FAQs

Yes. You should call no matter how deep you are digging, since many cables and pipes lie at extremely shallow depths. Utah law defines “excavation” as “an operation in which earth, rock, or other material on or below the ground is moved or displaced by tools, equipment, or explosives.” The law specifies to contact Blue Stakes before excavating.

Homeowners and contractors digging at a single address can submit a new locate request or revise an existing locate request online here.

Contractors that create many tickets can be trained through an online training program and then will be able to submit requests 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There are many advantages to submitting requests this way. Click here to sign up for an online account and training. We currently do not accept requests by email and we no longer accept requests by fax.

Utility owners follow the APWA (American Public Works Association) standard to mark the locations of their underground facilities. The following colors are used:

RED – Electric Power Lines, Cables, Conduit and Lighting Cables
YELLOW – Gas, Oil, Steam, Petroleum or Gaseous Materials
ORANGE – Communication, Alarm or Signal Lines, Cables or Conduit
BLUE – Potable Water
PURPLE – Reclaimed Water, Irrigation and Slurry Lines
GREEN – Sewers and Drain Lines
WHITE – Proposed Excavation
PINK – Temporary Survey Markings

After the markings have been made, excavators should maintain a minimum clearance of 24 inches between a marked and unexposed underground facility and the cutting edge or point of any power-operated or earth moving equipment. If excavation is required within 24 inches horizontally of any marking, the excavation should be performed with extreme care utilizing hand tools or vacuum excavation techniques.

It is the excavator’s responsibility to respect and protect the markings. If the markings have faded or been destroyed by weather or construction, the excavator should contact Blue Stakes and request to have the area marked again. Member utility companies are then required to re-mark the area within two business days.

Utah law only requires utility owners to mark 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 utility company 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.

Locating companies that can be hired to mark private lines:
(Blue Stakes of Utah 811 does not endorse or promote any private locating company)

The following entities do not participate with Blue Stakes. If you need to dig on property owned or controlled by one of these entities, please contact that entity directly in addition to contacting Blue Stakes.

– Union Pacific Railroad – “Call Before You Dig!” Hotline – 800-336-9193
– Utah Transit Authority – UTA Control Center – 801-352-6701
– Hill Air Force Base – Red Stake – 801-777-0540
– Navajo Tribal Utility Authority – (for Navajo Nation lands) – 800-528-5011

Blue Stakes recommends that excavators perform a thorough visual inspection of the entire dig site area to determine if all underground utility facilities have been located prior to beginning excavation. Excavators should keep notes to make sure that each utility owner was notified and has responded. An excavator suspects the presence of unmarked facilities, he/she should contact the Blue Stakes Contact Center or the utility owner directly and request that the unmarked utilities be marked immediately.

To check for Electronic Positive Responses from participating member utility owners, go to Blue Stakes Positive Response page, click on the “Check your ticket’s responses” button and then enter the ticket number.  This will display a list of all participating member utility owners for that request, including if and how they each have responded to the locate request.

Blue Stakes sends an email or text confirmation to the person submitting each locate request. A list of member utilities notified and their contact information is included on the bottom of the email confirmation received. Clicking on the link at the bottom of the text or email confirmation received will allow the excavator to view the map page and also the full ticket details, which includes the member utilities notified on the ticket. Remember that not all utility owners participate with Blue Stakes.

Utah Law requires two full business days’ notice before excavation begins to allow the utility companies time to mark their lines. This does not include weekends or holidays observed by Blue Stakes. In emergency situations, member utilities will attempt to respond as soon as possible but preferably within 2 hours.

A locate request expires 14 calendar days after the time it was created. If you need to dig beyond the expiration date, you must contact Blue Stakes again two business days before the expiration date to update your request. Utility personnel will visit the dig site again and provide fresh markings if needed.

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 operator. 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 utilities 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 utilities to contact someone else (e.g. a site foreman).
3. Who is the work being done for?
   The utilities have asked us to provide this information.
4. Do you have a fax number or e-mail address?
   Some utility companies may have lines in the area, but not directly where you plan to excavate. Listing a fax number or email address provides a convenient way for them to notify you that their 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 sprinklers, fence, irrigation, etc., rather than the type of excavation, i.e. trenching, backhoe, post-hole, 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, please state how many miles and in what direction the 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). In Salt Lake county, we also request a grid coordinate for any address (e.g. Redwood Rd = 1700 W).
9. Is there a subdivision name or lot number?
   If you have this information, it may help the utilities find the location. We will not accept a lot number as the only address, except for rare subdivisions that do not use regular addresses.
10. Which side of the street is the property on?
    This helps the locators to find the site. Please give absolute directions such as north, south, east, or west. If you are on a corner lot, please state either the NW, NE, SW, or SE corner.
11. (R) Which part of the lot would you like marked?
    Please state the area you are going to be excavating in, rather than the area where you think the lines are located. For more information, see FAQ #18.

