Operating Procedures

Revised 10/2026

Mission Statement

The mission of Underground Service Alert of Southern California (DigAlert^®), as an independent non-profit mutual benefit corporation, is to ensure the safety of excavation workers and the general public by preventing damage to subsurface infrastructure through education, advocacy, and operation of an effective communications link between excavators and subsurface infrastructure owners/operators.  To achieve this mission, DigAlert^®includes excavators, locators, engineers, and operators of subsurface infrastructure on its Board and welcomes all who have an interest in excavation safety to provide input on accomplishing this mission.

Beliefs and Principles

DigAlert^® is:

A professional, nonpartisan coordinator of excavation information providing a safe working environment for excavation workers by preventing damage to subsurface infrastructure.

The sole service organization utilizing state of the art electronic communications to link excavators and owners/operators of subsurface infrastructure.

The services of DigAlert^® are provided at no cost* to the excavators and may be accessed by most available electronic formats including internet, mobile and telephone.

Strategic Plan

DigAlert^® will:

Provide professional, responsive, nonpartisan quality service to both excavators and owners/operators of subsurface infrastructure.

Maximize the efficiency of its organization in the execution of its duties while promoting the “contact before you dig” process and California Government Code Section 4216.

*Additional elite services may be available for a marginal fee.

1. PURPOSE

1.01

The primary purpose of Underground Service Alert of Southern California (DigAlert^®), is to provide a regional notification system (the "Center") to expedite the location of underground facilities (as defined in DigAlert^®'s Bylaws) prior to the start of any excavation work.  For purposes of these Operating Procedures, the following definitions will apply:

(a) "Excavation" means any operation in which earth, rock, or other material in the ground is moved, removed, or otherwise displaced by means of tools, equipment, or explosives in any of the following ways: grading, trenching, digging, ditching, drilling, auguring, tunneling, scraping, cable or pipe plowing and driving, or any other way.

(b) “Excavator” means any person, firm, contractor or subcontractor, owner, operator, utility, association, corporation, partnership, business trust, public agency, or other entity that, with their own employees or equipment, performs any excavation.

1.02

The Center's major functions are:

(a) To receive information from anyone who contacts the Center of any planned excavation work.  The notifications received for this purpose are called " DigAlert^®s.”

(b) To transmit this information to all members who have notified DigAlert^® that they have underground facilities at the location of the excavation work or who are otherwise concerned with the excavation work.  The member is then responsible for notifying the excavator pursuant to California Government Code section 4216 et seq.

(c) To promote use of and membership in DigAlert^®.

2. OBJECTIVES

2.01

The Center is designed to encourage acceptance and active participation by all underground operators, government agencies and excavators.  DigAlert^®'s objectives are to:

(a) Promote public safety

(b) Eliminate costly damage to underground facilities;

(c) Reduce lost production time due to damages;

(d) Promote compliance with California Government Code Section 4216 et seq.;

(e) Promote compliance with California Code of Regulations Title 19 Division 4;

(f)  Help protect our underground environment;

(g) Promote membership in DigAlert^®;

(h) Promote use of DigAlert^® Direct;

(i)  Promote involvement in the California Regional Common Ground Alliance (CARCGA) and

(j) Encourage reporting of incident events via the CARCGA Virtual Private Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT).

3. RATE STRUCTURE

3.01

Each member will be assessed a fee in accordance with the applicable rates adopted by the Board of Directors from time to time.  A copy of the rate schedule currently in effect is attached hereto as Exhibit I.

3.02

The fees collected through this rate structure will cover the operating costs of the Center.

4. CONTRACTOR

4.01

DigAlert^® may contract with a third party for the management of the Center under the ultimate direction of the Board of Directors.

5. COMMUNICATIONS

5.01

DigAlert^® will provide sufficient equipment and personnel to maintain efficient operation of the Center.  Increases in costs incurred will be justified by management to the Board of Directors. 

5.02

For liability purposes, all incoming DigAlert^® calls are recorded on electronic media.  Said recordings are made in accordance with tariffs on file with the California Public Utilities Commission and local, state and federal law.

5.03

Each member is individually responsible for maintaining equipment capable of receiving DigAlert^® information.

 5.04

Members utilizing a third party to receive their DigAlert^® notifications are responsible for ensuring that notifications are received and processed as if the member were receiving the notifications directly.  Members, or their designated third-party agents, who receive DigAlert^® information via electronic means (i.e.: email, web hook) are responsible for retrieving their notifications once delivered to their designated location.

 5.05 

Members will provide an electronic positive response through the Center for each ticket type received that requires a response.  Methods to provide the response are listed under documentation on the DigAlert.org website.

