Inc.
City of Long Beach - Long Beach Utilities CPN Pipeline Company
City of Mesa Crimson Pipeline, L,P.
City of Olive Branch Public Works Crown Castle
City of Shelby Crusader Fence Company LLC
City of Tallahassee, Electric and Gas Utility Crux Subsurface, Inc.
Civil Substations Inc. CUES Inc.
CivilGrid Cuevas Fencing Co
Civtel, Inc. Culver Company
CJ Drilling, Inc. Culy Contracting LLC
CJ Torres Construction Inc. Cupertino Electric Inc.
dba Breakthrough Groundworks Cut ‘N Core, Inc
Claims Management Resources CW Wright Construction LLC
Clarke-Mobile Counties Gas District Cyclone Services LLC
Clarksville Gas & Water Department D&M Utility Services of CA
Clean Harbors Environmental Services D&S Backhoe Service Inc
ClearPath Utility Solutions, LLC D&S Construction Inc

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

D&T Power LLC Drake HDD LLC

D.A. Lampe Construction Dreams Excavating and Paving LLP
D.E. Rice Construction Company Inc. Drill Tech Drilling & Shoring, Inc.
D.W. Young Construction Company Inc. Drilltech
Dakota Gasification Company DSM Concrete, Inc.
Dakota Line Contractors, LLC DTE Energy
Dakota Matting & Environmental Solutions LLC Dudek
Dale W. Carter Fencing Duke Energy - Customer Delivery
Daleo Inc Duke Energy/Piedmont Natural Gas
Daley Excavating & Services, Inc. Dukes Root Control Inc
Damage Prevention Academy Durham Construction Company, Inc.
Damage Prevention Solutions, LLC DW Plumbing, Inc
Danville Utilities E. Stanek Electric
Daphne Utilities E.C.I. Building Corp.
Dars Cox Construction Inc. E.E. Gilbert Construction Inc
Dave Desatoff Backhoe Service, Inc Eagle Excavation, Inc.
Davey Resource Group, Inc. Eagle River Utility Solutions LLC
Davey Tree Surgery Company Earthcom Inc.
Davids Hydro Vac Inc. Earthworm Drilling
Davis H. Elliot Construction Company Inc. Eastmont Builders
DCC Demolition Services EBE Electric, LLC
DCOMM, Inc. Eberhart Construction Company Inc.
DDS Companies - Energy Services EC Source Services
Dean Equipment, Inc Edison Power Constructors, Inc.
Dee’s Plumbing, Inc Eel Drilling LLC
Delmarva811 EGW Utility Solutions
Delta Grinding Company, Inc. E-J Electric T&D LLC
Diamond D Construction, LLC E-J Energy, LLC.
dba Diamond D Engineering El Capitan Environmental Services
Diamond’s Management Group, Inc. Elecnor Belco Electric, Inc.
Appendix E: CGA Member Organizations

Dick Howell’s Hole Drilling Service, Inc. ElectriCom

Dig Alert Done Right LLC dba Hydro Pros Elements of Earth and Energy
Dig It Construction, Inc. Eleven Engineering, Inc.
Dig Safe System, Inc Elexco
DigContrax Elite Constructors, Inc.
Diggers Hotline, Inc. Elite Contracting Group
Digital Control Inc Elite Underground, Inc.
DigMasters LLC Ellingson Companies
Directional Drilling Wrkz Inc ELM Companies
Directional Plus, LLC ELQ Industries, Inc.
Dirt Dynasty Inc Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District
Dirtworks Construction, LLC EN Engineering, LLC
Discovery Hydrovac, LLC Enbridge Energy Company, Inc.
Distribution Contractors Association EnCompass Pipeline LLC
Ditch Witch Division Energy Delivery Partners, Inc.
DiTech Industries LLC Energy Services South, LLC
Div. of Occupational and Professional Energy Transfer
Licenses (Idaho Dam. Prev. Board) Enertech
Diversified Project Services International, Inc. ENGEO Incorporated
Diversified UG Utilities, Inc. Engineering & Construction Innovations
Diversified Utility Services LLC Engineering/Remediation Resources Group, Inc.
Dixon Marine Services, Inc. English Directional Drilling, LLC.
DLE, LLC EnLink Midstream
D-Line Constructors, Inc. Ensign United States Drilling (California) Inc.
DM Excavating Entact, LLC
Dominion Energy Electric Entergy
Dominion Energy Gas Enterprise Products
Don Pridmore & Son Construction, Inc. EnviroCal (GeoCal Utility Solutions)
Don Wartko Construction, Inc. Environmental Construction, Inc.
Donahoo Inc. Environmental Waste Minimization, Inc.
D’Onofrio General Contractors Envision Fiber, LLC
Doty Bros Equipment Co. Eocene Environmental Group
Double C of the Piedmont Inc EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants

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 CGA Member Organizations

Eppler Genesis Energy, L.P.

