Professional Excavator

It is the excavator’s responsibility to respect and protect the markings. If the markings have faded or been destroyed by weather, traffic, or excavation, the excavator should contact Blue Stakes and request to have the area marked again. Member facility operators are then required to re-mark the area by 8:00 a.m. on the third business day after the re-notification. A re-mark notice does not extend the legal life of the Locate Request.

Utah Law specifies that if a facility is damaged during excavation, the excavator should immediately inform the appropriate facility operator directly so the facility line can be repaired and immediately call 911 if the damage may result in an immediate risk to human life. Refer to your local phone directory to contact a facility operator.

If the facility was marked, refer to FAQ #3 to determine what kind of facility it was. If it was not marked, please do not call Blue Stakes to determine what kind of facility line it is. Our Locate Specialists are not trained to identify facilities. If you do have the Locate Request ticket number, Blue Stakes can tell you which member facility operators were notified, but that does not necessarily mean the facility belongs to one of them.

See General FAQ #14 for information about after-hours emergencies.

Yes indeed! The Utah Damage to Underground Utility Facilities Act requires anyone engaging in any operation in which earth, rock, or other material on or below the ground is moved or displaced by tools, equipment, explosives, or demolition to notify Blue Stakes at least three (3) business days but not more than 14 calendar days prior to excavation. 

Potholing locations must be pre-marked on site. You must provide which facility or facilities you are potholing for, information on the Locate Request of how the site is pre-marked, a reasonable area description for marking around the pre-marked site, and where the pre-marked location is on the property.

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.

The Utah state law explains it this way:

54-8a-7. Notice of damage — Repairs. (https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title54/Chapter8A/54-8a-S7.html)

(1) An excavator performing an excavation that results in contact or damage to a facility shall:  

(a) provide notice of the contact or damage including the location and nature of any damage immediately to the operator; 

(b) allow the operator reasonable time when considering the safety of the area, and the availability of materials, labor, or equipment, to make or coordinate necessary repairs before completing the excavation in the immediate area of the facility; and 

(c) delay any backfilling in the immediate area of the contacted or damaged facility until the operator authorizes the excavator to resume backfilling. 

(2) After receiving notification of contact or damage to a facility, the operator, or qualified personnel authorized by the operator, shall: 

(a) expedite a response to examine the contacted or damaged facility; and 

(b) make or coordinate necessary repairs to the contacted or damaged facility within eight business hours or notify the excavator that the repairs will take longer than eight business hours due to safety or availability of materials, labor, or equipment. 

(3) (a) An excavator that is responsible for an excavation where any contact or damage to a facility results in the discharge of electricity or escape of any flammable, toxic, or corrosive gas or liquid, or that endangers life, health, or property shall:  

(i) immediately notify:  

(A) emergency responders, including 911 services; and  

(B) the facility operator; and  

(ii) take reasonable measures to protect the excavator, other persons, property, and the environment until the operator or emergency responders arrive. 

Utah law requires facility operators 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 facility operator 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 General FAQ #6: https://www.bluestakes.org/faqs/ 

A request expires 21 calendar days from the day it was submitted (queued to be delivered) to the member facility operators. The Legal date/time, Update by date/time, and expiration (Good Thru) date/time will be included in the emailed or SMS copy of your Locate Request. 

If the markings are destroyed by weather, traffic, or excavation, the excavator will need to call 811, option 1 to speak to a Locate Specialist or go online to submit a Re-Mark on a current request and allow at least three (3) business days for the area to be re-marked. A Re-Mark Request does NOT extend the life of the Locate Request ticket.

If excavation work extends beyond expiration (Good thru) date and time, you may submit an Update on your current request over the phone by calling 811, option 1 or online. This must be completed before the “Update By” date and time listed on the Locate Request ticket.   

To submit a Re-mark request or an Update to a current Locate Request ticket online go to: https://otr.bluestakes.org/. This is also accessible on our Mobile App. 

The Utah Damage to Underground Utility Facilities Act requires anyone engaged in “an operation in which earth, rock, or other material on or below the ground is moved or displaced by tools, equipment, explosives, or demolition” to notify Blue Stakes at least three (3) 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 our Mobile App. 

Pre-marking a location will save valuable resources and time. It will also help to reduce unnecessary overmarking for the type of work being completed.

While white lining or pre-marking the proposed excavation area has been recommended for years, it is not required by law in Utah. However, according to section 54-8a-4 (3) of the Damage to Underground Utility Facilities Act:

54-8a-4. Notice of excavation. (https://www.bluestakes.org/law/)