1SAFETY

safety awareness is everyones responsibility

natural gas pipeline safety is everyones responsibility

safety is everyones duty

Safety is priority

A N D PEO P L E

&

PIPELINES

Your Link to Natural Gas Pipeline SafetyYour Link to Natural Gas Pipeline Safety

Excavators Damage Prevention Guide

2 Preventing Dig-in Damages

Natural Gas Hazards

Important Facts About Natural Gas Safety

3 Utility Preventive Actions

4 Pipeline Markers

How to Recognize a Gas Leak

Did You Know? Pipeline damage

If You Make Contact With a Pipeline

6 Evacuation May Be Needed

Damage Repairs

Excess Flow Valves

7 OSHA Requirements

Call 811

What Is the MISS DIG System?

8 When to Use the MISS DIG System

Remote Ticket Entry

Types of Requests that the MISS DIG System Handles

9 Preparing a Location Staking Request for MISS DIG

10 Location Accuracy Is Important

Rural Location Requests

What Happens After a Request Is Made?

11 Positive Response on Digging Request

Excavator Responsibilities After Making a Request

Follow These Steps for a Safe Construction Site

13 Why Approximate Location

Facility Depth

Typical Distribution Gas Services and Mains

Typical Gas Transmission Lines

Cast Iron Mains

Typical Operating Pressures

14 Public Act 53 of 1974 Protection of Underground Facilities

19 Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration Rules and Regulations

Excavation, Trenching and Shoring Locating Utility Lines

20 Consumers Energy Support Standards

Maximum Spacing Between Supports

Distribution Mains Maximum Spacing Between Supports

Transmission Pipelines

Main Parallel to Excavation

21 Crossing the Excavation

22 811 Call Before You Dig

Digging Safely Checklist

For More Information

Useful Web Sites

An Important Message about Digging Safely

Consumers energy is providing this handbook to excavation contractors as part of its Pipeline Public Awareness program. We want to share with you safe-digging practices to help protect your employees, the public and the environment.

As one of michigans largest natural gas compa-nies, we operate and maintain more than 28,000 miles of natural gas pipelines that help us bring this important product to more than 1.7 million customers in michigans Lower Peninsula.

Pipelines help fuel our economy and way of life. Buried pipelines carry natural gas into our state from Texas, oklahoma, Louisiana, the gulf of mexico and Canada.

According to the u.s. Department of Trans-portation, pipelines are the safest, most reliable and cost-effective means of trans-porting energy products such as natural gas over long distances.

We work with local, state and federal agen-cies in implementing programs to encour-age safe-digging and pipeline-security practices and to ensure high-quality pipe-line monitoring and maintenance.

Please take the time to review this informa-tion and share it with your co-workers.

many of the provisions in this handbook are covered by michigan law Public Act 53 of 1974 included in the back of this handbook.

For more information: (800) 477-5050 www.consumersenergy.com/pipelinesafety

Electric Service TerritoryCombination Service TerritoryGas Service Territory

Contents

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A staker responds to a MISS DIG request and uses an electronic instrument to determine the approximate location of underground facilities.

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Preventing Dig-in Damagesevery year, there are thousands of dig-in damage incidents in michigan.

striking an underground pipeline may lead to serious injury or death. If you hit one of our pipelines, call (800) 477-5050, even if there is no apparent damage.

Natural Gas Hazardsnatural gas pipelines are built with safety and reliability as the top priorities, following state and federal guidelines, regulations and specifications. However, you should know that a natural gas leak may present these hazards:

Fire

Explosion

Asphyxiation (Natural gas displaces oxygen in confined spaces)

These hazards may be created by uncontrolled escaping gas, caused by:

Rupturing, nicking or puncturing a pipeline

Extreme loading of materials over buried facilities (spoil piles, trans-port of equipment, outriggers)

Water main breaks that weaken roadways and pavement, damaging gas pipelines

Heavy ice on outside meters or gas pipelines

Collapsed buildings that break or damage gas pipelines

Fire or explosion near or directly involving a pipeline facility

Under- or overpressure in the gas system

Equipment failure

Human error

Lightning

Extreme natural events such as floods, tornadoes and earthquakes

Civil disturbances such as riots

Important Facts About Natural Gas Safety Natural gas is colorless, tasteless and odorless. To make it easier to rec-ognize natural gas, a rotten egg odor is added. This usually is done at the point where the gas enters the distribution system. The natural gas in most of Consumers energys large transmission pipelines does not contain an odorant.

Natural gas is not toxic. However, large concentrations of natural gas will displace the air in enclosed spaces, and asphyxiation may occur.

Natural gas cannot burn by itself. To burn, natural gas must be mixed with air. It also must have an ignition source such as static electricity, a pilot light, a lighted match, or an electric arc from a light switch, motor, doorbell or telephone.

Burning natural gas will not explode. If natural gas does ignite, let it burn. Do not attempt to put out the flame.

Natural gas follows the path of least resistance. Field conditions, such as a frost cap on the ground surface in the winter, may cause leaking gas to move beyond the immediate area and into sewers, phone ducts and other locations.

