Kansas Administrative Regulations
Agency 82 - KANSAS CORPORATION COMMISSION
Article 14 - KANSAS UNDERGROUND UTILITY DAMAGE PREVENTION ACT
Section 82-14-3 - Operator requirements

Universal Citation: KS Admin Regs 82-14-3

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 52, December 26, 2024

In addition to the provisions of K.S.A. 66-1806, K.S.A. 66-1807, and K.S.A. 66-1810 and amendments thereto, the requirements specified in this regulation shall apply to each operator.

(a) Each operator shall inform the notification center of its election to be considered as a tier 1 member, tier 2 member, or tier 3 member.

(b) Unless otherwise agreed to between the notification center and the operator, any operator of a tier 2 facility may change its membership election once every calendar year by informing the notification center of the operator's intention on or before November 30 of the preceding calendar year.

(c) Each tier 1 member shall perform the following:

(1) File and maintain maps of the operator's underground facilities or a map showing the operator's service area with the notification center; and

(2) file and maintain, with the notification center, the operator's telephone contact number that can be accessed on a 24-hour-per-day basis.

(d) Each tier 2 member shall perform the following:

(1) Establish telephone or internet service with the ability to receive notification from excavators on a 24-hour-per-day basis;

(2) file with the notification center updated maps of the operator's underground facilities or a map showing the operator's service area;

(3) file with the notification center the operator's current telephone contact number or numbers that can be accessed on a 24-hour-per-day basis;

(4) file with the notification center the operator's preferred method of contact for all referrals received from the notification center; and

(5) maintain for at least two years all information provided by the excavator pursuant to K.A.R. 82-14-2(e) and (f).

(e) Each tier 3 member shall perform the following:

(1) File with the notification center updated maps of the operator's underground facilities or a map showing the operator's service area;

(2) file with the notification center the operator's current telephone contact number or numbers that can be accessed on a 24-hour-per-day basis;

(3) file with the notification center the operator's preferred method of contact for all referrals received from the notification center;

(4) maintain for at least two years all information provided by the excavator pursuant to K.A.R. 82-14-2(e) and (f);

(5) develop and operate a locate service web site capable of receiving locate requests;

(6) publish and maintain a dedicated telephone number for locate services;

(7) maintain 24-hour response capability for emergency locates; and

(8) employ at least two technically qualified individuals whose job function is dedicated to the location of underground utilities.

(f) Except in cases of emergencies or separate agreements between the parties, each operator of a tier 1 facility shall perform one of the following, within the two working days before the excavation scheduled start date assigned by the notification center:

(1) Inform the excavator of the location of the tolerance zone of the operator's underground facilities in the area described in the notice of intent of excavation; or

(2) notify the excavator that the operator has no facilities in the area described in the notice of intent of excavation.

(g) Except in cases of emergencies or separate agreements between the parties, the operator of a tier 2 facility shall perform one of the following within the two working days before the excavation scheduled start date assigned by the notification center or the tier 2 member or tier 3 member, whichever is later:

(1) Mark the location of its facilities according to the requirements of subsections (m) and (n) in the area described in the notice of intent of excavation and, if applicable, notify the excavator of the operator's election to require a tolerance zone of 60 inches; or

(2) inform the excavator that the operator's underground facilities are expected to be at least two feet deeper than the excavator's planned excavation depth and that the location of its facilities will not be provided for the affected tier 2 facilities.

(h) Each operator of a tier 2 facility that notifies an excavator of its election to require a tolerance zone of 60 inches shall record and maintain the following records of the notification for at least two years:

(1) The name of the excavator contacted for the notification of a 60-inch tolerance zone;

(2) the date of the notification; and

(3) a description of the location of the excavation site.

(i) Each operator of a tier 2 facility that notifies an excavator of its election not to provide locates for its facilities that are expected to be two feet deeper than the excavator's maximum planned excavation depth shall record and maintain the following records of the notification for at least two years:

(1) The name of the excavator notified that the operator will not provide locates;

(2) the excavator's maximum planned excavation depth;

(3) the date of the notification; and

(4) a description of the location of the excavation site.

