2025 Changes
Law Changes -
California Government code section 4216 has been changed and will take effect on January 1st, 2025. Listed below are some of the important changes, but the complete law can be found by visiting www.digalert.org/calaw.
4216 (e) “Electronic positive response” means an electronic response from an operator to the regional notification center providing the status of an operator’s obligations under subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 4216.3.
4216.2 (g) (1) Unless an emergency exists, an excavator shall not begin excavation until all operators of subsurface installations that are listed on the ticket have fulfilled their obligations under subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 4216.3 and until the completion of any onsite meeting, if required by subdivision (c).
(2) The excavator may begin excavation before the legal excavation start date and time if all of the conditions in paragraph (1) have been satisfied.
4216.2 (i) If a ticket obtained by an excavator expires but work is ongoing, the excavator shall immediately cease excavation, contact the regional notification center and get a new ticket pursuant to subdivision (b), and may not resume excavation until the conditions in subdivision (g) have been satisfied.
4216.4 (2) (A) An excavator may use a vacuum excavation device to expose subsurface installations within the tolerance zone if the excavator has informed the regional notification center of their intent to use a vacuum excavation device when obtaining a ticket and the operator has agreed to the use of a vacuum excavation device. An operator not agreeing to the use of a vacuum excavation device shall include that information on their electronic positive response.
4216.4 (b) If the exact location of the subsurface installation cannot be determined by hand excavating in accordance with subdivision (a), the excavator shall request the operator to provide additional information to the excavator, to the extent that information is available to the operator, to enable the excavator to determine the exact location of the installation. The operator shall provide relevant existing additional information to the excavator within one working day. If the excavator has questions about the markings that an operator has placed, the excavator may contact the notification center to send a request to have the operator contact the excavator directly. The regional notification center shall provide the excavator with the contact telephone number of the subsurface installation operator.
(c) (1) An excavator shall immediately call 911 emergency services upon discovering or causing damage to one of the following:
(A) A gas or hazardous liquid pipeline subsurface installation in which the damage results in the escape of any flammable, toxic, or corrosive gas or liquid.
(B) A high priority subsurface installation of any kind, except that the excavator does not need to call 911 if all of the following conditions are satisfied:
(i) The excavator is the operator of the high priority subsurface installation.
(ii) The damage was discovered by the operator during operations and maintenance activities.
(iii) The damage does not meet the circumstances in subparagraph (A).
(2) An excavator shall immediately notify the operator upon discovering or causing damage to a subsurface installation, including all breaks, leaks, nicks, dents, gouges, grooves, or other damage to subsurface installation lines, conduits, coatings, or cathodic protection. In the event of damage to a subsurface excavation described in paragraph (1), the excavator must contact the operator immediately after calling 911 emergency services. The excavator may contact the regional notification center to obtain the contact information of the subsurface installation operator. If the operator is unknown and the damage or discovery of damage occurs outside the working hours of the regional notification center, the excavator may follow the instructions provided by the regional notification center through its internet website or the telephone line recorded message.
(3) Except as provided in subparagraph (A), an excavator shall notify the regional notification center within 48 hours of discovering or causing damage to any subsurface installation pursuant to paragraph (2).
(A) An excavator does not need to notify the regional notification center of damage discovered by the excavator if all of the following conditions are satisfied:
(i) The excavator is the operator of the subsurface installation.
(ii) The damage was discovered by the operator during operations and maintenance activities.
(iii) The damage does not meet the circumstances in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1).
Electronic Positive Response (EPR) Code Changes -
Electronic positive response codes are changing to better describe and streamline responses for excavators. A complete list of changes can be found at EPR Response Codes 2025.
No Response Tickets -
No response tickets will change to require an EPR by the legal date/time
No response tickets will only be sent to members requested, not necessarily all members on the ticket
No response tickets will now automatically be sent to members that have not responded by the legal date/time on the ticket
If you have any question about these changes, please contact our Member Services department.