Natural gas is almost 40 percent lighter than air. natural gas rises and quickly spreads out in open areas. In an enclosed room or building, natural gas displaces air first at the ceiling level and then moves down toward the floor.

Natural gas is not propane. Propane and other liquefied petroleum gases are different from natural gas because they are heavier than air and collect in low places.

Utility Preventive ActionsTo protect the integrity of the natural gas system, Consumers energy employees inspect and perform maintenance, such as corrosion-control and

leak surveys, and replace pipeline when necessary.

To help reduce or eliminate corrosion, a cause of pipe-line leaks, the utility follows a comprehensive cathodic protection program that uses low-voltage electrical currents to prevent corrosion in steel pipelines and ser-vices. It also uses high-tech devices called smart pigs that move through transmission pipelines to locate any small weaknesses or dents along miles of underground pipeline walls.

utility employees monitor the gas transmission system and direct the flow of gas from a highly automated con-trol center. Computers scan thousands of checkpoints. This system alerts controllers to any abnormal gas pressure, flow, temperature or quality and allows them to respond quickly to any natural gas emergency.

Excess flow valves have been installed in some service lines to stop the flow of gas if the service is damaged.

ground and aerial surveys also are used to check pipe-lines. At least once a year, employees walk all of the natural gas transmis-sion pipelines. The distribution system also is surveyed for leaks. survey intervals vary according to the type of pipe, pressure and other factors.

In addition, field employees receive extensive training to maintain the gas system and respond to any possible problem. In an emergency, response plans are activated that may include assistance from local fire departments and other emergency team members.

Striking an underground pipeline may lead to serious injury or death.

High-tech devices called smart pigs move through transmission pipelines to detect defects.

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pipeline that is pulled or bumped could break some distance away from the contact point.

If an underground gas facility is damaged, the excavation machine operator must take immedi-ate action to minimize the hazard:

Keep everyone away from the damage and upwind until a gas crew arrives to shut off gas. Consider the possibility of gas migrating to surrounding structures

If you can do so safely, without risking the ignition of any leaking gas, move your machine away from the damage. Do Not start an engine or motor that may already be off

If the machines motor stalls, Do Not attempt to restart it. If you can do so safely, turn off the motor to prevent possible ignition of any gas and abandon the equipment

Do Not cover the damaged pipe with dirt to try to stop the leak

Do Not crimp plastic gas facilities because a spark from static electricity may ignite the gas

Do Not attempt to plug damaged pipes. Allow the gas to vent into the atmosphere

If natural gas ignites, let it burn. Do Not put out the flame. Burning gas will Not explode

Notify Consumers Energy at (800) 477-5050

Call 911 for help from local law enforcement and fire departments

Do Not use any matches, lighters or electrical devices that could ignite the gas

Do Not try to shut off any natural gas valves

engineering plans for significant civic projects, such as roads and sewers, are reviewed by Consumers energy prior to construction to evaluate the projects potential impacts on the gas system.

Pipeline MarkersConsumers energy uses various types of permanent pipeline markers (signs) to indicate the presence of natural gas pipelines.

However, the markers do not indicate a pipelines exact location, its depth or the direction it follows. markers may not be present in some areas.

Pipeline markers usually are located at road, railroad and waterway crossings, and at regular in-tervals across rural areas. They are yellow signs that identify the company, type of pipeline and provide an emergency phone number.

Consumers energy must be notified through mIss DIg before any excavation or demolition activity in the area of a pipeline regardless of the presence of established line markers.

How to Recognize a Gas Leaksigns of a natural gas leak may include:

Rotten egg smell from distribution lines (natural gas in transmission lines usually does not have an odor added)

Blowing or hissing sound

Dead or discolored vegetation in an otherwise green area

Dirt or dust blowing from a hole in the ground

Bubbling in wet or flooded areas

Flames, if a leak has ignited

Please consider any sign of a natural gas leak as an emergency that may put your safety and that of the public at risk. notify Consumers energy toll-free at (800) 477-5050 immediately if you observe any sign of a natural gas leak.

If You Make Contact With a PipelineIf your equipment makes contact with a Consumers energy pipeline, stop your excavation and contact the company immediately at (800) 477-5050. This includes nicks, dents, gouges, cuts, scrapes or scratches to the pipeline or its coating. Failure to notify the utility of these occurrences could result in future corrosion and/or pipeline failure. Call even if there is no apparent damage. Do Not assume that damage occurs only at the contact point. A

Pipeline markers identify the pipeline route and provide safety information.

Did You Know?Damage to pipelines from excavation activities is a major cause of leaks.

About 87 percent of damages to Consumers Energys gas system are caused by excavating activities.

Nearly 80 percent of all damages are caused by professional excavators.

If you snag a gas service with power equipment at a building with an inside meter, use the power equipment to break the service so that gas is blow-ing to atmosphere at the excavation. This will eliminate the risk of gas blowing inside the building if the pipe has separated at an inside pipe joint. Contact Consumers Energy immediately at (800) 477-5050 and evacuate the building until we can assure that gas has not accumulated in the structure.

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only qualified personnel, using proper safety equipment and materials, should repair or replace damaged pipelines.

