19.122.030 - Notice of excavation to owners of underground facilities -- One-number locator service -- Time for notice -- Marking of underground facilities -- Costs. - Washington Statutes

Notice of excavation to owners of underground facilities — One-number locator service — Time for notice — Marking of underground facilities — Costs.

(1) Before commencing any excavation, excluding agriculture tilling less than twelve inches in depth, the excavator shall provide notice of the scheduled commencement of excavation to all owners of underground facilities through a one-number locator service.

     (2) All owners of underground facilities within a one-number locator service area shall subscribe to the service. One-number locator service rates for cable television companies will be based on the amount of their underground facilities. If no one-number locator service is available, notice shall be provided individually to those owners of underground facilities known to or suspected of having underground facilities within the area of proposed excavation. The notice shall be communicated to the owners of underground facilities not less than two business days or more than ten business days before the scheduled date for commencement of excavation, unless otherwise agreed by the parties.

     (3) Upon receipt of the notice provided for in this section, the owner of the underground facility shall provide the excavator with reasonably accurate information as to its locatable underground facilities by surface-marking the location of the facilities. If there are identified but unlocatable underground facilities, the owner of such facilities shall provide the excavator with the best available information as to their locations. The owner of the underground facility providing the information shall respond no later than two business days after the receipt of the notice or before the excavation time, at the option of the owner, unless otherwise agreed by the parties. Excavators shall not excavate until all known facilities have been marked. Once marked by the owner of the underground facility, the excavator is responsible for maintaining the markings. Excavators shall have the right to receive compensation from the owner of the underground facility for costs incurred if the owner of the underground facility does not locate its facilities in accordance with this section.

     (4) The owner of the underground facility shall have the right to receive compensation for costs incurred in responding to excavation notices given less than two business days prior to the excavation from the excavator.

     (5) An owner of underground facilities is not required to indicate the presence of existing service laterals or appurtenances if the presence of existing service laterals or appurtenances on the site of the construction project can be determined from the presence of other visible facilities, such as buildings, manholes, or meter and junction boxes on or adjacent to the construction site.

     (6) Emergency excavations are exempt from the time requirements for notification provided in this section.

     (7) If the excavator, while performing the contract, discovers underground facilities which are not identified, the excavator shall cease excavating in the vicinity of the facility and immediately notify the owner or operator of such facilities, or the one-number locator service.

[2000 c 191 § 17; 1988 c 99 § 1; 1984 c 144 § 3.]

Notes: Intent -- Findings -- Conflict with federal requirements -- Short title -- Effective date -- 2000 c 191: See RCW 81.88.005 and 81.88.900 through 81.88.902.

Damages to facilities on state highways: RCW 47.44.150.