Damage Prevention Board

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Q: What do I need to do if I’m going to Excavate?

A: At least 2 business days and no more than 10 business days prior to excavation, contact one of Idaho’s one-number notification services:

Digline:
Call 811; or
www.digline.com; or
Call 1-800-342-1585

Password:
Call 811; or
www.passwordinc.com; or
Call 1-800-669-8737

Mark the area of proposed excavation in white paint, per Idaho statute 55-2205.

Wait until the legal start time on your ticket and verify that all utilities identified on the ticket have responded. If not, contact the utility or a one-number notification center listed above and issue a 2nd request. Utilities have an additional 8 business hours to respond.

Q: What areas need to call Digline, Pelican, or Kootenai?

A: Pelican covers Boundary, Bonner, Benewah, and Shoshone counties. Kootenai convers Kootenai County only. Any other counties in Idaho will be covered by Digline.

Q: How much will it cost to have underground utilities located on my property?

A: This service is free and is provided to you by your local utilities to promote safety and encourage prevention of disrupted services.

Q: When am I exempt from notice requirement?

A: See Idaho Statute on Underground Facilities Damage Prevention.

Q: What happens with I call 811, Digline, Pelican, or Kootenai?

A: Once you make the call, an operator will ask you a series of questions designed to pinpoint the proposed excavation area. You will be given a reference number and the names of the utilities that have underground facilities in the excavation area. The One Call Center will then notify the affected utilities. The owner of each underground facility (or their locating contractor) will locate and accurately mark their buried facilities with the required color. Pre-marking is done so the locators will know the exact area to be located. As stated in Idaho statute 55-2205(b); Pre-mark on-site the path of excavation with white paint, as the circumstances require, other reasonable means that will set out clearly the path of excavation.

Q: When can I start digging after I make the call? May I start my excavation before the two business day deadline?

A: It is strongly recommended that you wait the full two-business day waiting period. This will allow all operators to complete their required responsibilities. If you start before that time you may be accepting liability for damages.

Q: I am hiring a contractor to do the digging, do I still have to call?

A: According to Idaho law, the excavator is responsible to make sure the request for excavation is made whether it means you or your excavator doing so. Both names should be indicated on your Request, you as the Owner and the Excavator.

Q: When is it legitimate to call for an ‘Emergency Locate’ request?

A: The specific requirements for requesting an emergency locate are: any sudden or unforeseen condition constituting a clear or present danger to life, heath or property, or a customer service outage, or the blockage of roads or transportation facilities that require immediate action. See Idaho statute 55-2202(5).

Q: Who is responsible for maintaining facility locate marks?

A: Once marked by the owner of the underground facility, or the owner’s agent, the excavator is responsible for maintaining the markings. Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the parties, maintained marking shall be valid for purposes of the notified excavation for a period of no longer than 3 consecutive weeks following the date of notification so long as it is reasonably apparent that site conditions have not changed so substantially as to invalidate the markings.

Q: Why aren’t my water and sewer lines located?

A: Water and sewer facility owners will only locate up to their meters next to the road right-of-way. It is your individual responsibility to contact a private locator to have the water or sewer service line from your meter to your home located.

Q: What do I need to do when digging near markings?

A: After the markings have been determined, excavators should maintain a minimum clearance of 24 inches between a marked and unexposed underground facility. If excavation is required within 24 inches, this should be performed with extreme care by hand digging.

Q: What do I do when there is damage to an underground facility?

A: If the damage is life threatening, clear the area, call 911. If it is not life threatening call the utility owner and the one-number notification service, per Idaho statute 55-2208.