Equix, Inc. Geocentric Drilling Inc
ER Utility Construction LLC GeoPoint Surveying, Inc
ERM Georgia 811 (Utilities Protection Center)
Esquivel Grading & Paving, Inc. GeoServ, Inc
Essential Utilities, Inc. Geo-Solutions, Inc.
ETIC Geosyntec Consultants, Inc.

Appendix E: CGA Member Organizations

Evans & De Shazo, Inc Geotechnical Supply Company, LLC
Evans Construction Ghilotti Bros., Inc.
Evcharge4u INC Ghita Underground Engineering Inc.
Evers and Sons Inc Gianfia Corp.
EX EL Pipeline Services LLC GL Richter, Inc.
Exaro Technologies Corporation Global Energy Partners, LLC
Expanse Electrical Company Global Mountain Solutions USA, LLC
Explorer Pipeline Company Global Tower Service, Inc
Express Sewer & Drain, Inc Global Underground Corp.
ExxonMobil Pipeline Company Goebel Construction Inc
Fairway Electric Inc. Golden Bay Fence plus Iron Works, Inc.
Faith Electric, LLC Golden State Municipal Construction, LLC.
Family Tree Service, Inc Goodfellow Bros CA LLC
Far Western Anthropological Google Fiber
Farwest Corrosion Control Company Gopher State One Call
Ferreira Construction Co., Inc. GP Associates, Inc
Ferreira Power West LLC GPRS
FHG, Inc. GR Sundberg, Inc.
Fiber Conduit Solutions Grady Crawford Construction Co., Inc of Baton Rouge
Fiber Tech Underground LLC Granite Construction Company
FiberSense Gravity Oilfield Services, LLC
FiberTel, LLC Graycor Industrial Constructors Inc.
Fidelis Green, Inc. Great Southwestern Construction, Inc.
Fire and Flood Emergency Services USA, Inc. Green Options Electric
Flagshooter Inc Green Water and Power LLC
Flare Construction LLC Greenville Utilities Commission
Flash Burn Enterprises Inc Greer Commission of Public Works
Flatirons Drilling, Inc. Greg Shandel Construction Inc.
Fletcher?s Plumbing and Contracting, Inc. Gregg Drilling, LLC
Flint Hills Resources Gregory Drilling Inc.
Flory Line Construction LLC GRID Alternatives
Flyscan Systems GridHawk LLC
Foco Inc. dba Dependable Sewer Services Gridsource
Forbes Bros Titan Ground Level Construction, Inc.
Foremost Pipeline Construction Co. Groundwater Partners, Inc
FortisBC Energy Inc. GSW Construction Inc.
Foundation Energy Services LLC Guardian Plumbing & Heating, Inc.
Foundation Power, Inc. Gulf Shore Construction Services, Inc.
Foundation Soil Stabilization, Inc. dba GS Exploration
Fowlkes Pipeline Inc. H&B Drilling and Sons
Franchelli Enterprise Inc. H.I.S. Pipeline, LLC
Freschi Construction, Inc. H.M. Miller Construction
Funktional Electric & Utility Services Ltd. H2 Enterprises
G&R Excavating co dba Whitt’s Welding and Pipeline Habitat Construction LLC
GAC Enterprises Hal Hays Construction Inc.
Gallup Pipeline and Compliance Services, LLC. Haley & Aldrich, Inc.
Ganim Company Hamilton Land Services
Gannett Fleming, Inc. Hanford Applied Restoration & Conservation
Gary Bass Construction, Inc (GBCI) Hanging H Companies LLC
Gas Field Specialists, Inc. Hangtown Electric, Inc.
Gas Transmission Systems, Inc. Hansen Brothers Enterprises
Gateway Fiber Hardcore Construction Inc.
GCJ Inc. Hartree Natural Gas Storage
GECMS, Inc dba Giron Construction, Inc. HAWK Photogrammetry Record Technologies Inc
GEI Consultants, Inc. Heath Consultants Incorporated
General Construction Heavy Road & Rail, Inc.

