Call 1-800-292-8989 or 811 at least 48 hours prior to all excavation. Iowa One Call is a free service.

It’s The Law

All Iowans are required by law (Chapter 480, Iowa Code) to notify the Iowa One Call Notification System at least 48 hours prior to any and all excavations taking place within the state of Iowa (the 48 hour timeline does not include weekends or legal holidays). All underground facility operators who receive notice from the Iowa One Call Notification System must then respond by either: 1.) Locating and marking the portion of their underground facilities, which they own and maintain, that are contained within or near the proposed excavation site (the excavator is responsible for providing specific information to identify the physical location of the proposed excavation site); or by: 2.) Contacting the excavator to “CLEAR” the locate request when the underground facility operator does not own, operate or maintain underground facilities within or near the proposed excavation area (the excavator is required to provide contact information so that the underground facility operator may contact them at any time prior to, or during the excavation).

When notifying Iowa One Call of any proposed excavation, be prepared to provide the following information:

Excavations taking place within a city

1. A street address or block and lot numbers, or both, of the proposed area of excavation.
2. The name and address of the excavator.
3. The excavator’s telephone number.
4. The type and extent of the proposed excavation.
5. Whether the discharge of explosives is anticipated.
6. The date and time when excavation is scheduled to begin.
7. Approximate location of the excavation on the property.
8. If known, the name of the housing development and property owner.

Excavations taking place outside a city

1. The name of the county, township, range, and section.
2. The name and address of the excavator.
3. The excavator’s telephone number.
4. The type and extent of the proposed excavation.
5. Whether the discharge of explosives is anticipated.
6. The date and time when excavation is scheduled to begin.
7. Approximate location of the excavation on the property.
8. If known, the quarter section, E911 address and global positioning system coordinate, name of property owner, name of housing development with street address or block and lot numbers, or both

Damage to Underground Facilities — Report to Operator.

An excavator shall, as soon as practical, notify the operator when any damage occurs to an underground facility as a result of an excavation. The notice shall include the type of facility damaged and the extent of the damage. If damage occurs, an excavator shall refrain from backfilling in the immediate area of the underground facilities until the damage has been investigated by the operator, unless the operator authorizes otherwise.

If the damage results in an emergency, the excavator shall take all reasonable actions to alleviate the emergency including, but not limited to, the evacuation of the affected area. The excavator shall leave all equipment situated where the equipment was at the time the emergency was created and immediately contact the operator and appropriate authorities and necessary emergency response agencies.

The “Iowa One Call Law” (Chapter 480, Iowa Code) is enforced by the Iowa Attorney General, who, upon the receipt of a complaint, may institute any legal proceedings necessary to enforce the penalty provisions of the “Iowa One Call Law.”

Civil Penalties

1. A person who violates a provision of this chapter is subject to a civil penalty as follows:
   
   1. For a violation related to natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines, an amount not to exceed ten thousand dollars for each violation for each day the violation continues, up to a maximum of five hundred thousand dollars.
   2. For a violation related to any other underground facility, an amount not to exceed one thousand dollars for each violation for each day the violation continues, up to a maximum of twenty thousand dollars.
2. The attorney general, upon the receipt of a complaint, may institute any legal proceedings necessary to enforce the penalty provisions of this chapter.
3. All amounts collected pursuant to this section shall be remitted to the Treasurer of State, who shall deposit the amount in the general fund of the state.

Injunction

1. The Iowa Attorney General will seek to establish permanent injunction against any party, found to be non-compliant with the “Iowa One Call Law,” who the Iowa Attorney general files a suit against.
2. Any affected person may make application to the district court for injunctive relief from any violation of this chapter.

For more information, please contact:

Ben Booth, Public Relations Coordinator
Iowa One Call
9001 Hickman Rd, Suite 220
Des Moines, Iowa 50322
(515) 278-8700
benbooth@netins.net