Page 16 - Texas811 Magazine 2020 Issue 2

a Look at the Practzce of Whlte Lmmg zn Texas
Bylohnsparks
DvvecuxofDamt1gePIE1/eauon
moss!)
Int is White lining?
white lining. by definition. is the common
Ground Alliance rerognized besl practice or
using white paint. tlags or stalres to identify the
' scope ol excavation to lie perlorrned either prior to or during
. the request tor a line locate. Any variation or mmbinaticun ot
, V Iv _ the alorernentioned rnetltods is normally accepted with paint
1,; ‘ gr . , and llags being the most cmmnon. some one call systems in
v . 'A r i ‘-1 . the us. have adopted electronic white lining as an option. This
., ; 7 tr" . .~ , metlrod allows the excavator or person submilting the locate
‘ __.- ' ' 5:’ mquesl to identily their scope ofexcavalinn through data entry
,~; . ' - without setting root on the jab site.
__V_ . ' ,. _' V _ '. wlsat does Texas state law say?
‘ ' ti‘ y ‘ , -92" .~ ' some states include preexcavation marlring requimmenls in
. - . -' .rr v r. ’ the verbiage with in their one call lawsasahest practice with
k _. . _" . ‘- . . - 1 some of them even malring it amandatory process. while there
41 vb’ - 3 ' -‘ rig _ ' i '1 pt‘ is no reference to white lining in Texas utilities code Title 5.
‘ A, -T y _ '1 a. i 4, > 2‘: chapter ast. it is reterenced in in the Railroad commission or
'4'" ’ 1 « P 4, * Texas Administrative code. Title ta, clrapter is on acouple or
1:9 1 ” ' r e ‘_ v. I‘. V __ occasions.
gf __,-8‘ .f,', ‘ ','/ Texas Administrative code Title is. chapter .3 applies to all
, ' . ‘. r t "5, ,, persons engaged in or preparing to engage in the movement
“ ’ ' v .‘ ~\ ‘L. , ' of eanh in tlre vicinity of an underground pipeline containing
=‘w " I/rr -‘-’< .j''- “ flammable, toxic, or corrosive gas. a hazardous liquid, or
. —5 { ,.< ‘ ‘ czrbnn dioxide. In tlre vicinity...personally,lwouldnt be
;; ‘I f; ' comfortable telling someone lrow lar vicinity covers. As tlre
7.. M’ ‘, . ' saying goes. “If you're digging in Texas. chances are you're
. H y ‘ ¥:)l- digging in the vicinity oi an underground pipeline." From an
. ~ ' ‘ _e excavator point of view. it is best to use awareness and caution.
View - v “*1 loolring tor any indicators otunderground pipelines around the
V»: - . ; ,_ worlrsite.
' .5.’ ‘ ;‘ ’ , -' The Railroad commission of Texas. when addressing the
; *v‘--‘w, ' -:-;-» ‘ ‘ process of relaying intormation to the notification center,
vi ' V s_ states that the excavator slrall marlr. ifapplicahle according to
,-~ ; A __ ts.3(c). the specific excavation area using white paint. llags, or
A-. ‘r ; stalres, whicltever is most visilile tor the terrain and tltat the
i’ ‘ ,.,_ . ‘4. i- ' wlrite rnarlrings use intervals tlrat show the direction ol the
. ~ , - y ‘ excavation.
. 1 ,!f when an excavation site cannot lie clearly identified and
35:‘ - » described on a line locate ticlret. tlte excavator slrall use white
gft,“ ' L as . lining to mark tlte excavation area prior to giving notice to
' »- ~s,~ . - ' the notification center and lierore the locator arrives on tlre
‘ I excavation site.
u . Teussll 202a,lssue2