1. Provide correct address information and correct staking instructions.
2. Listen carefully when the Blue Stakes Operator verifies the address and staking instructions.
3. Provide valid contact information and respond to questions from utility personnel.
4. Make sure the address is clearly posted. (See FAQ # 10 for acceptable addresses).
5. Provide open access to the property (gates unlocked, animals contained, etc.).
6. Write down and follow the dates and times when your request becomes legally active, when it expires, and when it must be updated.
7. Keep the reference number assigned to your request for at least the duration of the excavation and preferably longer for your records. The number is proof of your call to Blue Stakes and allows us to quickly find your request. A fee will be charged to research your request if this number is lost or misplaced.

Member utility companies will mark their lines at no cost. If you need the lines remarked as you continue excavating, they will be marked again at no charge.

However, if you request the same area to be marked multiple times and do not excavate, the utility companies may bill you for their costs to mark the area.

Utah Law specifies that if a utility line is damaged during excavation, the excavator should immediately inform the appropriate utility owner so the 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 book to contact a utility owner directly.

If the line was marked, refer to FAQ #3 to determine what kind of line it was. If the line was not marked, please do not call Blue Stakes to determine what kind of line it is. Our phone operators are not trained to identify them. If you do have the locate request assignment number (LRA), Blue Stakes can tell you which utilities were notified, but that does not necessarily mean the line belongs to one of them.

You must contact the appropriate utility companies individually and ask them to mark their lines. To look up the utility owners in your area, use the Utility Contact Information Lookup page.

The depth of utilities varies by location and by type of utility. An underground pipe or cable may no longer be at the same depth as when it was originally buried if grading, leveling, erosion or other nearby surface activity has taken place. For that reason, Utah law does not require utility owners to indicate the depth of their underground facilities. Utah law does not specify how deep utility lines must be buried. For more information, please see FAQ #1.

Coordinates can be provided from a GPS unit in NAD83 format to identify a rural area or other location that does not have an address. The location must be pre-marked in the field and the excavator must also provide the Township & Range section number and approximate distance from an address, intersection or highway mile marker. The excavator must provide a phone number for a field contact who is able to provide driving directions to a utility owner if requested.

Blue Stakes uses GIS data provided by the State of Utah’s Automated Geographic Reference Center (AGRC) in its mapping system. AGRC compiles official map data from local government sources, including city, county, and state agency mapping departments. The coordinate system and datum used for all Blue Stakes map layers is unprojected latitude/longitude NAD83. To view AGRC’s base map viewer, click here. You can reference this map prior to contacting Blue Stakes if you need to determine the name of a road, find latitude/longitude coordinates for your dig site, etc.

Click here to open a PDF file showing an explanation of all of the ticket fields.

The following are explanations of important terms used by the Blue Stakes location center. Use these terms correctly to describe the area you need checked for utility lines:

Front: From the middle of the house / property forward to the curb.

Rear: From the middle of the house / property back to the rear property line.

Side: From the middle of the house / property out to the side property line.

Short: From the curb to the middle of the street.

Long: From curb to curb (edge of road to edge of road, not including the shoulder).

Both sides of the road: You must specify what part of the lot you want marked on both sides of the road. For example “Stake the fronts of the lots on both sides of the street.” This does not include any of the road. You must specify short or long to have the road staked.

Note: Common Areas (typically found in townhome or other similar HOA developments, for example) are not included for marking when Entire, Front or Rear of lot is requested.  If your excavation area extends beyond the addressed lot into the common areas, please provide additional marking instructions on your request to ensure your entire excavation area is included and marked, as needed.

Click on the image below for a larger view.

Yes. You should call no matter how deep you are digging, since many cables and pipes lie at extremely shallow depths. Utah law defines “excavation” as “an operation in which earth, rock, or other material on or below the ground is moved or displaced by tools, equipment, or explosives.” The law specifies to contact Blue Stakes before excavating.

