The purpose of this division is to prevent injury to persons and damage to property from accidents resulting from damage to pipelines, underground utility lines and related facilities by excavating and blasting.
(1999 Code, sec. 94.30)
For the purpose of this division, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning:
The use of an explosive to excavate.
The movement or removal of earth using mechanical excavating equipment or blasting, and includes auguring, backfilling, digging, ditching, drilling, grading, plowing-in, ripping, scraping, trenching and tunneling.
All equipment powered by any motor, engine or hydraulic or pneumatic device used for excavating, and shall include trenchers, bulldozers, backhoes, power shovels, scrapers, draglines, clam shells, augers, drills, cable and pipe plows or other plowing-in or pulling-in equipment.
A pipeline or system of pipelines and appurtenances for the transportation or movement of any gas, mixture of gases or petroleum products suitable for domestic or industrial fuel.
An underground conduit and related facilities for transportation and delivery of electricity, telephonic or telegraphic communications, sewage, or water.
(1999 Code, sec. 94.31)
Every person who shall engage in an excavation shall:
(1)
Make reasonable efforts to inform himself of the location of any pipeline or underground utility line in or near the area where the excavation is to be conducted.
(2)
Plan the excavation to avoid or minimize interference with or damage to pipelines or underground utility lines in or near the excavation area.
(3)
Provide reasonable advance notice of the commencement, extent and duration of the excavation work to the owners of the pipelines or underground utility lines in and near the excavation area, so that such owners may locate and mark the location of pipelines and underground utility lines in the excavation area.
(4)
Maintain at least an estimated clearance of 18 inches between any nonexposed pipeline or underground utility line and the cutting edge or point of any mechanical excavating equipment utilized in such excavation.
(5)
Provide such support for existing pipelines and underground utility lines in or near the excavation area as may be reasonably necessary to prevent damage to such pipelines and underground utility lines.
(6)
Backfill all excavations in a manner and with materials as may be necessary to prevent damage to and provide reliable support during and following backfilling activities for preexisting pipelines and underground utility lines in or near the excavation area.
(7)
Notify as promptly as possible the owner of any pipelines or underground utility lines which may have been damaged or dislocated during the excavation work.
(1999 Code, sec. 94.32)
Every person owning or operating a pipeline or underground utility line shall, upon the request of a person intending to commence an excavation and upon reasonable advance notice, provide within ten days of such request any information he has relative to the location of pipelines and underground utility lines in or near the area of the excavation so as to enable the person engaged in excavation work to locate the facilities in advance of and during the excavation work.
(1999 Code, sec. 94.33)