(1) Within 72 hours, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, from the time initial notice is received by the Dig Safe Center, every company shall mark the location of an underground facility by applying a visible marking material, such as paint, on the ground above the facility. The company may use an alternative marking method of color-coded stakes, color-coded flags or color-coded brush-type markers.
(2) Every company shall use the center-line method to identify the location of its respective underground facilities, whether the facilities are located on private or public property. The underground facility shall be completely located within the safety zone, no more than the width of the facility plus 18 inches on each side from the designated center line.
(3) All markings shall indicate, where practicable, the width, if it is greater than two inches, and the material of the underground facility, as well as any change in direction and any terminus points of the facility.
(4) The standard color code listed in 220 CMR 99.02 shall be used for the placement of marks whether by visible marking material or alternative marking methods.
(5) Marking shall extend at least 15 feet beyond the boundaries of the premarked area, if premarking is required.
(6) Upon a request for remarking, the company shall remark the location of an underground facility within 24 hours of the request, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays.
(7) In a paved area designated as a historical location, a company may use chalk, stakes, flags, brush-type markers or other suitable devices with the appropriate color-coding affixed or attached, instead of marking fluid. If an alternative marking method is used, the excavator shall communicate as necessary with the company to ensure that the marks are maintained and remarked as needed.
(8) If the surface above the underground facility is to be removed, the company may place supplemental offset marks. These marks must be uniformly aligned and must indicate the specific distance from the markings to the underground facility.
(9) Upon installing any new underground facilities or part thereof, the company shall mark out the location of the newly installed facilities as they are backfilled or installed, and .document the mark- out of the newly installed facilities.
(10) If a company receives notification of an excavation from the Dig Safe Center and has no underground facilities to mark, it shall inform the excavator or otherwise indicate the absence of underground facilities at the excavation location.
Amended by Mass Register Issue 1402, eff. 10/18/2019.