Utah law only requires utility owners to mark 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 utility company 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.

Locating companies that can be hired to mark private lines:
(Blue Stakes of Utah 811 does not endorse or promote any private locating company)

The following entities do not participate with Blue Stakes. If you need to dig on property owned or controlled by one of these entities, please contact that entity directly in addition to contacting Blue Stakes.

– Union Pacific Railroad – “Call Before You Dig!” Hotline – 800-336-9193
– Utah Transit Authority – UTA Control Center – 801-352-6701
– Hill Air Force Base – Red Stake – 801-777-0540
– Navajo Tribal Utility Authority – (for Navajo Nation lands) – 800-528-5011

Blue Stakes recommends that excavators perform a thorough visual inspection of the entire dig site area to determine if all underground utility facilities have been located prior to beginning excavation. Excavators should keep notes to make sure that each utility owner was notified and has responded. An excavator suspects the presence of unmarked facilities, he/she should contact the Blue Stakes Contact Center or the utility owner directly and request that the unmarked utilities be marked immediately.

To check for Electronic Positive Responses from participating member utility owners, go to Blue Stakes Positive Response page, click on the “Check your ticket’s responses” button and then enter the ticket number.  This will display a list of all participating member utility owners for that request, including if and how they each have responded to the locate request.

Member utility companies will mark their lines at no cost. If you need the lines remarked as you continue excavating, they will be marked again at no charge.

However, if you request the same area to be marked multiple times and do not excavate, the utility companies may bill you for their costs to mark the area.

You must contact the appropriate utility companies individually and ask them to mark their lines. To look up the utility owners in your area, use the Utility Contact Information Lookup page.

The depth of utilities varies by location and by type of utility. An underground pipe or cable may no longer be at the same depth as when it was originally buried if grading, leveling, erosion or other nearby surface activity has taken place. For that reason, Utah law does not require utility owners to indicate the depth of their underground facilities. Utah law does not specify how deep utility lines must be buried. For more information, please see FAQ #1.

It is the excavator’s responsibility to respect and protect the markings. If the markings have faded or been destroyed by weather or construction, the excavator should contact Blue Stakes and request to have the area marked again. Member utility companies are then required to re-mark the area within two business days.

Utah Law specifies that if a utility line is damaged during excavation, the excavator should immediately inform the appropriate utility owner so the 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 book to contact a utility owner directly.

If the line was marked, refer to FAQ #3 to determine what kind of line it was. If the line was not marked, please do not call Blue Stakes to determine what kind of line it is. Our phone operators are not trained to identify them. If you do have the locate request assignment number (LRA), Blue Stakes can tell you which utilities were notified, but that does not necessarily mean the line belongs to one of them.

Locate Requests are NOT created after hours by Blue Stakes. If an emergency excavation needs to be completed after hours, you will need to contact each facility operator directly to request the area be marked or have them clear the area. To obtain a list of the impacted facilities use our Utility Contact Lookup link: https://ucl.bluestakes.org/. This is also accessible by clicking on the Utility Contact Lookup icon from within our Mobile App.

Enter the location information, use the tools provided to indicate the location on the map, and select “Emergency After Hours.” A popup will then provide a contact list of the numbers for the specific facility operators that would need to be contacted directly after hours.

Yes indeed! The Utah Damage to Underground Utility Facilities Act requires anyone engaging in any activity which displaces earth, rock, or other material on or below the ground to notify Blue Stakes at least two (2) 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/. 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) If an excavator contacts or damages an underground facility, the excavator shall:

(a) immediately notify the appropriate operator and then proceed in a manner that is reasonably calculated to avoid further damage to the underground facility; and

(b) immediately call 911 if the excavation may result in an immediate risk to human life.

(2) Upon receipt of notice, the operator shall immediately examine the underground facility, and, if necessary, make repairs.

Utah law requires utility owners 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 utility company 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 FAQ #6: https://www.bluestakes.org/faqs/

A request expires 14 calendar days from the time it is submitted. If the markings are destroyed by weather or excavation, the excavator will need to call 811, option 1 to speak to a Customer Service Representative or go online to submit a Re-Mark request and allow 2 business days for the area to be re-marked.

To submit a Re-mark request online go to: https://otr.bluestakes.org/. This is also accessible by clicking on the Update Locate Request icon from within our Mobile App.