OSHA RequirementsContractors are subject to the occupational safety and Health Administra-tions (osHA) requirements. osHA cites in its general Duty Clause the possible regulatory enforcement action that could be taken against exca-vation contractors who place their employees at risk by not using proper damage prevention practices. The lack of adequate damage prevention could subject the excavator to osHA regulatory enforcement. osHA information may be found at www.osha.gov.

Call 811The option to call 811 to reach one-call centers such as the mIss DIg system went into effect nationwide in 2007. one easy call to 811 gets free marking of underground utility lines and helps protect against injury and expense. To know whats below, always call 811 toll-free before you dig. you also may reach mIss DIg at (800) 482-7171 or www.missdig.org.

Consumers energy and others promote damage prevention using the four key messages of the Common ground Alliances Dig safely program. Those messages, tailored to michigan, are to:

Call MISS DIG System at least three full working days before excavation

Wait until the approximate locations of underground facilities are marked with flags or paint

Expose the underground utilities by hand-digging

Respect the markings by not damaging or removing them

What Is the MISS DIG System?The mIss DIg system is michigans one-call notification system. It was formed in 1970 in oakland County by four major michigan utilities. The mIss DIg system was created to provide excavators and the public with a way to use one telephone call to inform

multiple owners of underground facilities of nonemergency and emergency excavations.

The mIss DIg system is a message-handling service that processes calls from those planning to dig and informs its affected members (utilities, mu-nicipalities, private companies, etc.) of the excavation plans.

Evacuation May Be NeededWhen gas is escaping from a broken pipe, buildings in the area may need to be evacuated. This is the responsibility of the excavator, according to Public Act 53. (Please see details on pages 14 19). If you have damaged a gas line and suspect leaking gas may be entering or blowing into a building, take immediate action:

Evacuate the occupants and leave the doors open

Notify Consumers Energy at (800) 477-5050 and call 911

Tell people they must not return to the building for any reason

Do Not operate light switches, doorbells or use telephones in the building

PRoHiBit smoking in the area

Keep people away from the leak area

PRoHiBit the operation of machinery

Your prompt action may save lives or prevent serious injury or property damage

Do Not leave a potentially hazardous situation to chance

Damage Repairsonce notified that a pipeline or pipeline coating has been damaged, a utility or pipeline crew will be dispatched to make repairs. only qualified person-nel, using proper safety equipment and materials, are allowed to repair or replace damaged pipelines.

Consumers energy usually will bill for damage repairs if it is determined that the excavator has not complied with Public Act 53. To encourage reports of nicked coatings, the company generally will not bill for this repair.

Excess Flow ValvesExcavators should be aware of the possible presence of excess flow valves (EFVs). Since 1999, Consumers Energy has installed EFVs in certain new and replacement residential services. These valves typically are installed near the connection of the gas service to the gas main. An EFV will trip when gas flow exceeds the valves design limits. This might occur as a result of a gas service line being severed by damage or a natural event such as an earthquake or tornado damage to gas meters.

The most popular EFV style allows a slight amount of gas to leak across the valve seat after the valve trips. Therefore, if a gas line with an EFV installed is severed, a small amount of gas will continue to flow. This may result in a potentially hazardous condition if not reported promptly to Consumers energy.

If your equipment contacts or severs a gas line, stop your excavation and contact the pipeline operator immediately. once notified that a gas line has been damaged, a utility or pipeline crew will be dispatched to make repairs.

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property or essential public services. examples of emergencies include gas leaks, water main breaks, utility line repairs and sewer repairs. emergency locating requests are accepted and responded to 24 hours a day, seven days a week

Re-staking requests: If the markings locating underground lines are obliterated, knocked down or become faded because of time, weather, construction or any other cause, the person performing the excavation or demolition must contact the mIss DIg system for a re-stake. Please provide the original mIss DIg system ticket number if possible

Contractor hotline requests: A Contractor Hotline request program operates statewide and helps contractors obtain a response from a facil-ity operator. This program assumes that the contractor previously made a staking request for the facility location to the mIss DIg system

Design and survey requests: The mIss DIg system has developed a new voluntary Design and survey Ticket program for engineers, architects and others involved in the development of civic projects. The purpose of the design and survey tickets is to initiate communications with underground facility owners during the early planning stages. go to www.missdig.org for information and enrollment forms

Contractor assistance program: The Contractor Assistance Program assists contractors who have problems complying with Public Act 53. Call the mIss DIg system Administration office at (248) 370-6400 for forms

Preparing a Location Staking Request for MISS DIGThe mIss DIg systems professional staff must obtain specific location information from a caller who wants to have underground facilities marked. The order of the questions is preset by a computer database. Caller prepara-tion is beneficial.

you will be asked several questions when you call the mIss DIg system, including:

Your name and phone number

The contractor or person doing the work

The geographical location city, village or township and county of the work area

The address where the work will be done

The type of work being done

Information about the excavation area that identifies the boundaries for the utility representatives

When you plan to dig

once your project information is received by the mIss DIg system, it is given a ticket number. At the end of your conversation, the mIss DIg system operator will give you that ticket number. Please keep your ticket number, in case you need to refer to it in the future.

mIss DIg system is not a utility, owns no underground facilities and does not provide locating services. It is the mIss DIg system members who are responsible for maintaining their underground facilities, main-taining all records of their facility locations and, under Public Act 53, marking the approximate location of their underground lines.