6. CENTER OPERATIONS

6.01

The Center's business hours are from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday excluding holidays.

 6.02

The Center is closed on state and federal holidays.  If Christmas Eve & New Year’s Eve fall on a Monday through Thursday, the Center will close at 3:00 p.m.

 6.03

DigAlert^® shall provide the personnel necessary to carry out its business and shall employ a President, Manager, Customer Service Representatives and other Employees.  The work schedule of the Manager, Customer Service Representatives and other Employees will be arranged to provide adequate personnel during business hours.

 6.04

DigAlert^® will bill members in accordance with the rates established from time to time by the Board as follows:

(a) DigAlert^® will determine, prepare and email a bill for each member, based on the employer identification number (EIN) for that member, in accordance with the approved rate structure. Invoices may be prepared by billing code instead of EIN at DigAlert^®’s discretion.  Alternate methods of receiving invoices may be approved by DigAlert^® on a case-by-case basis, members may not make alternate methods a requirement for payments to be processed. An additional $50 charge will be added to each invoice that is not handled by DigAlert^®’s normal automated process.

(b) For purposes of accounting, books are kept of each month’s billing by member billing code.  Said books shall be kept in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. DigAlert^® will compile a monthly summary of the Center’s operating costs in detail as well as the current month's billing.  These reports will be submitted to the Board at the next scheduled board meeting.

(c) Upon receipt of the monthly bill, each member will make payment by check made out to "Underground Service Alert of Southern California." This check is to be sent to DigAlert^® at the Center’s mailing address.  Alternate methods of remittance must be approved by DigAlert^® prior to use.

(1) Payments via Wire Transfer will incur the additional fee the bank charges DigAlert^®.  This fee will be added to the next month’s invoice.

(2) Returned payments will be assessed a $15 charge. This charge will be added to the next month’s invoice.

(3) Rejected ACH payments will be assessed a $25 charge. This charge will be added to the next month’s invoice.

(d) DigAlert^® will credit the appropriate member's account when payments are received and will deposit the money in the DigAlert^® bank account.  The Executive Committee will review all financial practices.

(e) Payments are due and payable upon receipt of each monthly bill.  Payments not received within 45 days of the date of the bill, may be subject to a 5% penalty of the amount billed.

(f) If payment is not received within  120 days of the date of the bill a certified letter will be sent to the member which shall indicate that the member is no longer in good standing and if payment is not received within 60 days the member will be terminated.

(g) Upon termination a notice will be filed with the California Underground Facilities Safe Excavation Board that the entity is longer a member of Underground Service Alert of Southern California as required by California Government Code section 4216 et seq.

(h) DigAlert^® will send out invoices on behalf of the California Underground Facilitates Safe Excavation Board pursuant to CCR Title 19 Division 4 Section 4011.  Payment for these invoices will be made to Underground Service Alert of Southern California under the DigAlert^® EIN.

(i) A Certificate of Insurance can be provided. There will be no changes to current coverage limits, no waivers of subrogation or listing of members as additional insured.

(j) DigAlert^® will maintain records of all expenses associated with the Center operations.  These records are subject to audit by the Board of Directors.

 6.05

DigAlert^®s refer to notification of excavations as defined in 1.01 (a).

(a) All DigAlert^®s called into 811 or a toll-free line will be recorded.

(b) Each DigAlert^® will have a ticket number assigned to it, which will be given to each excavator for future reference.

(c) Unless the excavation is necessary due to an emergency, all excavators not giving a legal excavation start date and time as defined in California Government Code section 4216 et seq. will be reminded of this requirement, and that the affected member(s) will have a minimum of 2 working days not including the date of notification in which to mark their lines.  If the excavation is necessary due to an emergency, excavators will be given the definition of an emergency as stated in California Government Code section 4216 and notified that members responding may charge a locating fee if the job does not meet the statutory definition.  All excavators not delineating their proposed excavation site will be informed that state law requires that the excavator shall delineate the area to be excavated before contacting the Center and if the area is not delineated the members may, at their discretion, chose not to locate and field mark until the area is delineated.  In addition, the excavator will be advised that the DigAlert^® is active for 28 calendar days and that work continuing beyond that time requires a renewal of the DigAlert^® prior to expiration of the 28 day period. DigAlert^®s may be renewed online or by calling 811.  The excavator will be advised that state law requires that excavation shall not begin until all members have responded.  The excavator will also be notified that after they have initially marked, state law requires the excavator to notify DigAlert^® if the members’ marks are no longer reasonably visible.