The Utah Damage to Underground Utility Facilities Act requires anyone engaging in any activity which displaces earth, rock, or other material on or below the ground to notify Blue Stakes at least two (2) 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 the New Locate Request icon from within 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://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title54/Chapter8A/54-8a-S4.html)

Utility owners follow the APWA (American Public Works Association) standard to mark the locations of their underground facilities. The following colors are used:

RED – Electric Power Lines, Cables, Conduit and Lighting Cables
YELLOW – Gas, Oil, Steam, Petroleum or Gaseous Materials
ORANGE – Communication, Alarm or Signal Lines, Cables or Conduit
BLUE – Potable Water
PURPLE – Reclaimed Water, Irrigation and Slurry Lines
GREEN – Sewers and Drain Lines
WHITE – Proposed Excavation
PINK – Temporary Survey Markings

You must contact the appropriate utility companies individually and ask them to mark their lines. To look up the utility owners in your area, use the Utility Contact Information Lookup page.

Locate Requests are NOT created after hours by Blue Stakes. If an emergency excavation needs to be completed after hours, you will need to contact each facility operator directly to request the area be marked or have them clear the area. To obtain a list of the impacted facilities use our Utility Contact Lookup link: https://ucl.bluestakes.org/. This is also accessible by clicking on the Utility Contact Lookup icon from within our Mobile App.

Enter the location information, use the tools provided to indicate the location on the map, and select “Emergency After Hours.” A popup will then provide a contact list of the numbers for the specific facility operators that would need to be contacted directly after hours.

The facility operator/locator will send the excavator an email, phone call, or both. The facility operator/locator may additionally post information on our Electronic Positive Response (EPR) system. Currently, participation in EPR is voluntary. To check the responses for your requests, go to: https://www.bluestakes.org/epr/. This is also accessible by clicking on the Positive Response icon or EPR Lookup icon from within our Mobile App.

It is important to reach out to the excavator making the requests directly and express your concerns about these excessive requests for markings, where work appears to be complete.

Blue Stakes currently has over 600 participating facility owners/operators. There are large and small companies including gas, power, communications, water, sewer, municipalities, and more. Each participating member should ensure the lines that they own and maintain are located and marked within the described areas on Locate Request Tickets. Some of these members hire third party locating companies to do their required locating and marking on their behalf.

A list of participating facility operators can be found here: Blue Stakes Members

Locate Requests are NOT created after hours by Blue Stakes. If an emergency excavation needs to be completed after hours, you will need to contact each facility operator directly to request the area be marked or have them clear the area. To obtain a list of the impacted facilities use our Utility Contact Lookup link: https://ucl.bluestakes.org/. This is also accessible by clicking on the Utility Contact Lookup icon from within our Mobile App.

Enter the location information, use the tools provided to indicate the location on the map, and select “Emergency After Hours.” A popup will then provide a contact list of the numbers for the specific facility operators that would need to be contacted directly after hours.

The facility operator/locator will send the excavator an email, phone call, or both. The facility operator/locator may additionally post information on our Electronic Positive Response (EPR) system. Currently, participation in EPR is voluntary. To check the responses for your requests, go to: https://www.bluestakes.org/epr/. This is also accessible by clicking on the Positive Response icon or EPR Lookup icon from within our Mobile App.

It is critical to have the best contact listed on each Locate Request. This contact should be someone familiar with the job site and able to answer questions from Blue Stakes, as well as the facility operators/locators.

Member facility operators and locators can access their locate requests and submit their electronic positive response (EPR) information into Blue Stakes system on our website and through our Mobile App, as well as by using Ticket Management Software. For more information, go to: https://www.bluestakes.org/epr/ , click on the “Request Information on EPR” button, then complete and submit the form.

To request training to enter Locate Requests online, go to our website www.bluestakes.org. Click the Locate Requests tab and then click on WEB ACCESS SIGN UP or go directly to the signup page here: http://newtin.bluestakes.org/newtinweb/signup.nas. This is also accessible by clicking on the Web Access Signup icon from within our Mobile App.

After completing and submitting this form, you will receive an automatic email reply acknowledging the sign-up receipt. Shortly thereafter you will receive an email providing you with some brief instructions and a link to begin your online training. The online training can be completed at your own pace and convenience.

