Colorado 811 Members,
DIRT Correction: For many years damages have been reported using the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT). The tool was originally developed by Colorado 811 and adopted internationally as the method of reporting damages. Colorado law does not explicitly refer to DIRT, but the CO811 Board of Directors adopted DIRT to report damages. DIRT has been immensely helpful in Colorado and internationally in helping the industry analyze the cause of utility damages. While the use of the DIRT application is not mandated under the one-call law, the reporting of damage information is mandated. The standard de facto mechanism for damage reporting in Colorado is the CGA DIRT system. We hope this clarifies any issues previously encountered in our correspondence.
Here is the One-Call law language referred to in this email for those not familiar with this section of the law:
“(7) (a) In the event of damage to an underground facility, the excavator, owner, and operator shall cooperate to mitigate damages to the extent reasonably possible, including the provision of in-kind work by the excavator where technical or specialty skills are not required by the nature of the underground facility. Such in-kind work may be under the supervision and pursuant to the specifications of the owner or operator. (b) If damage to an underground facility meets or exceeds the reporting threshold as established by the notification association pursuant to paragraph (c) of this subsection (7), the owner or operator of the damaged underground facility shall provide the information listed in subparagraphs (I) to (VII) of paragraph (c) of this subsection (7) to the notification association within ninety days after service has been restored. (c) The notification association shall create and publicize to its members a reporting process, including the availability of electronic reporting and a threshold at which reporting is required, to compile the following information: (I) The type of underground facility that was damaged; (II) Whether notice of the intention to excavate was provided to the notification association; (III) Whether the underground facility had been validly marked prior to being damaged; (IV) The type of service that was interrupted; (V) Repealed. (VI) The duration of the interruption; and (VII) The location of the area where the underground facility was damaged. (d) The notification association shall include a statistical summary of the information provided to it under this subsection (7) in the annual report required under section 9-1.5-105 (2.6). (e) (I) On or before July 1 of each year, the notification association shall prepare and submit to the safety commission an annual report for each owner or operator summarizing the following data from the prior calendar year:”
As always, if you have any questions concerning this issue, please reach out to us and we will be happy to answer any of your questions.
