Engineer

Information for an Engineer

Prior to a project, an accurate design is critical to the best outcome in the field.  As an engineer you understand the importance of gathering accurate information for your project which will minimize interference with existing and proposed utility facilities.  Preparation will have a critical impact on the costs and success of the design. Damage Prevention is everyone’s responsibility. Thank you for doing your part in this combined effort to protect public safety, minimize utility service interruptions, and avoid damage to property!

Plan and Design For Your Project

Blue Stakes does not process non-excavation locate requests for planning and design purposes. Blue Stakes will, however, provide planning and design contact information on our member facility owners for you to contact directly. This information may be obtained by using the “Utility Contact Lookup” tool at ucl.bluestakes.org.

Note: if you have an extensive area that is more complex and can not be completed through the use of the UCL tool, you may send an area description along with your contact information in an email to design@bluestakes.org. You will receive an email reply with the appropriate member facility owner contact information for your described project area.

Resources

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Utility Contact Lookup

Get contact information for Member Facility Owners for After-Hours Emergencies or Engineering & Design requests.

Excavators' Guide

Download the Excavator's Guide.

English | Spanish

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Uniform Color Code & Marking Guidelines

Access the Appendix B for the CGA Best Practices.

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Excavation Safety 101

Access excavation training and earn DOPL, Drinking Water, or Wastewater CEUs.

FAQs

Obtain answers to frequently asked questions regarding locate request (ticket) information and the need to “Know what’s below, Call 811 before you dig”.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes indeed! The Utah Damage to Underground Utility Facilities Act requires anyone engaging in any activity which displaces earth, rock, or other material on or below the ground to notify Blue Stakes at least two (2) business days but not more than 14 calendar days prior to excavation.

You can submit a Locate Request Ticket online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at: https://ite.bluestakes.org/. There is also access to this application through our Mobile App.

Locate requests expire 14 calendar days from the time/date they are processed and submitted. In order to extend the request beyond the expiration date, the excavator will need to “Update” the request at least 2 calendar days but not more than 6 calendar days prior to the expiration time/date listed on the request. To Update your request online go to: https://otr.bluestakes.org/. It is also accessible by clicking on the Update Locate Request icon from within our Mobile App.

There is currently not an option for automatic Updates.

Note: Do not Update a request if excavation work is not going to take place within 14 calendar days. Wait until you are ready to excavate again and submit a New request 2 calendar days prior to excavating. Your original Locate Request Ticket information can be used for the New request and this can be completed through the same link.

Utah law requires utility owners to mark only the lines that they own and maintain. This usually means up to the meter. Underground lines that extend beyond the meter or that are not connected to a meter are typically not installed or owned by a utility company and therefore may not be marked. These include water and sewer laterals, power to a detached garage or lamppost, sprinkler/irrigation systems, lines connected to a propane tank or septic system, etc.

Almost every job site will include some type of privately-owned underground pipe or cable. The excavator should inspect the property carefully and ask the property owner about private underground lines before digging. The excavator should consider hiring a private locator to mark private lines that could be in conflict with the excavation project. Areas where private lines are especially common include apartment complexes, mobile home parks, gated subdivisions, cabin communities, schools and universities, hospital complexes, industrial areas, government facilities and military installations. Find additional info under FAQ #6: https://www.bluestakes.org/faqs/

The Utah Damage to Underground Utility Facilities Act requires anyone engaging in any activity which displaces earth, rock, or other material on or below the ground to notify Blue Stakes at least two (2) business days but not more than 14 calendar days prior to excavation.

You can submit a Locate Request Ticket online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at: https://ite.bluestakes.org/. This is also accessible by clicking on the New Locate Request icon from within our Mobile App.

A map cannot be linked or submitted along with a Locate Request Ticket that will be sent to the facility operator/locator for locating and marking. If a map would help the Customer Service Representative (CSR) create the request, the CSR will provide an email address to send it to.

However, the excavator will still need to provide all normal, required location and marking instructions.

Most locate requests can be described over the phone or online. In situations where excavation projects are large, complicated or within a restricted area, a meet may be necessary. If a meet is

requested, the excavator will need to provide address information for a suitable location to meet, as well as the general boundaries of the dig site. The specific excavation area(s) within these boundaries can then be shown and discussed with the field locators at the meet. A map of the excavation area may be required to be provided to each field locator at the meet.


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