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

Helios Rising, Inc. J K S Construction Backhoe Service

Henderson Municipal Gas J W Harris Contractors, Inc
Henkels & McCoy - East Region J&D Excavation, Inc.
Henkels & McCoy West LLC J&J Pipeline Maintenance LLC
HHS Construction LLC J. & H. Drilling Co., Inc. dba M R Drilling
Hi Range Electric J. F. Kiely Construction Co. of PA
Hickman Utility, Inc. J. Ranck Electric
High Performance Pipelines Hydrovac Excavation Inc. J.J. Barney Construction, Inc.
Hillhouse Construction Company J.P. Backhoe Services Inc
Hitachi Energy USA Inc. Jackson Demolition Service, Inc
Hiwasse Plumbing & Excavation LLC Jaeger Vacuum Excavation LLC
Holloman Corporation JB Bostick Company
Holly Energy Partners JBR Pipeline LLC
Honeywell JB’s High Voltage, Inc
Hooper Corporation J-C General Engineering, Inc.
Hoosier Vac LLC JC Palomar Construction, Inc.
Hooven & Co., Inc. JC Roman Construction
Hot Line Construction Jeneric Enterprises, Inc. dba Strole’s Tri-Service
HP Communications, Inc. Jeremy Desatoff Backhoe Service
HPS Mechanical, Inc. Jerry’s Trenching Service
Hutchins Inc. JH Kelly, LLC
Hydro X LLC JHA Remediation LLC
Hydrodig Canada Inc. J-Ken Pipe & Steel, LLC
Hydrodig Denver LLC JMF Underground Inc
Hydroexcavators LLC Job Site Services, Inc.
HydroMAX LLC John E. Green Company
Hydrovac Excavating Inc Johns Group LLC
Hylan West, Inc. Joseph Construction and Consulting Inc.
Iba Drilling Company Inc dba Joseph Engineering
ICF Jones & Stokes, Inc. Joseph J. Albanese, Inc.
Appendix E: CGA Member Organizations

ICON Environmental Services, Inc. JR Nation Electric Inc.

IKON Environmental Solutions, LP JRGO dba Integrity Assessment Group
Imperial Electric Service JSI
Impulse Radar JT2 Engineering and Construction
Indiana 811 JTK Rental & Construction LLC
Industrial Field Services, Inc. JULIE, Inc. (Illinois One-Call System)
Industrial Speed Group, LLC Justin Cracraft Backhoe Services Inc
Info-Excavation JW Restoration Concepts, Inc
Infrasource JZ Contracting Inc
InfraSource Services LLC K & W Underground
Infratech Corporation K&K Inc.
InfraTerra, Inc K.W. Emerson, Inc.
In-Line Fence & Railing Co, Inc. K2 Industrial Services Inc.
Innerline Engineering Inc. Kaltz Excavating Co., Inc.
Innovative Environmental Technologies, Inc. Kansas 811
INSERV, Inc. Kantex Industries
Insignia Environmental Katch Environmental Inc
Inspection Specialties Inc. Kearney
Integrity General Engineering Contractors, Inc. Kent Power
Integrity Infrastructure, LLC Kentucky 811
Integrity Solutions Field Services Kentucky Public Service Commission
Intermountain Electric, Inc. Kerex Engineering Inc.
International Line Builders, Inc. Kern Precision Excavation
Intren West Kern River Gas Transmission
Intren, Inc. Kernen Construction
Inyon Corrosion Services, LLC Kinder Morgan
Iowa One Call Kindness General Contractors, Inc.
Irby Construction Kinetic Industry
Irish Electric Corp Kinsley Construction
Iron Horse Energy Services, Inc. KLE, Inc
Irth Solutions Kleinfelder
ITS Energy USA Inc Klines Plumbing
J & E Backhoe Service Inc KMI Road Maintenance LLC

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 CGA Member Organizations

Knoxville Utilities Board M.J. Electric

Koch & Koch, Inc. M.L. Chartier Excavating Inc
Kodiak Services Ltd M.U.E. Inc
Kokosing Inc. M/C Power, Inc. dba WoodWalkers Electrical
KorTerra, Inc. Contracting, Inc.
Krazan & Associates Inc. Macano Tech LLC
Kroeker, Inc. Machado & Sons Construction Inc.

