# What must an excavator do if a pipeline is damaged by excavation activity?

**Citation:** 49 CFR 196.107  
**Type / status:** regulation / current  
**Agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration  
**Effective:** 2026-08-18  
**Published:** Not stated

If a pipeline is damaged in any way by excavation activity, the excavator must promptly report such damage to the pipeline operator, whether or not a leak occurs, at the earliest practicable moment following discovery of the damage.

## Document text

If a pipeline is damaged in any way by excavation activity, the excavator must promptly report such damage to the pipeline operator, whether or not a leak occurs, at the earliest practicable moment following discovery of the damage.

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.ecfr.gov/on/2026-08-18/title-49/section-196.107>
- Source ID: `ecfr`
- SHA-256: `fcc101a935893e8f84207c4438dca2e6cbeb3abfe680a0cd8897cb73cfe4d6f6`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T05:54:44.792Z
- Exported: 2026-08-22T21:23:35.757Z
- Document slug: `49-cfr-196-107`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "cfrTitle": 49,
  "part": "196",
  "section": "196.107",
  "subpart": "Subpart B—Damage Prevention Requirements",
  "corpusVersion": "2026-08-18",
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```