# MARKING EXCAVATION SITES

**Citation:** 18.60.5.13 NMAC  
**Type / status:** regulation / current  
**Agency:** New Mexico Public Regulation Commission  
**Effective:** 2022-08-09  
**Published:** Not stated

A. Excavators. As provided under Subsection B of 18.60.5.10 NMAC, excavators shall mark all proposed excavation sites in accordance with American public works association (APWA) standards to improve communication between the excavator and UFO. In assessing administrative penalties for violation of t

## Document text

A. Excavators. As provided under Subsection B of 18.60.5.10 NMAC, excavators shall mark all proposed excavation sites in accordance with American public works association (APWA) standards to improve communication between the excavator and UFO. In assessing administrative penalties for violation of the Excavation Damage to Pipelines and Underground Utility Lines Law, Section 62-14-1 et seq. NMSA 1978 and this rule, the commission may consider whether and how well an excavator marked a proposed excavation site. Pre-marking a site in white indicates the actual excavation site (not limits of construction) and, therefore, will supersede marking instructions provided on locate requests and be used to determine alleged violations during staff investigations. When an excavator fails to pre-mark the actual excavation site, UFOs shall mark per the spotting instructions provided on the locate request and register a positive response indicating the site was not pre-marked.

B. UFOs.

(1) A UFO shall mark underground facilities for excavation purposes in accordance with the APWA standards.

(2) A UFO shall locate and mark its underground facilities within two full working days from the effective date of the ticket in accordance with Subsection A of 62-14-5 NMSA 1978.

(3) If a UFO determines it does not have underground facilities within the proposed limits of the excavation site, a UFO shall provide positive response to the one-call notification's positive response registry system and may write "clear" or "no underground facilities" and the UFO's name at the site in the appropriate color.

(4) The locate markings shall be valid for 15 working days from the end of the advance notice period. For the purpose of excavation, a working day begins on the work to begin date and time stamped on the ticket and ends 15 working days from such date and time.

(5) A UFO shall provide appropriate positive response to the one-call notification's positive response registry system for all advance notifications, including wide area, design, bid, standard, and road maintenance locate requests or conferences.

(6) If a UFO fails to mark its underground facility in accordance with the requirements of applicable laws, the UFO may be liable to the excavator, project owner, and project engineer in accordance with Subsection C of 62-14-5 NMSA 1978.

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://www.srca.nm.gov/parts/title18/18.060.0005.html>
- Source ID: `nm-srca-nmac`
- SHA-256: `b7653e4762b2307a4d5861784bdc6ad7024d10d7ad90edf0bd3022ec4197e483`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T08:28:34.875Z
- Exported: 2026-08-25T03:05:37.506Z
- Document slug: `nm-nmac-18-60-5-13`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "jurisdiction": "US-NM",
  "title": 18,
  "chapter": 60,
  "part": "5",
  "section": 13,
  "partTitle": "PIPELINE SAFETY EXCAVATION DAMAGE PREVENTION",
  "pipelineScope": "new-mexico-pipeline-safety",
  "legalScope": "Complete current official NMAC Title 18, Chapter 60, Parts 2 through 5: general pipeline-safety provisions, annual fees, enforcement procedures, and excavation-damage prevention. Part 1 is reserved.",
  "applicabilityCaveat": "Applicability depends on New Mexico Public Regulation Commission jurisdiction, pipeline or underground-facility type, operator and activity, intrastate or interstate status, federal preemption, incorporated federal rules, exemptions, waivers, and current Commission orders. Excavation-damage provisions also apply to one-call systems and excavators as specified in Part 5.",
  "rights": "Official New Mexico Administrative Code text is preserved with State Records Center and Archives attribution and source provenance. Agency marks, site presentation, linked material, and incorporated federal or third-party standards may carry separate rights; confirm reuse requirements beyond legal research.",
  "currentEffectiveOn": "2022-08-09",
  "effectiveDateBasis": "Latest explicit date in the official section history note; not a chapter-wide publication date.",
  "rawHistory": "[18.60.5.13 NMAC - Rp, 18.60.5.13 NMAC, 1/15/2019; A, 8/9/2022]",
  "references": [
    {
      "citation": "18.60.5.10 NMAC",
      "referenceType": "new-mexico-administrative-code"
    },
    {
      "citation": "18.60.5.13 NMAC",
      "referenceType": "new-mexico-administrative-code"
    },
    {
      "citation": "62-14-5 NMSA 1978",
      "referenceType": "new-mexico-statutes"
    }
  ],
  "publicationStatus": "Current official NMAC part text published by the New Mexico State Records Center and Archives.",
  "region": "NM"
}
```