N.M. Admin. Code § 18.60.5.16

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 20, October 22, 2024

Section 18.60.5.16 - EMERGENCY EXCAVATION AND DAMAGE REPORTING PROCEDURE

This section applies whenever failure of or damage to underground facilities or public infrastructure requires emergency excavation as defined in Subsection E of Section 62-14-2 NMSA 1978 and excavation shall be promptly commenced, ideally within 24 hours.

A.Excavators: An excavator who damages an underground facility while excavating with mechanical or non-mechanical equipment shall exercise prudence and shall:

(1) stop excavating immediately;

(2) call 911 if appropriate and the operator of the damaged underground facility and 811 to report the damaged facility;

(3) secure the site and direct people and traffic a safe distance away from the site of the damage;

(4) not leave the scene until authorized by an emergency responder or the operator of the damaged underground facility; an excavator may leave the scene without such authorization only if the excavator has made reasonable, if unsuccessful, efforts to contact the affected UFOs and has safely secured the site;

(5) not resume work within an unsafe distance of the damage until authorized by the operator of the damaged underground facility.

B.Operators of failed or damaged underground facilities: The operator of a failed or damaged underground facility shall exercise prudence and shall:

(1) immediately respond to a report of damage or failure to its underground facilities and travel to the site;

(2) prior to traveling to the site or upon arrival, call the one-call notification system for the excavation area to request an emergency locate;

(3) make the site safe and get the emergency situation under control;

(4) locate its own underground facilities as soon as practical, ideally within two hours;

(5) begin remedial action to restore service as soon as practical, ideally within 24 hours; and

(6) obtain a standard excavation locate ticket for repair work beyond resolution of the emergency situation.

C.Operators of failed or damaged public infrastructure: The entity responsible for the failed or damaged public infrastructure shall:

(1) call the one-call notification system for the excavation area to request an emergency locate;

(2) obtain an excavation locate ticket for repair work beyond resolution of the emergency situation.

D.One-call notification system: A one-call notification system shall upon request:

(1) issue an emergency excavation notice which shall be valid until the emergency is resolved, or for 48 hours, whichever is longer;

(2) issue a notice of a reported damage to each affected UFO.

N.M. Admin. Code § 18.60.5.16

18.60.5.16 NMAC - Rp, 18.60.5.16 NMAC, 8-15-12, Amended by New Mexico Register, Volume XXV, Issue 24, December 30, 2014, eff. 12/30/2014, Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXX, Issue 01, January 15, 2019, eff. 1/15/2019, Amended by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXIII, Issue 15, August 9, 2022, eff. 8/9/2022