<section number="54-8a-4"><effdate>5/1/2024</effdate><histories><history>Amended by Chapter <modchap sess="2024GS">369</modchap>, 2024 General Session</history><modyear>2024</modyear></histories><catchline>Notice of excavation.</catchline><subsection number="54-8a-4(1)"><subsection number="54-8a-4(1)(a)">Before excavating, an excavator shall notify each operator with an underground facility in the area of the proposed excavation.</subsection><subsection number="54-8a-4(1)(b)">The requirements of Subsection (1)(a) do not apply:<subsection number="54-8a-4(1)(b)(i)">if there is an emergency;</subsection><subsection number="54-8a-4(1)(b)(ii)">while gardening; or</subsection><subsection number="54-8a-4(1)(b)(iii)">while tilling private ground.</subsection></subsection></subsection><subsection number="54-8a-4(2)">The notice required by Subsection (1) shall:<subsection number="54-8a-4(2)(a)">be given:<subsection number="54-8a-4(2)(a)(i)">by telephone;</subsection><subsection number="54-8a-4(2)(a)(ii)">by electronic communication; or</subsection><subsection number="54-8a-4(2)(a)(iii)">by other means acceptable to the association;</subsection></subsection><subsection number="54-8a-4(2)(b)">be given not:<subsection number="54-8a-4(2)(b)(i)">less than 48 hours before excavation begins; or</subsection><subsection number="54-8a-4(2)(b)(ii)">more than 14 days before excavation begins; and</subsection></subsection><subsection number="54-8a-4(2)(c)">include the proposed excavation's anticipated:<subsection number="54-8a-4(2)(c)(i)">location, with reasonable specificity;</subsection><subsection number="54-8a-4(2)(c)(ii)">dimensions; and</subsection><subsection number="54-8a-4(2)(c)(iii)">type.</subsection></subsection></subsection><subsection number="54-8a-4(3)">If the proposed excavation's anticipated location and dimensions cannot be described as required under Subsection (2)(c) or as requested in accordance with Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="54-8a-5(2)(b)">54-8a-5(2)(b)</xref>, an excavator shall outline the proposed excavation site using as a guideline the then-existing Uniform Color Code and Marking Guidelines, Appendix B, published by the Common Ground Alliance, as amended in the current version of the excavators' guide published by the statewide association established in Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="54-8a-9">54-8a-9</xref>.</subsection><subsection number="54-8a-4(4)">If more than one excavator will operate at the same excavation site, each excavator shall provide the notice required by this section.</subsection><subsection number="54-8a-4(5)">Notice provided to the association constitutes notice to each operator that has facilities within the proposed excavation site.</subsection><subsection number="54-8a-4(6)"><subsection number="54-8a-4(6)(a)">Notice given under this section is valid for 21 days from the day on which the notice is given.</subsection><subsection number="54-8a-4(6)(b)">If an excavation will continue beyond the 21-day period under Subsection (6)(a), the excavator shall provide notice of that fact at least 48 hours, but no sooner than seven calendar days, before expiration of the 21-day period.</subsection><subsection number="54-8a-4(6)(c)">A notice under Subsection (6)(b) is valid for 21 days from the day on which the previous notice expires.</subsection><subsection number="54-8a-4(6)(d)">An excavator shall give notice as provided in this Subsection (6) for the duration of the excavation.</subsection></subsection><subsection number="54-8a-4(7)"><subsection number="54-8a-4(7)(a)">An excavator shall confirm before excavation that:<subsection number="54-8a-4(7)(a)(i)">operators that utilize electronic positive response have responded through the association's electronic positive response system; and</subsection><subsection number="54-8a-4(7)(a)(ii)"><subsection number="54-8a-4(7)(a)(ii)(A)">all facilities that may be affected by the proposed excavation have been marked;</subsection><subsection number="54-8a-4(7)(a)(ii)(B)">the operators have indicated that there are no underground facilities within the proposed excavation site; or</subsection><subsection number="54-8a-4(7)(a)(ii)(C)">the operators have not requested a meeting under Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="54-8a-5(2)">54-8a-5(2)</xref>.</subsection></subsection></subsection><subsection number="54-8a-4(7)(b)">If an operator has not marked a facility or responded within 48 hours of the initial excavation notice:<subsection number="54-8a-4(7)(b)(i)">the excavator may not begin excavation if the excavator is aware of or observes indications of a facility that was not marked at the proposed excavation area until:<subsection number="54-8a-4(7)(b)(i)(A)">the excavator has given a no response notice; and</subsection><subsection number="54-8a-4(7)(b)(i)(B)">the operator makes arrangements for the facility to be marked by the operator; or</subsection></subsection><subsection number="54-8a-4(7)(b)(ii)">the excavator may begin excavation if there are no visible indications of a facility within the proposed excavation area.</subsection></subsection><subsection number="54-8a-4(7)(c)">Within four business hours of the association receiving a no response notice, an operator shall mark the facilities or make arrangements for the facilities to be marked.</subsection></subsection><subsection number="54-8a-4(8)">If markings made by the operator have been disturbed so that the markings no longer identify the underground facility:<subsection number="54-8a-4(8)(a)">before excavating the site an excavator shall notify:<subsection number="54-8a-4(8)(a)(i)">the association; or</subsection><subsection number="54-8a-4(8)(a)(ii)">each operator; and</subsection></subsection><subsection number="54-8a-4(8)(b)">the operator shall mark the area again within 48 hours of the notification provided by the excavator under Subsection (8)(a).</subsection></subsection><subsection number="54-8a-4(9)">Unless an operator remarks an area pursuant to Subsection (8), the excavator shall be responsible for the costs incurred by an operator to remark its underground facilities following the second or subsequent notice given by an excavator for a proposed excavation.</subsection></section>