Appendix E: CGA Member Organizations

Krylon Products Group MAG Landscaping Inc.
KV Structures, Inc. (aka Miguel A Garcia Landscaping)
Lake Apopka Natural Gas District Mainline Underground Inc.
Lake Superior Consulting Major Construction Group Inc.
Langan Engineering and Environmental Services, Inc. Malcolm Drilling
LaunchPoint Software Systems, Inc. Mana EC
LeapFrog Plumbing & Home Improvement Maples Plumbing and Heating Inc
LeCom LLC Marathon Pipe Line, LLC
Lee Electrical Construction MARK Construction Inc
Lee Wilson Electric Company, Inc. Mark Thomas & Company, Inc.
Legacy Hydrovac Martin Brothers Construction
Legacy Remediation, Inc. Martin Contracting, Inc.
Legend Directional Services Martin’s Paving Inc
Legends Hydrovac Maryland Underground Facilities
Legion LLC Damage Prevention Authority
Lehigh County Authority Mashburn Transportation Services
Leica Geosystem Massive Services LLC
Lentz Construction General Engineering Contractor Inc. MasTec Utility Service
Leo Construction Company Master Electric Inc.
Lester Enterprises Northstate Inc. Materials Testing Inc. dba KC Engineering Company
Lettis Consultants International, Inc. MBS Engineering, Inc
Lewis and Tibbitts, Inc. MC Cable Connections INC
LG&E Energy McCormick Biological Inc.
Lindco Inc. MCE Corporation
Linde Corporation McGuire and Hester
Line Mule Engineering McKim & Creed, Inc.
LineQuest, LLC McVac Environmental Services, Inc.
Line-Scape MDU Resources
Liquid Energy Pipeline Association Meade
LITE ON THE LAND, INC Mears Group
Littens Backhoe Service Mears Group Inc.–Mears Pipeline Integrity
Live Oak Power LLC Mears Group Inc.–Central
Live Oak Utility Infrastructure, LLC Mears Group, Inc.–Mears Pipeline
LJ Inc MEC Construction, LLC
LJA Engineering, Inc. Meche Construction
LJA Surveying, Inc. Merced Fence Co.
LOC International LLC Mercer Fraser Company
Locating Dynamics MESA Products, Inc dba MESA Services
Loggers Unlimited Inc. Metro Pavers Inc.
LoJac, LLC Metronet
Lombardo Diamond Core Drilling Co., Inc. Metropolitan Utilities District
Longitude 123, Inc. Meyer Contracting Inc.
Los Tres Topos LLC (dba Blue Foxx Pipeline) MFM Contracting Corp.
Louisiana 811 MGE Underground, Inc
Low Power EV Charging, Inc. MHK Construction Inc.
LT Directional Boring Michael LaFave Construction
Lund Construction Company Michels Corporation
Lux Subterra Michels Pacific Energy, Inc.
Lyles Utility Construction, LLC Michels Pipeline Inc.
LyondellBasell Michels Power Inc.
M & K Jetting & Televising Michels Underground Cable, Inc.
M & L Construction Michels Utility Services, Inc.
M Sawcutting, Inc dba Accurate Sawcutting Mid-American Group
M&T Enterprises Middle Tennessee Natural Gas Utility District
M. M. Miller Brothers Excavating, INC. Middleton Mechanical LLC
M.A. McClish Excavating, Inc. Mid-Ohio Pipeline Company, Inc.

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

Midstate Communication Contractors Inc. Next Generation Construction & Environmental, LLC
Next Level Excavating LLC
Midwest Easement Services, LLC Niels Fugal Sons Company
dba Midwest Services Group, LLC Nish-Ko, Inc.
Midwest Electrical Construction LLC NiSource
Midwest Trenchless Services, LLC Njirich & Sons, Inc
Mike’s Landscaping NMR Pipeline LLC
Milbar Hydro-Test, Inc Nold’s Equipment Inc
Milenium Inc Nomad Ecology LLC
Millennium Nor Cal Pipeline Services
Miller Brothers Welding & Roustabout, Inc. Norfield Development Partners
Miller Equipment Company, Inc. North Cal Paving
Miller Pipeline, LLC North Carolina 811, Inc.
Millstone Weber North Woods Excavating, Inc.
Miranda’s Landscape Northern A-1 Services
MISS DIG System, Inc Northern Clearing Inc.
Mission Constructors Northern Industrial Construction Inc.
Mississippi 811, Inc. Northern Lights Locating
Missouri 811 Northern Natural Gas
MMR Constructors, Inc. Northline Utilities LLC
MOC, Inc. Northstar Energy Services, Inc.
Monarch Pipeline & Hydrovac, Inc. Northwestern Ohio Pipeline Const. Inc.
Montana Construction, Inc. NPL East LLC
Monterey Mechanical Company NPL Great Lakes LLC
Monument Construction Inc. DBA Techcon NPL Mid-America LLC
Moran Environmental Recovery NPL West LLC
Mora’s Equipment & Construction NRC Environmental Services Inc
Moreno Trenching, Ltd. NUCA
Moss Welding, LLC NULCA
Motiva Enterprises NuLine Utility Services, LLC
Appendix E: CGA Member Organizations

