Sec. 753-4.6. Locating underground facilities

(a) Whenever an operator's underground facilities are in or within 15 feet of a work area, such facility shall be located, accurately and with due care, by means of staking, marking or other designation in accordance with the provisions of this Subpart.

(b) The following staking and marking requirements shall apply:

(1) stakes or surface markings shall be provided preferably at the center line of the underground facility and at such sufficient intervals as is necessary to indicate clearly the location and direction of run of such underground facility;

(2) all stakes and surface markings shall be color coded in accordance with the provisions of this Subpart in order to identify the type of underground facility so staked or marked;

(3) stakes and surface markings shall indicate in inches the size or diameter of the underground facility or its encasement, if known;

(4) each stake and surface marking shall indicate in inches the depth of the underground facility at that point, if known;

(5) surface markings shall consist of paint, dye or equivalent material which is color coded in accordance with the provisions of this Subpart and which contrasts with the ground or equivalent surface; and

(6) where conditions exist so as to render center line staking or marking impractical or confusing, the operator may indicate the location of an underground facility by means of offset staking or remote tie-in markings which will clearly indicate the location and direction of run of the facility.

(c) If staking or marking are not used to indicate the location of an underground facility, the operator shall designate such location in accordance with the following:

(1) by exposing the underground facility or its encasement to view within the work area in a manner sufficient to allow the excavator to verify the type, size, direction of run and depth of the facility;

(2) by providing field representation and instruction to the excavator in the work area; or

(3) by any other means as mutually agreed to by the operator and excavator, including but not limited to written descriptions, photographs or verbal instructions. Such agreement shall be provided in writing to the excavator upon his or her request.

(d) An operator, or its agents or contractors, performing excavation or demolition work at or near his or her own underground facility shall not be required to stake, mark or otherwise designate such underground facility.