Best Practices Version 1.0 April 2003 Common Ground Alliance 2 Best Practices Version 1.0 April 2003 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction. 3 Homeland Security and the Best Practices. 4 PART I Section A: Practice Statements. 5 Planning & Design Practices. 5 One-Call Center Practices. 6 Location & Marking Practices . 8 Excavation Practices. 9 Mapping Practices. 12 Compliance Practices. 13 Public Education Practices. 14 Reporting & Evaluation . 15 PART I Section B: Practice Statements & Description. 17 Planning and Design Best Practices. 17 One-Call Center Best Practices. 24 Locating and Marking Best Practices. 37 Excavation Best Practices. 45 Mapping Practices. 57 Compliance Best Practices. 62 Public Education and Awareness Best Practices. 73 Reporting and Evaluation Best Practices. 82 Common Ground Alliance 3 Best Practices Version 1.0 April 2003 Introduction The Common Ground Alliance (CGA) was created to further the work begun by the Common Ground Task Force established by the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) in 1998. The Task Forces work product, entitled the Common Ground Study, provided a guide to underground utility damage prevention best practices in use throughout the United States. CGAs board of directors instructed the Best Practices Committee to develop a CGA Best Practices Guide based upon the work of the Task Force. The Best Practices Committee developed the following guide that includes: Part 1 Section A, a verbatim restatement of the best practices listed in the Study; Part 1 section B, includes the practice statement with supporting description; and the Appendix that consists of a glossary of terms and definitions. The verbatim restatement of all of the ancillary material contained in the original Study, other than the best practices themselves, is available on the CGA web site and is intended as an historical reference point for those persons interested in a more detailed background regarding the current best practices. Neither DOT nor the CGA ever intended that the best practices described in 1999 would constitute a static model. Rather, both anticipated that the best practices would evolve over time as more was learned and as technology advanced. Moreover, CGA and the DOT expected that there likely would be additional best practices developed by the interested participants. Version 1.0 should be viewed as a starting point. As best practices are added or amended, the additions and amendments will be reflected in further versions, numbered sequentially. By this means we hope to provide a continuum that will permit the public, and especially stakeholders in underground utility damage prevention, to see the course of development over time. We also hope to provide commentary as to the reasons for any indicated changes. Comments and suggestions on improving the format are welcome. Our intent is to make the statement of these best practices as easy to use as possible. If we can improve upon what you see here in order to do so, your input in helping us do so would be most appreciated. Common Ground Alliance 4 Best Practices Version 1.0 April 2003 Homeland S