New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 18 - TRANSPORTATION AND HIGHWAYS
Chapter 60 - PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE
Part 5 - PIPELINE SAFETY EXCAVATION DAMAGE PREVENTION
Section 18.60.5.16 - EMERGENCY EXCAVATION AND DAMAGE REPORTING PROCEDURE

Universal Citation: 18 NM Admin Code 18.60.5.16

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024

This section applies whenever failure of or damage to underground facilities or public infrastructure requires emergency excavation as defined in Subsection E of Section 62-14-2 NMSA 1978 and excavation shall be promptly commenced, ideally within 24 hours.

A. Excavators: An excavator who damages an underground facility while excavating with mechanical or non-mechanical equipment shall exercise prudence and shall:

(1) stop excavating immediately;

(2) call 911 if appropriate and the operator of the damaged underground facility and 811 to report the damaged facility;

(3) secure the site and direct people and traffic a safe distance away from the site of the damage;

(4) not leave the scene until authorized by an emergency responder or the operator of the damaged underground facility; an excavator may leave the scene without such authorization only if the excavator has made reasonable, if unsuccessful, efforts to contact the affected UFOs and has safely secured the site;

(5) not resume work within an unsafe distance of the damage until authorized by the operator of the damaged underground facility.

B. Operators of failed or damaged underground facilities: The operator of a failed or damaged underground facility shall exercise prudence and shall:

(1) immediately respond to a report of damage or failure to its underground facilities and travel to the site;

(2) prior to traveling to the site or upon arrival, call the one-call notification system for the excavation area to request an emergency locate;

(3) make the site safe and get the emergency situation under control;

(4) locate its own underground facilities as soon as practical, ideally within two hours;

(5) begin remedial action to restore service as soon as practical, ideally within 24 hours; and

(6) obtain a standard excavation locate ticket for repair work beyond resolution of the emergency situation.

C. Operators of failed or damaged public infrastructure: The entity responsible for the failed or damaged public infrastructure shall:

(1) call the one-call notification system for the excavation area to request an emergency locate;

(2) obtain an excavation locate ticket for repair work beyond resolution of the emergency situation.

D. One-call notification system: A one-call notification system shall upon request:

(1) issue an emergency excavation notice which shall be valid until the emergency is resolved, or for 48 hours, whichever is longer;

(2) issue a notice of a reported damage to each affected UFO.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. New Mexico may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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