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What information do I need to have before calling Blue Stakes?

NOTE: If you have the needed information, you can create a locate request online here.
The following questions will be asked by the Blue Stakes Locate Specialist. Questions to which an answer is required are marked with an (R).

    1. (R) What is the name, phone number, and mailing address. of the party calling in the request?
      The party who will be actually conducting the excavation must contact Blue Stakes as part of their legal responsibilities — no party (such as a general contractor or homeowner) can assume responsibility or call in a request for the excavator. If more than one excavator will dig at the site, they must each create their own locate request.
    2. (R) What is your name and best contact number?
      This allows the member facility operators to contact you if they have questions or problems marking the area. In addition, you can supply a field contact if you would like the member facility operators to contact someone else (e.g. a site foreman).
    3. Who is the work being done for?
      The member facility operators have asked us to provide this information. It provides additional helpful information on the Locate Request.
    4. Do you have an e-mail address or a SMS phone number?
      You are not required to provide an email address when submitting a request over the phone. However, an email address is required for any online Locate Request. When an email address or an SMS phone number is provided, you will receive an email or text copy of your processed Locate Request. Additionally, some member facility operators may have facility lines in the area, but not directly where you plan to excavate. Providing this information provides a convenient way for them to notify you that their facility lines are not in conflict with your proposed excavation.
    5. (R) What type of work will you be doing?
      Specify the purpose of your excavation — such as installation of sprinklers, fence, irrigation, etc., rather than the method of excavation, i.e. digging, trenching, backhoe, boring, hydro excavation, etc.
    6. (R) Will you be using directional boring or trenchless excavation techniques?
      This is any type of excavation that goes horizontally underground without disturbing the surface.
    7. (R) What county and city will the excavation take place in?
      If the excavation is not within any city limits, provide an approximate distance and direction the dig site is from the nearest incorporated city or town.
    8. (R) What is the address of the dig site
      We require one of the following:
      (a) A posted address, or directions from the nearest posted address.
      (b) A posted intersection, or directions from the nearest posted intersection.
      (c) A highway and mile post marker, freeway and exit number, or directions from one of these.
      (d) Latitude longitude coordinates and the corresponding Township & Range Section number (only accepted for rural areas).
      (e) A grid coordinate for any street name may also be provided (e.g. Redwood Rd = 1700 W).
    9. Is there a subdivision name or lot number?
      If you have this information, it may help the member facility operators find the location. Lot numbers are not accepted as the only address, except for rare subdivisions that do not use regular addresses.
    10. (R) Which part of the lot will you be excavating in?
      Please state the area you are going to be excavating in, rather than the area where you think the facility lines are located.

      For more information, see FAQ #18.