Responsibilities of the Facility Owner/Utility Members
Missouri law requires the use of the Common Ground Alliance Best Practices as a guide to help protect the underground utilities. You can find the latest version of the CGA Best Practices under the Law & Enforcement tab on missouri-811.org.
Keep in mind that Missouri law takes priority over the CGA guide. If the two differ, follow Missouri law. For example, the CGA defines the tolerance zone as the width of the facility plus 18 inches on either side of the outside edge of an underground utility, but Missouri law uses 24 inches, and therefore, 24 inches is enforced in Missouri. When in doubt, always follow state law.
Utility must respond by the start date/time listed on the locate request.
Upon receipt of the excavator’s locate request, the utilities are required by law to either:
Mark the approximate location of their underground lines.
If it is determined that markings are required, the locate request will be dispatched to a field locator who will locate and mark the excavation site with paint, stakes or flags. Utilities mark their facilities according to specific guidelines and Color Codes.
Request additional information if necessary.
If the area of excavation cannot be determined from the description provided by the excavator prior to marking, the owner/operator may require the excavator to:
- Mark (white line) the proposed area of excavation,
- Provide project plans,
- Or meet at the excavation site, prior to marking by the owner/operator.
Either party may request an on-site meeting to clarify markings, which must occur within two working days of the request for this meeting.
Advise you if they are “Clear” or “OK”.
In some cases, the member may be able to determine from the information on the locate request that it has no underground facilities which could be affected by your excavation. In these cases, the members are required to notify you that they are “clear” at the dig site or that they are “OK”.
Methods of advising the excavator that they have no facilities at the dig site include:
- Calling the telephone number of the excavator or supervisor managing the excavation.
- Leaving a message on a recording device.
- Calling the cell phone of the excavator or supervisor of the excavation.
- Notifying the excavator by facsimile or by e-mail.
- Marking “Clear” or “OK” at the site.
- By verbally informing the excavator in person.
- By use of a locate status system.
Following their response to the locate request, the utilities are also required to:
Utilities may request more time to locate the underground utilities by submitting a request via the Locator Ticket Management (LTM) system or by calling Missouri 811 prior to the start date/time listed on the locate request.
If the utility fails to respond to the locate request, the following will occur.
No Response Tickets
To be requested when one or more utilities fail to respond to the original locate request. If notification is made before 2 pm, the marking shall be completed that working day. If the notification is made after 2 pm, the marking is to be completed no later than 10 am the next working day.
Sewer and Water Utilities
The Missouri law addresses additional responsibilities of sewer and water utilities in section 319.031.