New Locate Requests may also be entered online without the need for training through our Internet Ticket Entry (ITE) page by clicking on the “Submit a Ticket” button or by going to: https://ite.bluestakes.org/. This is also accessible by clicking on the New Locate Request icon from within our Mobile App.

Online Ticket Revisions to previously submitted Locate Requests may also be entered online without the need for training by going to: https://otr.bluestakes.org/. This is also accessible by clicking on the Update Locate Request icon from within our Mobile App. Revisions available include Updates, Re-Marks, and Cancels.

Yes indeed! The Utah Damage to Underground Utility Facilities Act requires anyone engaging in any activity which displaces earth, rock, or other material on or below the ground to notify Blue Stakes at least two (2) 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/. 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) If an excavator contacts or damages an underground facility, the excavator shall:

(a) immediately notify the appropriate operator and then proceed in a manner that is reasonably calculated to avoid further damage to the underground facility; and

(b) immediately call 911 if the excavation may result in an immediate risk to human life.

(2) Upon receipt of notice, the operator shall immediately examine the underground facility, and, if necessary, make repairs.

Locate requests expire 14 calendar days from the time/date they are processed and submitted. In order to extend the request beyond the expiration date, the excavator will need to “Update” the request at least 2 calendar days but not more than 6 calendar days prior to the expiration time/date listed on the request. To Update your request online go to: https://otr.bluestakes.org/. It is also accessible by clicking on the Update Locate Request icon from within our Mobile App.

There is currently not an option for automatic Updates.

Note: Do not Update a request if excavation work is not going to take place within 14 calendar days. Wait until you are ready to excavate again and submit a New request 2 calendar days prior to excavating. Your original Locate Request Ticket information can be used for the New request and this can be completed through the same link.

Utah law requires utility owners 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 utility company 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 FAQ #6: https://www.bluestakes.org/faqs/

A request expires 14 calendar days from the time it is submitted. If the markings are destroyed by weather or excavation, the excavator will need to call 811, option 1 to speak to a Customer Service Representative or go online to submit a Re-Mark request and allow 2 business days for the area to be re-marked.

To submit a Re-mark request online go to: https://otr.bluestakes.org/. This is also accessible by clicking on the Update Locate Request icon from within our Mobile App.

Yes. Instead of choosing Entire, Front or Rear, choose “Other.” Then enter your instructions in the “Specify Work Area” field. You will need to provide specific marking instructions for your “Pre-marked” area that you describe, including how you choose to pre-mark.

• Example 1: Dig site is pre-marked with a white flag (or X) in the northeast corner of the lot. Please stake a 10 ft radius around the white flag (or X).
• Example 2: Dig line is pre-marked in white paint on the east side of the building.  From east side of building please stake 50 ft east along the pre-marked line, while staking 5 ft on both sides of the pre-marked line for the given stretch.
• Example 3: Dig area is a 10 ft x 20 ft pre-marked rectangle in the Rear of the given lot. This is pre-marked in white paint. Please stake the pre-marked area, as described.

It is important to reach out to the excavator making the requests directly and express your concerns about these excessive requests for markings, where work appears to be complete.

The Utah Damage to Underground Utility Facilities Act requires anyone engaging in any activity which displaces earth, rock, or other material on or below the ground to notify Blue Stakes at least two (2) 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 the New Locate Request icon from within our Mobile App.

A map cannot be linked or submitted along with a Locate Request Ticket that will be sent to the facility operator/locator for locating and marking. If a map would help the Customer Service Representative (CSR) create the request, the CSR will provide an email address to send it to.

However, the excavator will still need to provide all normal, required location and marking instructions.

Most locate requests can be described over the phone or online. In situations where excavation projects are large, complicated or within a restricted area, a meet may be necessary. If a meet is

requested, the excavator will need to provide address information for a suitable location to meet, as well as the general boundaries of the dig site. The specific excavation area(s) within these boundaries can then be shown and discussed with the field locators at the meet. A map of the excavation area may be required to be provided to each field locator at the meet.

Blue Stakes currently has over 600 participating facility owners/operators. There are large and small companies including gas, power, communications, water, sewer, municipalities, and more. Each participating member should ensure the lines that they own and maintain are located and marked within the described areas on Locate Request Tickets. Some of these members hire third party locating companies to do their required locating and marking on their behalf.

A list of participating facility operators can be found here: Blue Stakes Members

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://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title54/Chapter8A/54-8a-S4.html)