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California Law (Last Updated: March 4, 2014) |
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Government Code - GOV |
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Title 1. GENERAL |
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Division 5. PUBLIC WORK AND PUBLIC PURCHASES |
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Chapter 3.1. Protection of Underground Infrastructure |
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ARTICLE 2. Regional Notification Center System |
Section 4216.4.
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(a) When the excavation is within the approximate location of subsurface installation, the excavator shall determine the exact location of subsurface installations in conflict with the excavation by excavating with hand tools within the area of the approximate location of subsurface installations as provided by the operators in accordance with Section 4216.3 before using any power-operated or power-driven excavating or boring equipment within the approximate location of the subsurface installation, except that power-operated or power-driven excavating or boring equipment may be used for the removal of any existing pavement if there are no subsurface installations contained in the pavement. If documented notice of the intent to use vacuum excavation devices, or power-operated or power-driven excavating or boring equipment, has been provided to the subsurface installation operator or operators and it is mutually agreeable with the operator or operators and the excavator, the excavator may utilize vacuum excavation devices, or power-operated or power-driven excavating or boring equipment within the approximate location of a subsurface installation and to any depth.
(b) If the exact location of the subsurface installation cannot be determined by hand excavating in accordance with subdivision (a), the excavator shall request the operator to provide additional information to the excavator, to the extent that information is available to the operator, to enable the excavator to determine the exact location of the installation. The regional notification center shall provide the excavator with the contact phone number of the subsurface installation operator.
(c) An excavator discovering or causing damage to a subsurface installation, including all breaks, leaks, nicks, dents, gouges, grooves, or other damage to subsurface installation lines, conduits, coatings, or cathodic protection, shall immediately notify the subsurface installation operator. The excavator may contact the regional notification center to obtain the contact information of the subsurface installation operator. If high priority subsurface installations are damaged and the operator cannot be contacted, the excavator shall call 911 emergency services.