Motor City Electric Utilities NuStar Energy LP

Mountain Engineering NW Gas
Mountain F. Enterprises, Inc. NW Natural
MP Environmental Services, Inc O.C. Jones & Sons, Inc.
MP Technologies - North OCG Companies
Mulholland Energy Services LLC OCS Industries, Inc.
Munsch Excavation Inc. OCS of Virginia Inc.
Mushrush Utility Contracting, Inc. Odin Construction Solutions
MVN Associates, Inc OEC
N&S Construction, Inc. dba S&N Communications, Inc. O’Grady Paving Inc
N6 LLC Ohio Utilities Protection Service dba OHIO811
NACC Construction, LLC Okaloosa Gas District
National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives Oklahoma One-Call System, Inc.
National Fiber Construction Co. Olameter Corp
National Fuel Gas Olsen Excavation & Grading
National Grid OMS Consulting Services
National Pipeline Services, LLC On The Spot Utility Resources, LLC
National Telecommunications Damage One Call Concepts, Inc.
Prevention Council ONE Gas Inc.
National Waste Management Companies One-Call of Wyoming, Inc.
NEC Corporation ONEOK
Neil’s Controlled Blasting, LP Opp Construction
Network Integrity Systems Orange & Rockland Utilities Inc
Nevada County Fence, Inc Orange Corrosion Services Inc.
New Jersey Natural Gas dba OC&C Construction
New Mexico Gas Company Oregon Utility Notification Center
New Mexico One Call Orion Environmental Services Ltd.
New River Electric Corp Osmose Utilities Services, Inc.
New Tech Construction Inc. Otis Minnesota Services
New York 811, Inc. Outback Contractors Inc.
New York Paving Inc Outsource Utility Contractor Corp.
Newcomb Tree Experts Inc Owens Maurer Construction Inc
Newkirk Electric Owsley Electric

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 CGA Member Organizations

P&G Power Corp Point One Navigation, Inc

P. Pohorence & Son Landscaping, Inc. Polaris Services LLC
PAB Contracting Corp Ponder Environmental Services Inc
Pacific Boring, Inc. Portland General Electric
Pacific Coast General Engineering, Inc. Posillico Civil Inc.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company Posillico Environmental, Inc.
Pacific Gold Marketing, Inc. Potelco, Inc.

Appendix E: CGA Member Organizations

Pacific Legacy, Inc. Powell Clinch Utility District
Pacific Petroleum California Inc Power and Communication Contractors Association
Pacific Plumbing & Underground Construction Power Grade, Inc.
Papich Construction Co, Inc. Power One, LLC.
PAR Western Line Contractors, LLC Power Vac of Michigan
Paradigm Power X Inc.
Paramount Underground LLC PowerGrid Distribution Services, LLC
PARC Environmental PowerSecure Inc.
Parker-Stockstill Construction Inc Praxis Land Surveying, Inc.
Parmeter General Engineers & Services, Inc. Precise Concrete Sawing Inc.
Parsons Environment and Infrastructure Group Precision Directional Boring, Inc.
Paulson Excavating Inc Precision Directional Drilling
Pavement Recycling Systems Inc. Precision Excavating and Drilling Inc
Paynes Enterprise, Inc. Precision Meter Repair, INC
PB Electric Inc. Precision Pipeline Solutions, LLC (NY)
PCL Industrial Services, Inc. Precision Pipeline, LLC (WI)
PDB Grid Works, Inc. Preiss Companies
Peacock Construction, Inc. Premier Engineering & Construction
Peak Utility Infrastructure Premium Utility Contractor Inc.
PECO Energy Company Preston Pipelines Infrastructure
PelicanCorp OneCall, Inc. Price Gregory International
Pembina Pipeline Corporation Pride Utility Construction
Penhall Company Prime Petro Services
Pennsylvania 811 Prime Resource Services
Peoples Gas Prime Utility Services
Perera Construction & Design, Inc. Primoris
Performance Mechanical, Inc. Primoris Distribution Services (PDS)
Perreca Electric Company Inc. Pro Energy Services Group, LLC
Perrin Construction, Inc Pro Pipeline
Persson Inc dba California Paving Company Production Engineering and Construction
Peter Ellis Construction Professional Electrical Construction Services
Petrillo Contracting Inc Profile Drilling & Consulting
Petrus Backhoe Service Inc ProGro Environmental, LLC
Phase 3 Communications, Inc. Project Resources Group
Phillips 66 Pipeline LLC Proline Underground Services
Phillips Infrastructure Holdings Prunuske Chatham
Pickens Underground Utilities Service, Inc Prusa Construction, LLC
Piedmont Western Utility Services, Inc. PSC - Rockford Corporation
Pike–Dominion VA, NC and SC Work Groups Public Service Electric & Gas Company
Pike Gas–Dominion Carolinas Work Group Puget Sound Energy
Pike Gas–Peoples Gas Florida Work Group PUSH Incorporated
Pinnacle Construction & Directional Boring, Inc Q & D Construction
Pinnacle Power Services Inc. Q3 Contracting
Pinnacle West Capital Corp/APS Quade, Inc.
Pipe Strong LLC Quality Ag, Inc.
Pipe View America Quality Telecom Consultants Inc.
Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration R and R Pipeline Construction & Repair
Pipeline Video Inspection, LLC dba AIMS Companies R E Mason Engineering Inc.
Pitcher Services LLC R&R Pipeline Inc
PJ Steel Supply, Inc. R&S Erection of Monterey Bay, Inc.
Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. R&S Erection Of Santa Clara County Inc.
Planned Environments, Inc. R&S Erection of Southern Alameda County Inc.
Platinum Contracting Services R&S Erection, Inc Centralized Accounts
PL–Enerserv, LLC R. Roese Contracting Co., Inc.
PLP R.B. Satkowiak’s City Sewer Cleaners Inc.
Plummer’s Environmental Services, Inc R.L. Coolsaet

