NV: 2011 State Damage Prevention Program

Overview

Main Objective

This project will:

1. Foster support and partnership with stakeholders
2. Review the adequacy of internal performance measures
3. Support a Damage Prevention Education Program for industry stakeholders
4. Resolve disputes to define State authority's role and laws and regulations of the damage prevention process
5. Foster and promote the use of Improving Technologies
6. Review the Effectiveness of Damage Prevention Programs

Public Abstract

ELEMENT 2 - COMPREHENSIVE STAKEHOLDER SUPPORT: Nevada's Regional Common Ground Alliance (NRCGA) was formed over three years ago. It was incorporated as a non-profit organization in early 2010. Meetings of all stakeholders are held each month. A 13 member Governing Board has been established and many sub- committees have been formed. The PUCN has four inspectors that regularly attend the NRCGA meetings. These inspectors all chair various sub-committees. It is through these sub-committees and the monthly meetings that the support and partnership of all stakeholders is encouraged and strengthened. ELEMENT 3 - OPERATOR INTERNAL PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT: The LDC's in Nevada have effective locator QA/QC programs based on 49 CFR 192. Nevada has performed special audits of these programs in the past and is confident of the competentcy of the programs. The PUCN has developed audit procedures for locator training for the operators other than the LDC's and is implementing these audits thru the NRCGA in 2010. This activity will continue in 2011. ELEMENT 4 - EFFECTIVE EMPLOYEE TRAINING: A training curriculum was developed and implemented by the NRCGA in 2009. During 2009 and 2010 training has been provided to contractors and the NDOT for violating the One-Call Statute. This training will continue in 2011 with the PUCN's participation. ELEMENT 6 - DISPUTE RESOLUTION: During the 2007 legislative session Nevada's One-Call Statute, NRS 455 was revised and Staff was given enforcement authority. A procedure for enforcing violations of the statute was developed by Staff Counsel in 2009 and further enhanced in 2010. Warning letters were sent to violators, Show Cause Hearings were held for repeat offenders and fines were levied. This Dispute resolution process will continue during 2011. ELEMENT 7 - ENFORCEMENT: During 2011 Nevada's inspectors will be in the field providing One-Call enforcement. Staff has been networking with operators and locators in determining locations where damages have occurred. They have also been patrolling, looking for locations where it is obvious that One-Call tickets have not been called in due to the lack of white paint or marks when construction has started. This activity will continue during 2011. ELEMENT 8 - TECHNOLOGY: Beginning in 2010, Staff started maintaining a data base of all damages provided by the NRCGA stakeholders. Staff has been reviewing these damages quarterly since 2007 and will continue to do so in 2011. ELEMENT 9 - DAMAGE PREVENTION PROGRAM REVIEW: Since 2009, Staff has been reviewing Nevada's progress of the 9 Elements through the NRCGA. This will continue in 2011.

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