Chapter 5
5.2 Delineate Area of Proposed Excavation67/79/
Practice Statement:
The excavator delineates the area of proposed excavation by one or a combination of the following methods:
1. Electronic white lining (where available through the 811 center);
2. On-site premarking, also known as white lining, with white paint, flags, stakes, whiskers and/or other locally accepted methods {See Appendix B}; and/or
3. Clear description of the proposed excavation site on the locate ticket.
Practice Description:
A clearly delineated proposed work area allows facility owners/operators and locators to avoid unnecessary work created by locating facilities that are not affected by the planned excavation, and ensure that underground facilities within the intended work area are well marked. Electronic white lining provides a method where excavators may indicate their defined dig area visually by electronic data entry (lines or polygons) without the need for a physical site visit. Premarking, on-site and/or electronically, allows excavators to accurately communicate to the 811 center, facility owners/operators, or their locator where excavation is to occur.
Reference:
- Existing state laws, including California, Missouri, New Jersey, and others
- Lambert’s Cable Construction, LLC and UtiliQuest, LLC; Verizon Fios drop placement process in VA, MD and DC
- One Call Concepts; Internet Ticket Processing (ITIC) – excavation polygon feature to define entire proposed excavation areas
- Virginia Pilot Project; Phase I – Electronic White Lining Study