Background:

One-Number Locator Service.

Under current law, a single statewide telephone number exists for referring excavators to the appropriate one-number locator service. A one-number locator service is operated by non-governmental entities and is a means by which a person can notify utilities of excavation and request field marking of underground facilities. In general, a one-number locator service receives requests for the location of buried utility facilities and relays those requests to member utilities and governmental agencies. The Utilities and Transportation Commission, in consultation with the Washington Utilities Coordinating Council, established minimum standards and best management practices for one-number services.

Before conducting any excavation, excluding agricultural tilling less than 12 inches in depth, a person must notify pipeline companies of the scheduled excavation through the one-number locator service. Notification must occur in a window of not less than two business days, but not more than 10 business days, before beginning the excavation. If a pipeline company is notified that excavation work will occur near a pipeline, a representative of the company must consult with the excavator on-site prior to excavation. A civil penalty of not more than $10,000 applies when a person fails to notify the one-number locator service and causes damage to a hazardous liquid or gas pipeline.

Punishment for a Misdemeanor Offense.

The statutory punishment for a person convicted of a misdemeanor is imprisonment in the county jail for a maximum term fixed by the court of not more than 90 days, or by a fine in an amount fixed by the court of not more than $1,000, or by both imprisonment and a fine.

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Summary of Substitute Bill:

An underground facility owner who is required to subscribe to the one-number locator service and fails to do so is liable for all damages to the owner's underground facilities and for any other damages that occured as a result of proper notice of a scheduled excavation through the one-number locator service. Persons who own underground facilities at their residence, farm, or place of business are not required to subscribe to the one-number locator service.

An owner of an underground facility located within a one-number locator service area that does not subscribe to the one-number locator service is guilty of a misdemeanor.

Provisions are removed that exempted an owner of underground facilities from indicating 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.

Bar holes are excluded as an excavation activity, if a bar hole is created by hand-operated equipment during emergency leak investigations and the bar hole is less than 12 inches in depth. "Bar hole" is defined as a hole made in the soil or pavement with a bar for the specific purpose of testing the subsurface atmosphere with a combustible gas indicator. If a bar hole is 12 or more inches in depth, reasonable measures must be taken to eliminate arc hazards.

The definition of "underground facility" is modified to include service laterals as one of the items buried or placed below ground for use in connection with the storage or conveyance of water, sewage, electronic, telephonic or telegraphic communications, cablevision, electric energy, petroleum products, gas, gaseous vapors, and hazardous liquids. "Service lateral" is defined as an individual customer service line providing connection or conveyance to or from one or more building units to an underground facility, and operated by the owner of the underground facility within its right-of-way or easement.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:

The substitute bill clarifies that persons who own underground facilities at their residence, farm, or place of business are not required to subscribe to the one-number locator service. An exemption is provided to the one-number locator requirements to allow for bar holes created as part of emergency leak detection investigations. A definition of bar hole is provided. The definition of service lateral is modified to clarify that service laterals must be operated by the owner of the underground facility within its right-of-way or easement. Provisions are removed that require the owner of an underground facility to notify the one-number locator service when field marking of underground facilities has been completed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) It is extremely serious when someone digs in areas where there are underground facilities. The current notification system has worked well, but it could be better. With all the communications technologies at our disposal, notifying the contractor that the field marking has been completed is much easier to accomplish and is a common sense approach.

A primary purpose of the bill is safety. The bill works to ensure that utility service laterals that are part of a right-of-way or easements be properly marked. Currently, some utilities mark these service laterals properly and some utilities do not. The notification by an underground facility owner that the field marking has occurred is an important safety issue for excavators.

(In support with concerns) There needs to be an allowance made for bar holing when utilities need to conduct emergency excavations for gas leak detection.

(With concerns) There is a technical glitch in the bill. The definition of underground facility owner would include homeowners and other property owners. The cost of positive notification may be expensive to utilities.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: (In support) Representative Armstrong, prime sponsor; Dave Ducharme and Mike Myette, Utility Contractors Association of Washington; Mark Fuglevand, Marsh Bank Construction; and Terrence Caillier, Washington Utility Coordination Council.

(In support with concerns) Collins Sprague, Avista Corporation; and Dave Danner, The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission.

(With concerns) Kent Lopez, Washington Rural Electric Cooperative Association; Ken Johnson, Puget Sound Energy; Bill Clarke, Washington Public Utility Districts Association; and Doug Levy, Cities of Everett and Kent.