Ohio Utilities Protection Service (OUPS) - 2013 State Damage Prevention Program

Overview

Main Objective

Under this grant agreement, the OUPS will:

• Develop and implement methods for effective communication
• Foster support and partnership with stakeholders
• Support Public Awareness and Stakeholder Education
• Laws and regulations of the damage prevention process
• Review the effectiveness of Damage Prevention Programs

Public Abstract

Under the terms of this grant agreement, the Grantee will address the following elements listed in 49 U.S.C. §60134 (b) through the actions it has specified in its Application.

• Element 1 (Effective Communications): Participation by operators, excavators, and other stakeholders in the development and implementation of methods for establishing and maintaining effective communications between stakeholders from receipt of an excavation notification until successful completion of the excavation, as appropriate.
• Element 2 (Comprehensive Stakeholder Support): A process for fostering and ensuring the support and partnership of stakeholders, including excavators, operators, locators, designers, and local government in all phases of the program.
• Element 5 (Public Education): A process for fostering and ensuring active participation by all stakeholders in public education for damage prevention activities.
• Element 7 (Enforcement): Enforcement of State damage prevention laws and regulations for all aspects of the damage prevention process, including public education, and the use of civil penalties for violations assessable by the appropriate State authority.
• Element 9 (Damage Prevention Program Review): A process for review and analysis of the effectiveness of each program element, including a means for implementing improvements identified by such program reviews.

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