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

R-2 Contractors, Inc Safe2core, Inc.

Rachel Contracting, Inc Safeway Construction Enterprises, LLC
Rader Excavating Inc Salem Engineering Group, Inc.
Radiodetection Salyer Plumbing Inc
Ranch Fence Inc SAM Surveying and Mapping LLC
Rauhorn Electric, Inc. SAMCO
Ravan Inc. dba Tru-Tek Drilling San Diego Gas & Electric
Raymond Excavating Company Santa Cruz West Side Electric, Inc.
RC Electric Inc. Santamaria Concrete Inc.
RCD Concrete Inc. Saylers Creek Construction LLC
RCI General Engineering Scenic Landscape Services
Red Dirt Underground Schetter Electric LLC
Red Hawk Services Inc. Schmid Pipeline Construction, Inc.
Redding Tree Growers Corporation Screening Eagle Technologies
Redeker Excavating, LLC Seamair Construction, Inc.
Redi Services, LLC Seegert Construction
Redline Underground LLC SeeScan, Inc.
Redmond Construction LLC Sel Construction Corporation
Reduct Sellenriek Construction
REM Directional, Inc. Sellenriek Energy, LLC.
Remarkable Constructions LLC SENSIT Technologies
Remedial Transportation Services Sequoia Ecological Consulting, Inc.
Renteria Backhoe Service LLC Service Electric Company
Resurgence Infrastructure Group LLC Service One, Inc
Reycon Construction Solutions LP Sevenson Environmental Services, Inc.
Reyff Electric Inc. SF&S Inc.
Riddell General Contracting Inc. Shaffer Underground LLC
Riggs Distler Co. Sharp’s Backhoe Service, Inc.
Riggs Gas LLC Shell Pipeline Company LP
Ring Power Equipment Shentel
Appendix E: CGA Member Organizations

Ring-O-Matic Shiloh Paving & Excavating, Inc.

Rising Edge Technologies (California), LLC Sierra Cascade Aggregate & Asphalt Products Inc.
River City Construction, Inc. Sierra Integrated Services Inc.
RL Morris And Sons Construction Sierra Mountain Construction, Inc.
RLA Utilities Sierra National Construction, Inc.
RM Myers Corporation Siller Construction Co.
Roadway Construction Inc Silverado Contractors
Roanoke Gas Company Silverline Pacific
Robert Colburn Electric, Inc. Sinclair General Engineering Construction, Inc.
Roberts Mechanical & Electrical SiteWise, LLC
Robey Excavating LLC SJL Construction, Inc
Rockpoint Gas Storage Canada, Ltd. SJS & SONS LLC
Rocky Canyon Utility & Construction, Inc. Skoda Contracting
RodRadar Slate Geotechnical Consultants, Inc.
Rodriguez Construction, LLC Smith Excavating, LLC
Roebbelen Contracting, Inc Snelson Companies, Inc
Roemer Utility Services, LLC Snow Canyon Construction Services LLC
Roese Pipeline Company SOCOM Underground
Rokstad Power Inc. Sodexo at San Ramon Valley Conference Center
ROSEN Group USA Sogelink Group
Rosendin Electric, Inc. Solinas Technologies Inc.
Ross Fence Inc South Carolina 811
ROWGrid South Dakota 811
RSEI (Rodriguez SWPPP & Environmental Inspections) South Jersey Gas Company
Ruiz Directional Drilling Southeast Connections, LLC
Ruiz Underground Electric Southeast Gas
Rust-Oleum Corporation Southeastern Archaeological Research, LLC
RX Lodge, Inc. Southeastern Pipeline & Environmental Services LLC
S E Pipe Line Construction Co. Southern California Edison
S&S Directional Boring, Ltd Southern California Gas Company
S&S Energy Services LLC Southern Company
S/L Services, Inc. Southern Contracting Company
Sacramento Drilling, Inc. Southern Cross, LLC

