Nevada's Public Utilities Commission strengthens ‘Call Before You Dig’ rules
CARSON CITY — The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada this week approved new regulations related to state “Call Before You Dig” requirements for residential and commercial excavation projects.
Prior regulations required residential and commercial excavators to call 811 prior to digging. 811 is a free service that protects homeowners and contractors from unintentionally hitting underground utility facilities while working on digging projects.
Calling 811 connects the digging homeowner or contractor to USA North, Nevada’s 811 call center. USA North notifies the appropriate utility companies of the homeowner’s or contractor’s intent to dig. Professional locators are then sent to the requested dig site to mark the approximate locations of underground facilities with flags, paint or both.
The new regulations, approved in Docket No. 18-03027, retain the 811 requirement, and also require residential and commercial excavators to promptly notify emergency 911 services and cease excavation work if damage to a subsurface installation causes the release of any gas or hazardous liquids.
Making the 911 call will trigger a notification to all appropriate local emergency response agencies that damage to subsurface installations during an excavation has occurred and the incident may present an emergency.
“Although the previous regulations required calling 911 under certain circumstances, the regulations now make it clear that emergency 911 services are required to be notified of the release of any gas or hazardous liquid, regardless of how small,” said PUCN Senior Gas Pipeline Engineer Neil Pascual.
See www.usanorth811.org, or www.puc.nv.gov for more information about safe digging.