§ 6103. Minimum standards for State one-call notification programs

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(a)Minimum Standards.—

(1)In general.— In order to qualify for a grant under section 6106, a State one-call notification program, at a minimum, shall provide for—

(A)appropriate participation by all underground facility operators, including all government operators;

(B)appropriate participation by all excavators, including all government and contract excavators; and

(C)flexible and effective enforcement under State law with respect to participation in, and use of, one-call notification systems.

(2)Exemptions prohibited.— In order to qualify for a grant under section 6106, a State one-call notification program may not exempt municipalities, State agencies, or their contractors from the one-call notification system requirements of the program.

(b)Appropriate Participation.— In determining the appropriate extent of participation required for types of underground facilities or excavators under subsection (a), a State shall assess, rank, and take into consideration the risks to the public safety, the environment, excavators, and vital public services associated with—

(1)damage to types of underground facilities; and

(2)activities of types of excavators.

(c)Implementation.— A State one-call notification program also shall, at a minimum, provide for and document—

(1)consideration of the ranking of risks under subsection

(b)in the enforcement of its provisions;

(2)a reasonable relationship between the benefits of one-call notification and the cost of implementing and complying with the requirements of the State one-call notification program; and

(3)voluntary participation where the State determines that a type of underground facility or an activity of a type of excavator poses a de minimis risk to public safety or the environment.

(d)Penalties.— To the extent the State determines appropriate and necessary to achieve the purposes of this chapter, a State one-call notification program shall, at a minimum, provide for—

(1)administrative or civil penalties commensurate with the seriousness of a violation by an excavator or facility owner of a State one-call notification program;

(2)increased penalties for parties that repeatedly damage underground facilities because they fail to use one-call notification systems or for parties that repeatedly fail to provide timely and accurate marking after the required call has been made to a one-call notification system;

(3)reduced or waived penalties for a violation of a requirement of a State one-call notification program that results in, or could result in, damage that is promptly reported by the violator;

(4)equitable relief; and

(5)citation of violations.

(Added Pub. L. 105–178, title VII, § 7302(a), June 9, 1998, 112 Stat. 479; amended Pub. L. 107–355, § 2(a), Dec. 17, 2002, 116 Stat. 2985; Pub. L. 112–90, § 3(a), Jan. 3, 2012, 125 Stat. 1906.)

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