(j) If the operator of a tier 2 facility is unable to provide the location of its facilities within a 60-inch tolerance zone, the operator shall mark the approximate location of its facilities to the best of its ability, notify the excavator that the markings could be inaccurate, remain on site or in the vicinity of the excavation, and provide additional guidance to the excavator in locating the facilities as needed during the excavation.

(k) Each tier 2 facility constructed, replaced, or repaired after July 1, 2008 shall be locatable. Location data shall be maintained in the form of maps or any other format as determined by the operator.

(l) The requirement to inform the excavator of the facility location shall be met by marking the location of the operator's facility and identifying the name of the operator with flags, paint, or any other method by which the location of the facility is marked in a clearly visible manner.

(m) In marking the location of its facilities, each operator shall use safety colors substantially similar to five of the colors specified in the American national standards institute standard no. Z535.1-2002, "American national standard for safety color code," not including annex A, dated July 25, 2002 and hereby adopted by reference, according to the following table:

Facility Type Color
Electric power distribution lines and transmission lines Safety red
Gas distribution and transmission lines, hazardous liquid distribution and transmission lines Safety yellow
Telephone, telegraph, and fiber optic system lines; cable television lines; alarm lines; and signal lines Safety orange
Potable water lines Safety blue
Sanitary sewer main lines Safety green

(n) If the facility has any outside dimension that is eight inches or larger, the operator shall mark its facility so that the outside dimensions of the facility can be easily determined by the excavator.

(o) If the facility has any outside dimension that is smaller than eight inches, the operator shall mark its facility so that the location of the facility can be easily determined by the excavator.

(p) The requirement to notify the excavator that the tier 1 operator has no facilities in the area described in the notice of intent of excavation shall be met by performing one of the following:

(1) Marking the excavation site in a manner indicating that the operator has no facilities at that site; or

(2) contacting the excavator by telephone, facsimile, or any other means of communication. Two documented attempts by the operator to reach an excavator by telephone during normal business hours shall constitute compliance with this paragraph.

(q) If the notice of intent of excavation contains a request for a meet on site, the operator shall meet with the excavator at a mutually agreed-upon time within two working days after the day on which the notice of intent of excavation was given.

(r) After attending a meet on site, the operator shall inform the excavator of the tolerance zone of the operator's facilities in the area of the planned excavation within two working days before the excavation scheduled start date that was agreed to at the meet on site.

(s) Any operator may request that the excavator whiteline the proposed excavation site.

(t) If the operator requests that the excavator white-line the excavation site, the operator shall have two working days after the whitelining is completed to provide the location of the tolerance zone.

(u) If the operator requests that the excavator use whitelining at the excavation site, the operator shall document the whitelining request and any subsequent meetings regarding the facility location for that excavation site. The operator shall maintain records of the whitelin-ing documentation for two years after the excavation scheduled start date. The documentation shall include the following:

(1) A record stating the name and contact information of the excavator contacted for the request for whitelining;

(2) verification that both parties understand the description of the excavation site;

(3) the agreed-upon excavation scheduled start date; and

(4) the date and time of the request for whitelining.

(v) Each operator that received more than 2,000 requests for facility locations in the preceding calendar year shall file a damage summary report at least semiannually with the Kansas corporation commission. The report shall include information on each incident of facility damage resulting from excavation activity that was discovered by the operator during that period. For each incident, at a minimum the following data, if known, shall be included in the report:

(1) The type of operator;

(2) the type of excavator;

(3) the type of excavation equipment;

(4) the city or county, or both, in which the damage occurred;

(5) the type of facility that was damaged;

(6) the date of damage, specifying the month and year;

(7) the type of locator;

(8) the existence of a valid notice of intent of excavation; and

(9) the primary cause of the damage.

(w) The damage summary report for the first six months of the calendar year shall be due on or before August 1 of the same calendar year. The damage summary report for the last six months of the calendar year shall be due on or before February 1 of the next calendar year.

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