When to Use the MISS DIG System

Public Act 53 requires anyone who is planning or performing any type of excavation, including grading, demolition, cultivating, augering, blasting or boring, to provide notice to the mIss DIg system at least three full working days before starting any of those activities.

The mIss DIg system is available to initiate locating requests 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 811 or (800) 482-7171 for emergency and nonemergency requests.

For situations other than locating requests that involve Consumers Energy facilities, contact the utility directly at (800) 477-5050:

To report damage to any type of Consumers Energy facility

To resolve any type of damage billing problem with Consumers Energy

To request any type of Consumers Energy facility removal or reloca-tion, including meter removals before demolition of a building

To request gas or electric service from Consumers Energy

Remote Ticket EntryThe remote Ticket entry (rTe) program allows authorized users to enter the mIss DIg system and create locating requests on the Internet rather than by calling.

To apply for rTe access, complete an application at www.missdig.org. see Ticket entry under contractor tab for details.

Types of Requests that the MISS DIG System Handles Three working days notice: This is the most common request processed

by the mIss DIg system. This request is made in compliance with the state law requirement of three working days notice before digging. It involves a request to identify utility and pipeline facility locations at a specific address or area for a specific dig-start date.

Emergency notice: An emergency request may be necessary when there is a need to have underground facilities located due to a sudden or unex-pected occurrence involving a clear and imminent danger, demanding immediate action to prevent or mitigate loss of, or damage to, life, health,

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Positive Response on Digging RequestPositive response is a system housed at the mIss DIg system center that allows excavators to see if utilities have responded to their dig ticket requests. The Positive response system is updated after a utility or locating contractor marks the site or clears the ticket. The updated status then may be retrieved by the requester of the ticket via the Internet or by using the interactive voice response system via a touch-tone phone.

Excavator Responsibilities After Making a Requestnotifying the mIss DIg system is only the first responsibility someone

making a locating request must fulfill. To avoid damaging underground facilities and to ensure public and employee safety, excavators must comply with all sections of Public Act 53.

Follow these steps for a safe construction siteContact mIss DIg system at least three full working days but not more than 21 calendar days before excavating, digging, augering, boring, grading, discharging explosives, tunneling or building demolition.

The approximate locations of Consumers energys natural gas facilities will be marked with yellow flags, paint or both. Based on the state law, the ap-proximate location is defined as a strip of land three feet wide, but not wider than the width of the facility plus an 18-inch clearance on either side of the facility.

The excavator must determine the precise location of staked underground facilities by hand exposing from the ground surface down to the facility. (see following page for information on approximate location and depth.) Hand exposing means careful use of a wood-handled shovel to probe and/or uncover a pipe, cable or structure to avoid damaging the facility. expose the facility across the entire width of the proposed excavation. Where the excavation is near underground gas facilities, sufficient hand exposing must be done to ensure that the pipe will not be damaged. Hand exposing must be done before using power equipment. generally, hand exposure is not neces-sary if the marks are 5 feet or more from the proposed excavation.

excavators should hand expose far enough in advance to allow time to secure Consumers energys assistance and still avoid project delays.

A typical ticket is good for 21 days from the dig-start date. If your project will last longer than 21 days, you should have the ticket designated as a project ticket. This will extend the ticket life to 180 days.

If you cannot maintain a minimum 10-foot clearance from any overhead electric lines with the equipment you will be using on the job, please let the mIss DIg operator know. mIss DIg can request an overhead assistance appointment for you with the electric company. Appointments must be scheduled between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Location Accuracy Is Importantone of the most common mistakes excavators make is identifying an exca-vation location as within a village or city when actually it is in a township. This could happen since a mailing address would include the nearest village or city. Before you call, please check whether the excavation site is in a vil-lage, city or township.

Rural Location RequestsWhen you need staking at a rural excavation location, provide as much information as possible. For example, include which side of the road the dig-ging will be on, the road name, the nearest crossroad to the address, and the name of the owner and/or renter at the location where you will be digging. give the directions to this address from the nearest town including the name of the road(s) and distance(s). Additional information helps, such as rural fire department numbers, pedestal numbers, transformer numbers, mileage markers or any other landmarks that may help identify the location.

What Happens After a Request Is Made?After the locating request is made, the mIss DIg system analyzes the in-formation to identify which utilities or pipeline operators should be notified. mIss DIg system then transmits the request to the appropriate members such as Consumers energy.

once it is determined that markings are required, the request is assigned to a field locator who will locate and mark the excavation site with paint, stakes and/or flags. Facilities are marked according to specific guidelines and color codes. yellow is used for natural gas, oil, steam, petroleum or other gaseous materials. Phone and cable television lines are marked with orange. electric is marked with red, water with blue, storm drains with green and sewers with brown. surveying marks are in pink.

