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H.B. 263

             1     

UNDERGROUND UTILITY AMENDMENTS

             2     
2013 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Angela Y. Romero

             5     
Senate Sponsor: ____________

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies a definition applicable to provisions relating to underground utilities.
             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This bill:
             12          .    modifies the definition of "excavate" or "excavation" in the context of provisions
             13      relating to the marking of the location of underground utilities.
             14      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             15          None
             16      Other Special Clauses:
             17          None
             18      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             19      AMENDS:
             20          54-8a-2, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 426
             21     
             22      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             23          Section 1. Section 54-8a-2 is amended to read:
             24           54-8a-2. Definitions.
             25          As used in this chapter:
             26          (1) "Association" means two or more operators organized to receive notification of
             27      excavation activities in a specified area, as provided by Section 54-8a-9 .


             28          (2) "Board" means the Underground Facilities Damage Dispute Board created in
             29      Section 54-8a-13 .
             30          (3) "Emergency" means an occurrence or suspected natural gas leak necessitating
             31      immediate action to prevent or mitigate loss of, or damage to, life, health, property, or essential
             32      public services.
             33          (4) "Excavate" or "excavation" means an operation in which earth, rock, or other
             34      similar material [on or below the ground] is moved or displaced below the surface of the
             35      ground by tools, equipment, or explosives.
             36          (5) "Excavator" means any person or entity that excavates or conducts excavation
             37      activities.
             38          (6) "48 hours" means a 48-hour period occurring during business days which includes
             39      any day except Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday.
             40          (7) "Hand tool" means an implement:
             41          (a) powered by hand; or
             42          (b) designed to avoid damaging an underground facility, including a vacuum
             43      excavation tool and air knife.
             44          (8) "Location" means the site of a proposed area of excavation described:
             45          (a) (i) by street address, if available;
             46          (ii) by the area at that street address to be excavated; and
             47          (iii) as specified in Subsection 54-8a-4 (3) or 54-8a-5 (2)(b)(ii); or
             48          (b) if there is no street address available, by the area of excavation using any available
             49      designations, including a nearby street or road, an intersection, GPS coordinates, or other
             50      generally accepted methods.
             51          (9) "Location request assignment" means a number assigned to a proposed excavation
             52      by an association or operator upon receiving notice of the proposed excavation from the
             53      excavator.
             54          (10) (a) "Operator" means a person who owns, operates, or maintains an underground
             55      facility.
             56          (b) "Operator" does not include an owner of real property where underground facilities
             57      are:
             58          (i) located within:


             59          (A) the owner's property; or
             60          (B) a public street adjacent to the owner's property, a right-of-way adjacent to the
             61      owner's property, or a public utility easement adjacent to the owner's property;
             62          (ii) used exclusively to furnish services to the owner's property; and
             63          (iii) maintained under the operation and control of that owner.
             64          (11) "Person" includes:
             65          (a) an individual, government entity, corporation, partnership, association, or company;
             66      and
             67          (b) the trustee, receiver, assignee, and personal representative of a person listed in
             68      Subsection (11)(a).
             69          (12) "Sewer lateral cleanout" means a point of access where a sewer lateral can be
             70      serviced.
             71          (13) "24 hours" means a 24-hour period, excluding hours occurring during a Saturday,
             72      Sunday, or a legal holiday.
             73          (14) "Underground facility" means personal property that is buried or placed below
             74      ground level for use in the storage or conveyance of any of the following:
             75          (a) water;
             76          (b) sewage, including sewer laterals;
             77          (c) communications, including electronic, photonic, telephonic, or telegraphic
             78      communications;
             79          (d) television, cable television, or other telecommunication signals, including
             80      transmission to subscribers of video or other programming;
             81          (e) electric power;
             82          (f) oil, gas, or other fluid and gaseous substances;
             83          (g) steam;
             84          (h) slurry; or
             85          (i) dangerous materials or products.





Legislative Review Note
    as of 6-5-12 2:53 PM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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