EMERGENCY EXCAVATION AND DAMAGE REPORTING PROCEDURE

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.#

History[18.60.5.16 NMAC - Rp, 18.60.5.16 NMAC, 1/15/2019; A, 8/9/2022]#