Consumers energy is responsible only for marking the portions of facilities that it operates or maintains. The utility will not mark privately installed facilities such as gas lines from houses to garages, outbuildings, generators, grills or lights.

Consumers energy has gas damage prevention field leaders who work with excavators when there are difficulties in locating underground facilities. For more information, go to www.consumersenergy.com/pipelinesafety.

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Why Approximate LocationThe stakes and/or flags provide only the approximate location of under-ground utility facilities. This is because locating underground facilities is not an exact science. electronic locating equipment has limited capabili-ties. The actual facility location could vary from the position of the flags or marks.

Facility Depth Consumers energy does not provide information on the depth of under-ground facilities. Locating equipment depth readouts are not accurate enough to determine facility depth.

The utility follows certain depth requirements or guidelines when installing lines, but it cannot control depth variations resulting from human interven-tion or natural events. grade changes, landscaping, erosion, frost and other factors may affect the depth of underground facilities over time.

Do not assume the depth of a gas facility. It is the excavators responsibility to expose the facility by hand to determine its depth.

Typical Distribution Gas Services and Mains

Sizes Material

1/2" Copper, Plastic, Steel Tubing

3/4" Steel

1" Copper, Steel, Plastic, Steel Tubing

1 1/4" Steel, Plastic

2" Steel, Plastic

3" Steel, Plastic, Cast Iron

4" Steel, Plastic, Cast Iron

6" Steel, Plastic, Cast Iron

8" Steel, Plastic, Cast Iron

10" Steel, Cast Iron

12" Steel, Cast Iron

Typical Gas Transmission Lines

12" to 36" Steel

Cast Iron Mainsgenerally, cast iron mains will be replaced if they will be undermined by excavating activity or are located within the zone of influence. In areas where cast iron mains are not replaced, Consumers energy will instruct contractors on the appropriate means of support and backfill compaction.

Typical Operating Pressuresstandard Pressure = Less than one pound

medium Pressure = 7 lbs. to 55 lbs. psi.

High Pressure = 55 lbs. to 960 lbs. psi.

Call mIss DIg with your ticket number and request a restake for any of the following reasons:

If there are no stakes or markings at your job site after your dig-start date, but there is evidence that buried gas lines may be in the area (gas meters, pipeline markers, etc.)

If stakes or markings at the construction site are knocked down or oblit-erated, or become faded because of time, weather or any other cause

If you are unable to find and hand expose the gas facility at the marked location

you must have a valid mIss DIg ticket that has not yet expired in order to request a restake. Consumers energy generally will respond to restake requests within three hours.

excavators must exercise reasonable care while working around exposed gas pipes or near unexposed gas pipes. This means hand digging if underground facilities are likely to be present.

excavators boring or augering under, over or in close proximity to under-ground gas lines must hand expose the gas line to ensure that the bore shot will not contact the line. This includes hand exposing gas lines under roads. In such situations, make a window in the road to ensure there will be no contact.

excavators must avoid driving over valve boxes and regulator vaults.

excavators must support exposed gas services and gas mains to prevent damage in the excavation area from cave-ins, pipe movement, settlements and washouts. see Consumers energy support standards on Page 20.

Before backfilling, excavators must notify Consumers energy of any dam-age to the coating of any underground facilities, including nicks, dents, gouges, cuts, scrapes or scratches so proper repairs can be made. Failure to notify the company of these damages could result in future corrosion and/or pipe failure.

Also before backfilling, excavators must inform Consumers energy if any of the following were discovered during the excavations:

Threaded joints and mechanical fittings

Damaged or gouged pipe

Damaged cathodic lead wire and/or valve boxes

Broken locating wire in plastic facilities

Damaged coating or wrapping on pipelines

normally, there is no charge for making repairs in the above situations. Qualified personnel need to inspect the pipeline and perform the needed work.

When backfilling, it is important that valve boxes and lead wires boxes are not buried or made inaccessible.

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SECTION 4 Underground facility lists; filing; contentsA public utility having underground facilities in a county shall file with the clerk of the county a list containing the name of every city, village, town-ship and section within the township in the county in which it has under-ground facilities, the name of the public utility and the title and address of its representatives designated to receive the written notice of intent required by section 5.

SECTION 5 Notice of intent to excavate or discharge explosive; methods; contents

(1) except as provided in sections 7 and 9, a person or public agency re-sponsible for excavating or tunneling operations, drilling or boring proce-dures or discharge of explosives in a street, highway, other public place, a private easement for a public utility or near the location of utility facilities on a customers property, or demolition of a building containing a utility facility, shall give written or telephone notice to the association as required in section 7 on intent to excavate, tunnel, discharge explosives or demolish at least two full working days, excluding saturdays, sundays and holidays, but not more than 21 calendar days, before commencing the excavating, demolishing, discharging of explosives, tunneling operations, or drilling or boring procedures. Beginning on october 1, 1990, the notice required in this subsection shall be given at least three full working days, excluding saturdays, sundays and holidays, but not more than 21 calendar days, before commencing the excavating, demolishing, discharging of explosives, tunnel-ing operations, or drilling or boring procedures.