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 CGA Member Organizations

Southern Pipeline Construction Co., Inc. Tamerrel Excavation, Inc.

Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc Taplin Group
Southwest Distributors LLC Targa Resources, Inc.
Southwest Gas Corporation TC Energy
Spade Integrity TCB Industrial Inc
SPE Group Team Construction LLC
SPEC Services, Inc. Team Elmers

Appendix E: CGA Member Organizations

Spire Team Fishel
Spriggs Excavation, Inc. Technology, Engineering & Construction Inc.
Sprouse Communications Inc dba Accutite
SSEC Inc. TECO Peoples Gas
Stake Center Locating Teichert Line Services
Staking University Teichert Pipelines, Inc
Standard Services Teichert Waterwork Services
Stanley Pipeline Inc Telstar Instruments
Stantec Consulting Services Inc Tempest Enterprises, Inc.
State Line Construction and Maintenance Tempo Communications
State of California, Office of Energy Tennessee 811
Infrastructure Safety Terra Contracting
Static Line, LLC Terra Pacific Group, Inc.
Stealth Construction Terra West Construction
Step-Mar Contracting Corp. Terra West Pacific
Stewart & Tate, Inc. Terracon Consultants, Inc.
Stockton Fence & Material Co., Inc. Terraphase Engineering
Storm Fall Tree LLC Terry Construction Inc
Stqó:ya Construction Tetra Tech, Inc.
STRUPP TRUCKING INC Texas 811
Studebaker Electric Inc. Texas ReExcavation DBA T-Rex Services
Sturgeon Electric California, LLC Thayer Power and Communication Line
Sturgeon Electric Company Construction Co., LLC
Submar, LLC The City of Colorado Springs
Subtronic Corporation The Hallen Construction Co., Inc.
Summernet The HDD Company, Inc.
Summit Drilling, LLC The Hydaker-Wheatlake Company
Summit Line Construction The Vallejo Company
Summit Plumbing and Mechanical, Inc. Tierra Contracting
Summit Transport & Environmental Tim Messer Construction, Inc.
Summit Utilities Titanic Underground Contractors Corp.
Summit Utility Services LLC Tjader and Highstrom Utility Services, LLC
Sun Electric, Inc. TKR Investments LLC dba Subsurface Sleuths
Sunbelt Rentals T-Mobile
Sunflare Home Services TMR Underground Inc
Sunrise Bobcat & Hauling Service, Inc. Tony’s Landscaping and Maintenance
Sunshine 811 TransMontaigne Operating Company L.P.
Superior Contracting Group LLC Transwest
Superior Hydrovac Traylor Bros., Inc.
Superior Pipeline Services TRC
Superior Traffic and Restoration Services LLC TRC Construction, Inc.
Superior Underground LLC Trickle Creek Excavation, Inc.
Sure Shot Drilling Trident Environmental and Engineering Inc.
Surf to Snow Environmental Resource Management Trident Solutions
Surface Solutions, LLC Trihyrdo Corporation
Swaim Biological, Inc Tri-Messine Construction Co., Inc.
Swan Companies, Inc. Triple B Underground Services, Inc.
Swanson Drilling LLC Triple H Enterprises
SWCA Environmental Consultants Triple V Tractor, Inc.
Syblon Reid General Engineering Contractors Triton Construction Services, Inc.
T&D Services, Inc. Triumph Construction
Taber Drilling Troy Construction, LLC
Taber LLC Trujillos Equipment Inc.
Tait Environmental Service, Inc Trussville Gas and Water
Talbert Construction LLC TRUVAC by Vactor Manufacturing
Tallgrass Energy TSA Drilling, Inc. dba PeneCore Drilling, Inc.

