(1) Plan the excavation to avoid damage to. or minimize interference with the underground facilities in and near the construction area;
(2) Determine the exact location of any marked Underground Facility using non-invasive methods of excavation. Methods to consider include hand digging, pot holing, soft digging, vacuum excavation methods or any other methods with the approval of the facility Operator. For parallel type excavations, the existing facility shall be exposed at intervals as often as necessary to avoid damages;
(3) Maintain 18” clearance between any Underground Facility and the cutting edge or point of Mechanized Equipment;
(4) Provide such support for underground utilities in and near the construction area, including backfill operations, as mas be reasonably required by the operator for the protection of such utilities;
(5) When using a trenchless excavation technique, perform electronic monitoring of the drilling head during the backream procedure as well as the pilot hole drilling;
(6) Protect and preserve the markings of approximate locations of underground facilities until those markings are no longer required for proper and sale excavations. If, at any time during an excavation, an Operator’s Field Markings are no longer reasonably visible, the excavator shall notify the Notification Center. The Notification Center shall contact all known members who have underground facilities in the area of the excavation. Upon receiving timely notification or re-notification pursuant to this paragraph, the Operator shall re-locate and re-mark, as soon as possible, but no later than 48 hours, those underground facilities that may be affected by the excavation to the extent necessary, in conformance with this section;
(7) As soon as any damage to a Underground Facility or its protective facilities, including grounding and warning tape, is discovered, report the type and location of the damage to the Notification Center and the Operator, if known, and cooperate to mitigate damages to the extent reasonably possible, including the provision of in-kind work by the excavator where technical or specialty skills are not required by the nature of the Underground Facility. Such in-kind work may be under the supervision and pursuant to the specifications of the Operator; and
(8) Immediately report to the Operator and, appropriate law enforcement agencies and fire departments, any damage to a Underground Facility which results in escaping flammable, corrosive, explosive, or toxic liquids or gas, and take reasonable actions needed to protect persons or property and to minimize safety hazards until those agencies and departments and the Operator arrive at the scene.