(a) An operator shall use one of the following marking methods to mark the tolerance zone of an underground facility:
(1) The corridor marking method which be the practice of placing markers at either boundary of the tolerance zone, such that the markers will be 18 inches plus one-half the width of the facility away from the facility centerline;
(2) The centerline marking method which be the practice of placing markers directly over the centerline of the facility establishing boundaries at points located 18 inches plus one-half the width of the facility from the markers; or
(3) The offset marking method which be the practice of locating the centerline of the facility and placing markers at locations which parallel the facility.
(b) Any operator shall use the offset marking method only when it is impractical to use either the corridor or centerline methods, such as in marking in the traveled portion of an unpaved roadway.
(c) When marking an underground facility, an operator shall mark the underground facility consistent with the color code for the utility type of the underground facility, as set forth in En 806.02.
(d) In the event an operator maintains 2 or more underground facilities in close proximity to each other within the area of the proposed excavation activity, and the corridor marking method is to be applied, the operator may mark one tolerance zone.
(e) When an operator marks 2 or more underground facilities as described in (d) above:
(1) The operator shall establish the boundaries of the tolerance zone by use of the corridor marking method by locating the boundaries of each separate underground facility and placing markers at the outer boundaries of the multiple underground facilities; and
(2) When the marking results in one area being marked, the operator shall inform the excavator of the marking of each of the separate underground facilities within the marked boundaries, either verbally or by appropriate single markings pursuant to En 806.01.
(f) When an operator maintains 2 or more underground facilities in close proximity to each other within the area of the proposed excavation and the centerline marking method is to be applied, the operator shall place markers, conforming with En 806.01(a)(2), over the centerline of each facility.
(g) In the event the operator or member who owns or operates an underground facility is unable to designate the location of the underground facility due to extraordinary circumstances:
(1) The operator or member shall notify the notification center and provide an estimated completion date;
(2) The notification center shall document on the existing notification ticket, utilizing an attachment message, that the utility is unable to designate the location of the underground facility; and
(3) The operator shall notify the excavator who called the notification center that it is unable to designate the location of the underground facility due to extraordinary circumstances.
Source. #5616, eff 4-20-93, EXPIRED: 4-20-99
New. #7259, INTERIM, eff 5-2-00, EXPIRES: 8-30-00; ss by #7350, eff 8-23-00; ss by #7900, eff 5-29-03; ss by #9318, eff 11-8-08; ss by #12102, eff 2-8-17