ID 2016 State Damage Prevention Program

Overview

Main Objective

Under this grant agreement, the recipient will: Use the grant funds to develop a State Damage Prevention Program through legislation and in coordination with a Governor appointed Damage Prevention Board. The Idaho Damage Prevention Board will be created and made part of the DBS. The purpose of this board is to reduce damages to underground facilities, promote safe excavation practices, review complaints of alleged violations of Idaho Code, and assessing appropriate civil penalties. As part of the legislation, underground facility owners and excavators who observe, suffer, or cause damage to an underground facility will be required to report such information to the board. The board will consist of members, each of whom shall be appointed by the governor with power of removal for cause. All members of the board shall be qualified by experience, knowledge, and integrity in formulating rules, reviewing complaints referred to it and assessing penalties, and properly performing functions of the board. The main goals of DBS and the Damage Prevention Board will be to create a system of self-regulation and education addressing the prevention of damage to underground facilities. A system will be developed to collect, store and disseminate data related to underground facility damage and excavator downtime.

Public Abstract

Under the terms of this grant agreement, the Recipient will address the following applicable elements listed in the approved application, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. §60134 (a),(b).

• 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 8 (Technology): A process for fostering and promoting the use, by all appropriate stakeholders, of improving technologies that may enhance communications, underground pipeline locating capability, and gathering and analyzing information about the accuracy and effectiveness of locating programs.
• 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.

Relevant Files & Links