# What is the purpose and scope of this part?

**Citation:** 49 CFR 196.1  
**Type / status:** regulation / current  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** 2026-08-18  
**Published:** Not stated

This part prescribes the minimum requirements that excavators must follow to protect underground pipelines from excavation-related damage. It also establishes an enforcement process for violations of these requirements.

## Document text

This part prescribes the minimum requirements that excavators must follow to protect underground pipelines from excavation-related damage. It also establishes an enforcement process for violations of these requirements.

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.ecfr.gov/on/2026-08-18/title-49/section-196.1>
- Source ID: `ecfr`
- SHA-256: `66739ed7bc82230a8277084b53a84070d91afe86313b85ce838de2fcdb8f7a63`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T05:54:44.792Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T08:55:07.818Z
- Document slug: `49-cfr-196-1`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "cfrTitle": 49,
  "part": "196",
  "section": "196.1",
  "subpart": "Subpart A—General",
  "corpusVersion": "2026-08-18",
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```