Mayor Lanny McPherson says "Call Before You Dig"

Some Russellville residents have been experiencing problems while putting up curbside mailboxes recently.

According to interim mayor Lanny McPherson, his theory that there may be issues concerning water lines while digging holes for the boxes has come to fruition.

As part of the United States Postal Service’s plan to make improvements in their delivery methods, certain areas of the city were expected to receive their mail from the curb by the end of November instead of on their homes. Historic areas were exempt from putting up the boxes.

It is anticipated that curbside mailboxes will help the post office become more efficient and keep their costs down on delivering mail. However, there are some residents that have attempted to dig a hole to place the box only to hit the utility line by digging too deep.

McPherson suggested people call 811 before digging. This number will connect you with Kentucky 811, a service that will contact the nearby utilities agencies who will then come out and mark where their lines are.

When you call 811, there will be an automated message that will direct you to a representative. You will need to provide your county and city, address and the nearest intersecting road.






Source: News- Democrat & Leader . com

How To Locate Underground Power Lines

By Julius Vandersteen, eHow Contributor


Call 811 to locate underground power lines before you do any digging.

Although we are used to seeing electrical power lines high in the air, suspended between utility poles to deliver electricity through neighborhoods and business districts, there are also power lines located underground. If you are a homeowner or a contractor working on a project that involves digging in the ground, you have to know the location of any underground power lines before you commence excavation. The consequences of not knowing and inadvertently cutting into a power line include disruption of power service, injury and death. Call authorities before doing any digging, even if you are only planting a tree or shrub.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. 1
   Go to Call 811's State-Specific Information website (see Resources).
2. 2
   Locate your state in the list, and click on the link to the state's rules and regulations to find out the specific details about digging in your area. Some states will let you submit an online digging request.
3. 3
   Call "811" on your telephone from anywhere in the United States a few days before digging is scheduled. Your call will automatically be routed to your local One Call Center.
4. 4
   Tell the operator the location of the site you intend to dig and what work you or your contractor will be doing. The operator will notify local utilities that will be affected. Within a few days, a person will come out to the site and mark the location of your underground power lines. There is no charge for this service. Once you see where the power lines are marked, you can dig safely.
   
   
   Source: eHow

National Study Shows Only 1 in 4 Americans Aware of 811

By commongroundia

About one in four Americans (23%) are aware that 811 is the national call-before-you-dig number. A recent study was conducted for the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) between July 30 and Aug 2 and was compromised to 2,000 people across the nation.

The study concluded that more than half the respondents (52%) said they would either be somewhat or extremely likey to call 811 before a digging project. This is up slightly from a similar 2008 study that indicated 49% would either be somewhat likely or extremely likely to call 811.

Residents of the Midwest rated highest against the other regions for awareness of call-before-you-dig, 811 awareness and exposure to 811 advertising. Men outranked women in all levels of 811 awareness, but men and women are essentially even in their likelihood to call 811 in the future.

You should be sure to call 811 a few days in advance of your scheduled dig to allow time for the request to be processed. Once your lines are marked, you will know their approximate location and you can dig safely. Knowing what’s below will protect you, your family and your neighbors.

Learn more about the 811 program at:http://www.call811.com

Details about the recent study can be found at this link:http://www.commongroundiowa.com/811Awareness.pdf

Source: Common Ground IA

Call 811 . Com

Planning a home improvement job? Planting a tree? Installing a fence or deck? WAIT! Here's what you need to know first:

Whether you are planning to do it yourself or hire a professional, smart digging means calling 811 before each job.

Homeowners often make risky assumptions about whether or not they should get their utility lines marked, but every digging job requires a call – even small projects like planting trees and shrubs. The depth of utility lines varies and there may be multiple utility lines in a common area. Digging without calling can disrupt service to an entire neighborhood, harm you and those around you and potentially result in fines and repair costs. Calling 811 before every digging job gets your underground utility lines marked for free and helps prevent undesired consequences.

Source: Call811.com

Q: Is it illegal to remove pipeline markers?

-John Trimble, Sector

A: Out of sight, out of mind. The vast majority of America's 2.5 million miles of energy pipelines are underground, causing them to be vulnerable to accidental breaches and failures as a result of digging and excavation practices. As a way to avoid accidental contact with pipelines, markers are used to provide these valuable resources, and the companies that operate them, a sense of presence in the open environment and serve as a warning to others that a dangerous utility is in the vicinity.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) requires operators to ensure their pipeline rights-of-way are properly marked and identified for a variety of reasons, including to save lives and to ensure proper excavation practices are conducted in the pipeline's vicinity. In the absence of a marker, excavation activities in the area of pipeline right-of-way can have tragic consequences. Occasionally, PHMSA is notified when pipeline markers are illegally removed, causing a once easily identifiable right-of-way to look similar to other surrounding landscapes.

So why would someone want to remove a pipeline marker from the ground? PHMSA inspectors have encountered a number of reasons including homeowners or realtors attempting to sell homes adjacent to pipeline easements, developers looking to build on land in the area of a pipeline right-of-way, or disgruntled landowners unhappy with markers near their properties. No matter the reason behind it, removing a pipeline marker is AGAINST THE LAW. Anyone found guilty of knowingly and willfully defacing, damaging, removing, or destroying a pipeline sign or right-of-way marker can be fined, receive imprisonment for up to one year or both.

PHMSA asks you to protect yourself and others. If you observe anyone removing a pipeline marker without an operator's permission, remind them they are breaking the law. In addition, operators experiencing chronic problems with individuals removing their markers should contact their state program manager or regional PHMSA pipeline safety office to discuss ways to resolve the problem.

Remember, before digging in the vicinity of a pipeline marker, all excavators, including the general public, should call their State One-Call Center to ensure any underground facilities are accurately marked. Pipeline markers indicate only the presence of a pipeline and cannot be relied upon to determine its exact location. Additionally, there may be multiple pipelines located in the same right-of-way.

The One-Call process is designed to protect both people and property and calling 811 will connect you with appropriate One-Call Center. So Call Before You Dig - IT'S THE LAW.

-Damon A. Hill, Spokesman
Office of Government, International and Public Affairs
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
U.S. Dept. of Transportation
damon.hill@dot.gov