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

TSU/Tree Service Unlimited Inc Viking Drillers, Inc.

Tuff Enterprises L.L.C. Vince Sigal Electric, Inc.
Tulsa Inspection Resources, LLC Vindustries LLC
Turkey Creek HDD, Inc Vintage Paving Company Inc.
Turner & Turner Electric, Inc. VIP Powerline Corp.
Turner Construction Virginia State Corporation Commission
Turner Excavating Inc Vivax–Metrotech Corporation
Turn-Key Construction Services Inc. VMAX Electric Inc
UDig NY Volker Stevin Contracting
UGI Utilities, Inc. VP Hauling and Demolition
ULC Robotics VPSS1 Inc.
ULCS, LLC Vulcan Construction and Maintenance, Inc.
Underground Construction Company Vulcan Utility Signs
Underground Electric Construction Company, LLC VW Connect
Underground Magnetics W. A. Rasic Construction Co., Inc.
Underground Pipeline Services W. Bradley Electric, Inc.
Underground Service Alert - Southern California W.A. Chester, LLC
Underground Specialists LLC W.C. Drilling, Inc., dba West Coast Drilling
Unified Field Services Corporation W.C. Sanders Construction Inc.
Union Engineering Company, Inc W.E. Curling Pipeline Inc
Union Pipeline Inc. W.E. Hayden Lease Service, Inc.
United Building Contractors W.K. McLellan Company
United Piping Inc Wahlund Construction, Inc.
Uniti Fiber Walberg, Inc
Universal Contracting Services Walsh Construction II
Universal Site Services, Inc. Washington 811 (Utilities Underground Location Center)
Universal Surveying and Mapping Washington Gas
Unlimited Construction 2 LLC Waste Recovery Systems
Urbint Wavemode
Us Hydro Wayne Perry, Inc.
Appendix E: CGA Member Organizations

US Hydrovac Inc. Weaver’s Inc.

US Trackworks, LLC WEC Wisconsin Operations
USA Civil Weiss Property Management
USA North 811 Wendt Construction
USIC LLC West Michigan Underground Solutions
UtiliQuest, LLC West Valley Construction
UtiliSource West Virginia 811
Utility Construction Services, Inc Western Construction Inc.
Utility HydroVac Services, Inc. Western Midstream Partners, LP
Utility Transport Services Inc. Western Properties D.B.A InContext
Utility Line Services, Inc Western States Contracting (Colorado)
UTTO Western States Contracting Inc (Nevada)
V & W Drilling, Inc. Western Utility LLC
V. Lopez Jr & Sons G.E.C.,Inc. Westfield Gas & Electric
VA811 Westinghouse Electric Company
Vacuum Truck Rentals, LLC WestLAND Group, Inc.
Valdivia Equipment Rental Inc Westward Fence, LLC
Valero Energy Corp. Whitaker Construction Company Inc.
Val’s Construction Whit’s-Turn Tree Care
Van Thuyne-Downs Inc Wild Electric, Inc.
VCI Construction, LLC Williams
Vector Force Development, LLC Wilson Construction Co.
Vector Services WIPF Construction LLC
Vegetation Solutions, Inc. Wire Brothers Inc.
Ventura Directional Drilling, Inc Wolverine Pipe Line Company
Verde Electric Corp. Wood Environment and Infrastructure Solutions, Inc.
Verita Telecommunications Corporation Wright Tree Service of the West, Inc.
Verizon Business WRS Environmental Services, Inc.
Vermeer Corporation WSB & Associates, Inc.
VertiGIS Wynnco Boring
Veteran Drilling XCEL Energy Services
Veteran Pipeline Construction Xtreme Powerline Construction Inc
Veteran Power Infrastructure Yard Works LLC
Veterans Utility Services, LLC Yellow Jacket Drilling

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 CGA Member Organizations

Yonkers Contracting Company, Inc.

York County Natural Gas Authority
Young’s Environmental Cleanup, Inc.
Yukon Construction Services Inc
Z and H Associates, Inc.
Zap Integration Inc.
Zavala Industrial Painting, LLC

Appendix E: CGA Member Organizations

Zayo Group
Zefiro Corporation
ZTEX Construction, Inc.

List current as of Dec. 15, 2024

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 CGA Best Practices 21.0

LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY

Appendix E: CGA Member Organizations

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 American
Petroleum
Institute

®
Bronze Members


Pennsylvania
!
DI A

D IG

8 U
-1 -
L

O
1 B EF O R E Y
 Platinum Members !
U.S. Department
of Transportation
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety
Administration
!
Silver Members

Gold Members