(2) The written or telephone notice of intent shall contain the name, address and telephone number of the person or public agency filing the notice of intent, the name of the person or public agency performing the excavation, discharging of explosives, tunneling or demolition, the date and type of excavating, discharging of explosives, demolishing, drilling or boring proce-dure or tunneling operation to be conducted and the location of the excava-tion, tunneling, discharging of explosives, drilling, boring or demolition.

SECTION 6 Compliance as prerequisite to permits from public agencies

A public agency that pursuant to law requires a person to obtain a permit, shall require as a condition of the permit that the person shall comply with the requirement of this act.

SECTION 7 Associations of public utilities for mutual receipt of notification of construction

(1) Public utilities having underground facilities shall form and operate an association providing for mutual receipt of notification of construction activ-ities in those areas served by public utilities having underground facilities. notification to the association formed and operated by the public utilities shall be considered to be notice to each public utility having underground facilities within the proposed areas of excavation, discharging of explosives, tunneling, demolition, drilling or boring. notification to the association shall be effected in writing as set forth in section 5 or by telephone call, providing

Public Act 53 of 1974 Protection of Underground Facilities

An act to protect the public safety by providing for notices to public utilities by persons or public agencies engaged in certain construction related activi-ties near underground facilities or demolishing buildings containing utility facilities; to provide for notices to affected parties when underground facili-ties are damaged; and to prescribe penalties.

460.701 Definitions SECTION 1. As used in this act:

Association means the mIss DIg utilities communications programs.

Person includes an individual, partnership, corporation, association or any other legal entity. Person does not mean a public agency.

Public agency means the state, city, village, township, county or any other governmental entity or municipality.

Public utility means a natural gas company subject to the jurisdiction of the federal energy regulatory commission or an electric, steam, gas, tele-phone, power, water or pipeline company subject to the jurisdiction of the public service commission pursuant to Act no. 3 of the Public Acts of 1939, as amended, being sections 460.1 to 460.8 of the michigan Compiled Laws, Act no. 9 of the Public Acts of 1929, being sections 483.101 to 483.120 of the michigan Compiled Laws, Act no. 16 of the Public Acts of 1929, being sections 483.1 to 483.11 of the michigan Compiled Laws, Act no. 19 of the Public Acts of 1967, as amended, being sections 486.551 to 486.571 of the michigan Compiled Laws, Act no. 165 of the Public Acts of 1969, being sections 483.151 to 483.162 of the michigan Compiled Laws or the michi-gan telecommunications act, Act no. 179 of the Public Acts of 1991, being sections 484.2101 to 484.2605 of the michigan Compiled Laws, a person or public agency owning or operating cable television facilities, and a public agency, other than the state transportation department, owning public ser-vice facilities for supplying water, light, heat, gas, power, telecommunica-tions, sewage disposal, storm drains or storm water drainage facilities.

SECTION 2 Nonpowered hand toolsThis act does not apply to a person or public agency using only nonpowered hand tools in performing excavating or tunneling operations described herein.

SECTION 3 Location of underground facilities; necessityA person or public agency shall not discharge explosives, excavate or tunnel in a street, highway, public place, a private easement of a public utility or near the location of a public utility facility owned, maintained or installed on a customers premises or demolish a building containing a public utility facility without having first ascertained in the manner prescribed in sections 5 or 7 of the location of all underground facilities of a public utility in the proposed area of excavation, discharging of explosives, tunneling or demoli-tion.

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If the precise location of the underground facilities cannot be established, the person or public agency shall then notify the public utility, which shall no later than one working day after the notice provide such further assis-tance as may be needed to determine the precise location of the underground facilities in advance of the proposed excavating, tunneling, discharging of explosives, drilling or boring procedures or demolition operations. Where demolition of a building is proposed and the public utility is notified, it shall be given reasonable time to remove or protect its facilities before demolition of the building.

SECTION 9 Emergencies(1) In case of an emergency involving danger to life, health or property, or which requires immediate correction in order to continue the operation of a major industrial plant or to assure the continuity of public utility service, excavation, maintenance or repairs may be made without using explosives if notice and advice thereof, in writing or otherwise, are given to the public utility or association as soon as reasonably possible.

(2) In case of an emergency involving an immediate and substantial danger of death or serious personal injury, explosives may be discharged if notice and advice thereof, in writing or otherwise, are given to a public utility or an association at any time before the discharge is undertaken.

SECTION 10 Permits otherwise required; working agreements between public utilities and contractor associations

This act shall not be construed to authorize, affect or impair local ordi-nances, charters or other provisions of law requiring permits to be obtained before excavating or tunneling in a public street or highway or to construct or demolish buildings or other structures on private property nor construed to grant to any person or public agency any rights not specifically provided by this act. A permit issued by a public agency shall not be deemed to relieve a person from the responsibility for complying with the provisions of this act. The failure of any person, who has been granted a permit, to comply with the provisions of this act shall not be deemed to impose any li-ability upon the public agency issuing the permit. This act shall not preclude establishment of working agreements between public utilities and contractor associations to accomplish the intent and purpose of this act.

