Section 265.60  State-Wide One-Call Notice System

The utilities, in a joint endeavor, shall continue the operation and maintenance of the previously established State-Wide One-Call Notice System (System) for the exchanging of information between excavators and utilities so that the utilities will know where and when excavation is to take place and the excavators will know where the underground facilities are located, all in accordance with the following criteria:

a)         The System shall continue to be designed, organized, financed, operated, maintained and controlled by the underground utility facility owners and others subject to the jurisdiction of this Part as a joint endeavor;

b)         The System shall provide for a minimum notice period not to exceed 48 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays) in order to assure that the marking of the location of underground utility facilities will occur prior to excavation;

c)         The System shall provide a readily accessible, free of charge, One-Call Notice System whereby any person desiring to excavate shall give notice to owners of all underground utility facilities located in the area of the proposed excavation;

d)         The System shall provide procedures for verifying that notice was received from the excavator and acknowledged by any owners of the underground utility facilities located in the area of excavation;

e)         The System shall provide publicity of the One-Call Notice System to assure substantially all excavators are informed of the notice procedure;

f)         The System shall provide for participation by utilities not subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission;

g)         The System shall provide for participation by small utilities at an economically feasible unit cost per call;

h)         The System shall provide for "notice areas" no larger than one section of land;

i)          The System shall provide:

1)         for the gathering of information from excavators as to:

A)        the location and description of the excavation;

B)        the date and time the excavation is to begin;

C)        the name of person or company doing the excavation; and

D)        the name and phone number of persons to be contacted about the excavation;

2)         for distribution of the information to utilities with underground facilities in the area of the excavation;

j)          The System shall provide an informational system to indicate to excavators that no underground facilities exist in the area of excavation, if marking of the location of underground utilities does not exist on the site at the expiration of the notice period;

k)         The System shall require that information needed to operate the system within each utility's domain be identified and provided by the utilities to the notice system operator;

l)          The System shall provide for the financing and sharing of cost of construction, operation and maintenance of the system among the utilities;

m)        The System shall provide for the resolution of liability problems resulting from operation of the system.