Why Your Municipality Should Join "Dig Safe"
With increased activity in the telecommunications and electric
industry, and the gas pipeline business, Maine communities are finding
their underground utilities under siege by cable companies, telecommunications
service providers, and pipeline contractors. How can you protect
your municipality's assets: the utilities themselves, your citizens,
and your employees? The answer is simple.......... join Dig Safe.
By State Statute, everybody is required to call Dig Safe before
excavating anywhere in the State of Maine. If your town or agency
belongs to the Dig Safe agency, then they will notify you of all
excavations occurring in the town. However, if you do not belong
to Dig Safe, then all excavators, public or private, should be calling
the Town, or water/sewer district, for you to locate before digging
occurs around your public utilities. With the liability factor alone,
communities should be taking advantage of this service.
Liability
The law says that if an "excavator" does not give notice
of an excavation, or acts in a reckless or negligent manner, whether
damage occurs or not, the excavator commits a civil violation with
penalties up to $1,000 and is responsible for any damage it causes
to underground utilities and for the costs of lost services experienced
by those receiving the benefits of the severed utility. Not to mention
costs associated with loss of property or life!
Benefits
Dig Safe is a preventative measure. By alerting members before
anyone excavates in your community, Dig Safe may save your community
hundreds of thousands of dollars by not having to repair underground
facilities. This alert identifies the contractor, the date and time
of the dig, and the nature of the work being done. Most importantly,
it gives the municipality (or local utility) the opportunity to
examine the job site and mark their facilities. This will protect
your underground utilities and insure that citizens get uninterrupted
service.
Membership
There are two classifications of membership.
General Members are public or municipal utilities and private water
companies. They must have less than 50 miles of trench line and
average less than 50 calls per month, per year. The charge for General
Membership is $3.00 per notification from Dig Safe. However, starting
February 1, 2000, the charge will only be $1 per call if a teletype,
computer, or other electronic means is used to receive the calls
from Dig Safe. If an electronic device is not available, then it
will be $6 per call.
Principal Members are those that have greater than 50 miles of
gas lines, electricity, cable television, telephone, and other types
of underground plant. Membership costs are determined by a formula.
To receive more information of Dig Safe System services or to apply
for membership, please contact Executive Director Robert Finelli
at 781/721-1191 or 877/344-7233 or e-mail at digsafectr@aol.com.
They also have a website at www.digsafe.com.
Adapted from "Road Runner", NH Road Agents Association,
Fall edition -- updated by Dig Safe Dec. 99.
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