SECTION 11 Reasonable care; hand digging, supportupon receiving the information provided for in sections 5 or 7, a person or public agency excavating, tunneling or discharging explosives shall exercise reasonable care when working in close proximity to the underground facili-ties of any public utility. If the facilities are to be exposed, or are likely to be exposed, only hand-digging shall be employed in such circumstances and such support, as may be reasonably necessary for protection of the facilities, shall be provided in and near the construction area.

the same information required by section 5, made by the person or public agency responsible for the excavating, demolishing, discharging of explo-sives, drilling or boring procedures or tunneling operations. A public utility owned by a public agency shall participate in and receive the services fur-nished by the association and shall pay their share of the costs and services furnished, but shall not be required to become a member of the association. The association, whose members of participants have underground facilities within a county, shall file with the clerk of the county a description of the geographical area served by the association and list the name and address of every member and participating public utility.

(2) If notification is made by telephone, an adequate record shall be main-tained by the association to document compliance with the requirements of this act.

SECTION 8 Underground facilities; information as to location; facilities removal and protection

not less than one working day in advance of proposed construction, unless otherwise agreed between the person or public agency performing the exca-vation, discharging of explosives, drilling, boring, tunneling or demolition and the public utility, a public utility served with notice pursuant to section 5 or 7 shall inform the person or public agency of the approximate location of the underground facilities owned or operated by the public utility in the proposed area of excavation, discharging of explosives, drilling, boring, tun-neling or demolition, in a manner that enables the person or public agency to employ hand-dug test holes or other similar means of establishing the pre-cise location of the underground facilities using reasonable care to establish the precise location of the underground facilities in advance of construction. For the purposes of this act, the approximate location of underground facili-ties is defined as a strip of land at least 36 inches wide, but not wider than the width of the facility plus 18 inches on either side of the facility. If the ap-proximate location of an underground facility is marked with stakes or other physical means, the public utility shall follow the color coding prescribed in this section. All safety alert orange markings shall include the name or type of the company who owns the underground facility to be marked.

Utility and Type Specific Group of Product Identifying ColorElectric power distribution and transmission Safety redMunicipal electric systems Safety redGas distribution and transmission High-visibility Safety yellowOil distribution and transmission High-visibility Safety yellowDangerous materials, product lines High-visibility Safety yellowTelephone and telegraph systems Safety alert orangeCable television Safety alert orangePolice and fire communications Safety alert orangeWater systems Safety precaution blueSewer systems Safety brownStorm drains Safety greenLand survey monumentation High visibility safety pink

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SECTION 17 Severability provisionIf any provision of this act or the application thereof to any person or public agency or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act and the application of such provision to other persons or public agencies or circum-stances shall not be affected thereby.

SECTION 18 Effective dateThis act shall become effective August 1, 1974.

Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration Rules and Regulations

Filed with the secretary of state on August 17, 1979 (as amended Novem-ber 23, 1982) (as amended January 11, 1988) (as amended July 8, 1993) (as amended september 3, 1996)

This rule takes effect 15 days after filing with the secretary of state

(By authority conferred on the director of the department of consumer and industry services by sections 19 and 21 of Act no. 154 of the Public Acts of 1974, as amended, and executive reorganization order no. 1996-2, being 408.1019, 408.1021, and 445.2001 of the michigan compiled Laws)

For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/mioshastandards or www.osha.gov.

Part 9. Excavation, Trenching and Shoring R 408.40931 Locating Utility Lines

rule 931. (1) An employer shall not excavate in a street, highway, public place, a private easement of a public utility, or near the location of a public utility facility owned, maintained, or installed on a customers premise, without having first ascertained the location of all underground facilities of a public utility in the proposed area of excavation.

(2) upon receiving the information from the public utility, an employer shall exercise reasonable care when working in close proximity to the under-ground facilities of any public utility. If the facilities are to be exposed, or are likely to be exposed, only hand digging shall be employed in such cir-cumstances and such support, as may be reasonably necessary for protection of the facilities, shall be provided in and near the construction area.

(3) When any contact with or damage to any pipe, cable or its protective coating, or any other underground facility of a public utility occurs, the public utility shall be notified immediately by the employer responsible for operations causing the damage. If an energized electrical cable is severed, an energized conductor is exposed, or dangerous fluids or gasses are escap-ing from a broken line, the employer shall evacuate the employees from the immediate area while awaiting the arrival of the public utility personnel.

SECTION 12 Damage to underground facility; notice; repairs; evacuation

When any contact with or damage to any pipe, cable or its protective coating or any other underground facility of a public utility occurs, the public utility shall be notified immediately by the person or public agency responsible for the operations causing the damage. upon receiving the notice, the public utility shall dispatch personnel to the location as soon as possible to effect temporary or permanent repair of the damage. If a serious electrical short is occurring or if dangerous fluids or gases are escaping from a broken line, the person or public agency responsible for the operations causing the damage shall evacuate the immediate area while awaiting the arrival of the public utility personnel.

SECTION 13 Civil remedies for damageThis act does not affect any civil remedies for damage to public utility facilities and does not affect any civil remedies a person may have for actual damage to the persons property caused by a public utilitys negligence in staking its facilities, except as otherwise specifically provided for in this act.

