House of Representatives State of Utah




         UTAH STATE CAPITOL COMPLEX . 350 STATE CAPITOL

Figure

Graphic file number 0 named letter~1.jpg with height 78 p and width 81 p Left aligned
         P.O. BOX 145030 . SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 84114-5030 . (801) 538-1029         February 8, 2008

Mr. Speaker:

    The Public Utilities and Technology Committee reports a favorable recommendation on H.B. 341, DAMAGE TO UNDERGROUND UTILITY FACILITIES AMENDMENTS, by Representative D. Clark, with the following amendments:

1.    Page 1, Line 21 :    

             21

{  
         .    addresses liability of an excavator;   }

2.    Page 3, Lines 64 through 65 :    

             64          [(2)] (3) "Emergency" means an occurrence
  or suspected natural gas leak       necessitating immediate action to prevent

             65      or mitigate loss of, or damage to, life, health, property, or essential public services.

3.    Page 5, Lines 140 through 145 :    

             140          (b) The requirements of Subsection (1)(a) do not apply:
             141          (i) if there is an emergency;
             142          (ii) while gardening;
{   [   } or      {   ]   }

             143          (iii) while tilling private ground
{   [   } .      {   ]   }      {   ; or

             144          (iv) while probing with an industry-approved probe bar to determine the presence or
             145      extent of a natural gas leak in the ground.  
}


4.    Page 6, Line 155 :    

             155          (i) location
  , with reasonable specificity       ;


5.    Page 7, Line 204 :    

             204          (ii) notify the excavator, by telephonic
  or electronic       message or indication at the excavation site, that



6.    Page 9, Line 266 :    

             266          (b) An operator may waive
  , in writing or electronically,       the requirement that the excavator determine the exact


7.    Page 10, Lines 286 through 289 :    

             286          (b) An excavator is [not] liable for damage
{   to an underground facility   }        incurred by an operator       if [an operator

             287      has failed to comply with Section 54-8a-5 or 54-8a-9 .]:
             288          (i) the operator complies with Section 54-8a-5 ; and
             289          (ii) the damage occurs within 24 inches of the operator's markings.

8.    Page 10, Lines 290 through 291 :    

             290     
{       (3) Notwithstanding Subsection 54-8a-4 (1)(b)(i), an excavator is liable for damage to

             291      an underground facility that occurs during an emergency.  
}


9.    Page 10, Lines 297 through 298 :    

             297          (b) immediately call 911 if the excavation
{   results   }        may result       in      {   the escape of a flammable gas or

             298      toxic or corrosive gas or liquid, or damages an electrical line  
}
  an immediate risk to human life       .


10.    Page 11, Lines 311 through 321 :    

             311          (3) Notwithstanding Subsection (2)(a) a penalty under this chapter may not be
             312      imposed
{   :

             313          (a)  
}
on an excavator
  or operator       unless the excavator        or operator       fails to comply with this chapter and damages

             314      an underground facility
{   ; or

             315          (b) on an operator unless:


             316          (i) (A) the operator fails to respond to a location request under Section 54-8a-5 in order
             317      to prevent damage to the facility; or
             318          (B) the operator fails to take reasonable steps, in response to a location request, to
             319      ensure accurate marking of the facility in order to prevent damage to the facility; and
             320          (ii) damage occurs to an underground facility as a result of the operator's failure under
             321      Subsection (3)(b)(i)(A) or (B)  
}
.

    Respectfully,

    Michael E. Noel
    Committee Chair

Voting: 10-1-0
3 HB0341.HC1.wpd 2/8/08 10:08 am jcannon/RCN CRP/RCN


Bill Number
Action Class
Action Code

*HB0341*
*H*
*HCRAMD*

HB0341
H
HCRAMD