Iowa excavation season launches each spring and April is designated as National Safe Digging Month. The Iowa Utilities Commission (IUC) joins the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), and Iowa One Call in reminding Iowans that state law requires a One Call ticket prior to any digging activities.
Excavators, operators, locators, and residents are required by Iowa Code chapter 480 to submit plans for any digging project online to IowaOneCall.com or by calling 811. The use of the online ITIC system can be easily navigated by utilizing Iowa One Call’s resource page. As required by law, when a One Call notification is made, the owners of the underground utilities will mark within the intended work area in advance of any digging. Utility owners use the American Public Works Association standard uniform colors for marking underground utility lines.
The IUC always recommends the following steps before you start digging:
- Submit an Iowa One Call ticket at least 48 hours before starting your project. If a professional has been hired, ensure they have submitted the One Call request and the underground utilities are properly marked.
- Confirm that you have received an email from Iowa One Call that all utilities have been marked and that there are no additional steps needed before you start to dig.
- Ensure you or the professional hand dig around any utilities identified with paint or flag markings before using heavy or powered equipment.
The IUC participates annually in PHMSA’s State Damage Prevention and One Call grant programs. Both programs are intended to minimize and eliminate damages to underground utilities and to ensure safe digging practices through education, related compliance activities, training and the IUC’s agreement with PHMSA to perform pipeline safety inspections.
The Iowa Attorney General’s office enforces the One Call law and the IUC assists by investigating One Call complaints. Review the Attorney General’s One Call webpage or the IUC’s One Call webpage for more information.