SECTION 14 Damage to underground facility; negligence; failure to comply with the act

In a civil action in a court of this state, when it is shown by competent evi-dence that damage to the underground facilities of a public utility resulted from excavating, tunneling, drilling or boring procedures, demolishing operations or the discharge of explosives, as described in section 3 and that the person responsible for giving the notice of intent to excavate, tunnel, demolish or discharge explosives failed to give the notice, or the person did not employ hand-digging or failed to provide support, the person shall be liable for the resulting damage to the underground facilities, but the liability for damages shall be reduced in proportion to the negligence of the public utility if it fails to comply with section 8.

SECTION 15 Violations; injunctions; penaltiesA person who damages the facilities of a public utility on more than three occasions on any one construction contract location because of his or her failure to comply with any of the provisions of this act may be enjoined from engaging in any further excavating, demolition, discharging of explosives, drilling or boring procedures or tunneling work within the state, except un-der such terms and conditions as the court may prescribe to insure the safety of the public. A court may prescribe such penalties as it considers neces-sary or appropriate for violation of the injunctive order up to a maximum of $5,000.00 per violation.

SECTION 16 Willful violations; penaltiesA person who willfully removes or otherwise destroys the stakes or other physical markings used by a public utility to mark the approximate location of underground facilities is guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be fined not more than $5,000 for each offense or imprisoned for not more than one year or both.

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Installing Permanent SupportsCaution: Protect the pipe at support points with old tires or equivalent.

option A Install 6 inch x 6 inch timber or utility pole below finish grade and leave in place.

option B Install 6 inch x 6 inch timber on 2 inch x 12 inch plate on stable soil.

option C Install 6 foot log or timber deadman at least 4 feet into firm soil.

use compacted sand under the pipe in the open trench in lieu of permanent physical supports.

Crossing the Excavation

Installing temporary supportsCaution: Protect the pipe at support points with old tires or equivalent.

use a Class 4 or better utility pole. Acceptable alternates include 6 inch x .219 inch wall pipe or 6 inch x 3 3/8 inch I-beam.

Before removing any temporary supports, completely compact the backfill or install permanent supports if natural settlement is not complete.

Installing Permanent SupportsCaution: Protect the pipe at support points with old tires or equivalent.

use a Class 4 or better utility pole. Acceptable alternates include 6 inch by .219 inch wall pipe or 6 inch x 3 3/8 inch I-beam.

use compacted sand under the pipe in the open trench in lieu of permanent physical supports.

Consumers Energy Support Standards

Maximum Spacing Between Supportsuse the table below to determine the number of supports needed to support main during and after construction.

Distribution MainsMaxiMuM Spacing Between SupportS (feet)

pipe Size in inches

Steel plaStic

temporary permanent temporary permanent

1-1/4" 15' 6' 25' 5'

2" 25' 6' 30' 6'

3" 35' 7'

4" 35' 10' 40' 8'

6" 45' 13' 45' 9'

8" 55' 15' 50' 10'

10" 60' 18'

12" 65' 20'

16" 70' 25'

Transmission PipelinesThe length of pipeline to be exposed shall not exceed 25 feet. Backfilling shall be performed so as to avoid damage to the pipe and coating and to provide firm support.

Main Parallel to Excavation

Installing temporary supportsCaution: Protect the pipe at support points with old tires or equivalent.

option 1 use a Class 4 or better utility pole.

option 2 use a 4 inch post driven 4 feet deep.

option 3 use an 8 foot screw anchor guy and 1 inch steel bar.

Before removing any temporary supports, completely compact the backfill or install permanent supports if natural settlement is not complete.

OPTION 1 OPTION 2 OPTION 3

OPTION A OPTION B OPTION C

One Energy Plaza Jackson, MI 49201-2276 www.consumersenergy.com

16268 62-57232 2.5M 3/09

Digging Safely Checklist Call 811 three full working days before digging

Comply with Public Act 53 rules

Hand dig and expose underground pipelines and facilities when necessary

Report any contact with pipes including nicks, dents, gouges, cuts, scrapes or scratches so proper repairs may be made. Failure to notify the company of these damages could result in future corrosion and/or pipe failure. Call Consumers energy toll-free at (800) 477-5050

For More InformationCall Consumers energy toll-free at (800) 477-5050 if you have questions about natural gas, natural gas pipelines, damage prevention or other natural gas safety issues.

Useful Web SitesCall 811 To know whats below, always call 811 toll-free before you dig. www.call811.com

MiSS DiG Michigans one-call utility notification organization www.missdig.org

Common Ground Alliance Damage prevention is a shared responsibility www.commongroundalliance.com

Occupational Safety and Health Administration Promotes safe working conditions www.osha.gov www.michigan.gov/mioshastandards

Consumers Energy Pipeline Public Awareness www.consumersenergy.com/pipelinesafety

One easy call gets free staking of under-ground utility lines and helps reduce the chance of injury and expense.

To know whats below, always call 811 toll-free before you dig.

You also may continue to reach MISS DIG at (800) 482-7171.

THIS SERVICE IS FREE.