2014 -- S 2450

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LC004259

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - EXCAVATION NEAR

UNDERGROUND UTILITY FACILITIES

     

     Introduced By: Senator William A.Walaska

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Commerce

     (Division of Public Utilities and Carriers)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Sections 39-1.2-5 and 39-1.2-11 of the General Laws in Chapter 39-1.2

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entitled "Excavation Near Underground Utility Facilities" are hereby amended to read as follows:

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     39-1.2-5. Notice of excavation. -- Except as provided in section 39-1.2-9, any person,

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public agency or public utility responsible for excavating within one hundred feet (100') or for

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discharging explosives within one hundred feet (100') of a public utility facility shall notify the

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association of the proposed excavation or discharge by telephone at least seventy-two (72) hours,

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excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, but not more than thirty (30) days before

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commencing the excavation or discharge of explosives. Actual excavation must thereupon

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commence within thirty (30) days and be completed within sixty (60) days, including Saturdays,

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Sundays and holidays, or the excavator must renotify the association. Each public utility shall,

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upon receipt of each notice of excavation, mark within seventy-two (72) hours or, where

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applicable in accordance with section 39-1.2-12, re-mark within forty-eight (48) hours, the

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location of all underground facilities.

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     (b) Each public utility shall provide a description of the excavation location which shall

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include:

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     (1) The name of the city or town where the excavation will take place;

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     (2) The name of the street, way or route number where appropriate;

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     (3) The name of the streets at the nearest intersection to the excavation;

 

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     (4) The numbered address of buildings closest to the excavation; and/or

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     (5) Any other description which will accurately define the excavation location, including

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landmarks and utility pole numbers.

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     (c) If an excavator determines that a public utility facility has been mismarked, the

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excavator may notify the association and the appropriate public utility shall remark no later than

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three (3) hours after receipt of notification from the association. The failure to mark or re-mark

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the location of all underground facilities upon each notice of excavation shall constitute a separate

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violation of this chapter. Where an excavation is to be made by a contractor as part of the work

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required by a contract with the state or with any political subdivision thereof or other public

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agency, for the construction, reconstruction, relocation, or improvement of a public way or for the

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installation of a railway track, conduit, sewer, or water main, the contractor shall be deemed to

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have complied with the requirements of this section by giving one such notice as required by this

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section except, when unanticipated obstructions are encountered, setting forth the location and the

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approximate time required to perform the work involved to the association. In addition, the initial

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notice shall indicate whether the excavation is anticipated to involve blasting and if so, the date

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on which and specific location at which the blasting is to occur. If after the commencement of an

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excavation, it is found there is an unanticipated obstruction requiring blasting, the excavator shall

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give at least four (4) hours notice to the association before commencing the blasting. When

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demolition of a building containing a public utility facility is proposed, the public utility or

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utilities involved will be given written notice by registered mail at least ten (10) days prior to the

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commencement of the demolition of the building. All notices shall include the name, address, and

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telephone number of the entity giving notice, the name of the person, public agency, or public

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utility performing the work, and the commencement date and proposed type of excavation,

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demolition, or discharge of explosives. The association shall immediately transmit the

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information to the public utilities whose facilities may be affected. An adequate record shall be

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maintained by the association to document compliance with the requirements of this chapter.

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     39-1.2-11. Damage -- Notice to public utility. – (a) Upon the occurrence of any contact

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with or damage to any pipe, cable or its protective coating, or any other underground facility of a

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public utility, the association appropriate and/or affected public utility shall be notified

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immediately by the person or public agency responsible for the operation causing the contact or

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damage prior to back filling the excavation. Upon the receipt of the notice, the public utility shall

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immediately dispatch personnel to the subject location to effect temporary or permanent repair of

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the damage. Under no circumstances shall the excavator back fill or conceal the damaged area

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until the public utility arrives at the subject location. Upon the occurrence of a serious electrical

 

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short, or the escape of dangerous fluids or gases from a broken line, the person or public agency

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responsible for the operations causing the damage shall evacuate the immediate area while

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awaiting the arrival of the public utility personnel.

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     (b) Any person, public agency, or public utility shall report all suspected violations of this

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chapter to the division of public utilities within thirty (30) days after learning of the

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circumstances constituting the suspected violation.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on July 1, 2014.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS - EXCAVATION NEAR

UNDERGROUND UTILITY FACILITIES

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     This act would require those persons, public agencies or public utilities responsible for

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excavating within one hundred feet (100’) or for discharging explosives within one hundred feet

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(100’) of a public utility facility, who are already obligated to give timely and compliant notice to

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the public utility association of said planned activity (otherwise referred to as “calling in for a

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DigSafe ticket”), provide greater specificity when describing or defining the excavation/worksite

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location.

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     This act would also expand the reporting obligations when underground facilities of a

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public utility or any pipe, cable or its protective coating have been damaged.

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     This act would take effect on July 1, 2014.

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