(d) After all the necessary information) to complete the DigAlert^®, as deemed by the Board of Directors, regulations or state law,has been given. Center personnel will offer to tell the caller which member(s) will be notified, if the caller has not already chosen to receive an electronic confirmation of the DigAlert^®.  In the event that the information was provided online a list of the members to be notified will be displayed.

6.06 Area of Notification

Each member is responsible for submitting to DigAlert^® shape files in NAD83 Datum or WSG84 Datum with a Coordinate Reference System of Latitude/Longitude for their area of notification.  Shape files must contain valid data for their shape type – lines must contain at least 2 points; polygons must have at least 3 points, etc.  DigAlert^®will annually send a  notice to each member to verify that all their area of notification is included in the Center’s database.

6.07 Contact Information

Each member is responsible for submitting to DigAlert^® a list of contacts within their organization for issues related to billing, design requests, problems receiving DigAlert^®s, emergencies during working hours, emergencies after hours, no response – if the member hasn’t responded to a DigAlert^® notification, and a main contact.  These listings will be requested annually by the Center.  Each member shall notify DigAlert^® of any changes, as they occur, with respect to the contact listing as required by CCR Title 19 Division 4 Section 4003.  DigAlert^® will include this contact listing in the Center’s database.

6.08 Transmission of DigAlert^® information

All DigAlert^® information will be dispatched by DigAlert^® to each affected member as soon as possible after receipt thereof.  DigAlert^® shall use reasonable judgment in determining the sequential order in which such requests are to be transmitted.

(a) Each member is responsible for immediately notifying the Center of any indecipherable message received from the Center, and/or any technical failure of equipment used by the member (or its designated agent) for purpose of receipt of DigAlert^® notifications from the Center of which it is or should be aware.

(b) When trouble with or failure of, equipment used by a member to receive DigAlert^® notifications from the Center is discovered, the member (or its designated agent) will be responsible for reporting it to the appropriate personnel for repair.

(c) Other provisions of these operating procedures notwithstanding, the Center shall use its best efforts to receive and transmit DigAlert^®s in the event of electrical power failure which precludes the recording and normal transmission of messages.

(d) DigAlert^® will send to all members on a DigAlert^® ticket any follow-up excavator requests for additional information or any notifications of work continuing beyond 28 days.

(e) DigAlert^®  will send to members specified by the excavator requests for re-marks.

(f) Members who fail to provide an electronic positive response, through the Center, by the legal start date and time will automatically receive a no response notification.  This process will repeat every two (2) days or until an electronic response is provided or the ticket has expired.

(g) DigAlert^®s received to report emergency work that must be done immediately, will be handled as an emergency type and transmitted as soon as possible.

(h) Excavators reporting damage to underground lines DigAlert^® will send a damage DigAlert^® to members in the area of damage as well as the California Underground Facilities Safe Excavation Board.  The Center will also provide the excavator with the emergency telephone number of any member(s) involved.

6.09 After Hours

All calls received by the Center after scheduled operating hours will be answered by a recording device attached to 811 or a toll-free number.  A pre-recorded message will advise the caller of the Center's scheduled operating hours and direct them to call back or to visit www.DigAlert.org for more information.  The message will also refer all emergency notifications to the affected member or non-member.

6.10 Archives

DigAlert^® shall maintain a file of all DigAlert^®s and recorded conversations for a period of five (5) years.  At the end of five (5) years, DigAlert^® will destroy the above records unless otherwise requested in writing by any member.  Upon receipt of a request, DigAlert^® will supply a copy of the information requested to the requesting member, at the member’s expense, to be maintained by the member.

       DigAlert^® shall archive the following:

(a) Notifications received including time received and ticket number;

(b) Notifications giving less than two working days notice, including ticket number, excavator’s company and length of notice in hours;

(c) Messages transmitted, including ticket number involved;

(d) Monthly summaries of the member transmissions, and notification distribution.

DigAlert^®s will be communicated by excavators to DigAlert^® by a toll free number, 811, via the DigAlert^®website, or via DigAlert^® applications.  All notifications on DigAlert^® toll free lines or 811 will be recorded.  Notification of DigAlert^®s will be transmitted to members electronically, depending on the needs of each member and as agreed upon between the member and DigAlert^®.  Recordings and computer copies will be retained by DigAlert^® for the use and benefit of members, DigAlert^®, and users of the regional notification system.  Recorded conversations will be handled, recorded, played, and stored, by DigAlert^® only, or by such qualified operators as may be designated by the Chairman of the Board to maintain reliability and integrity of the recordings.

DigAlert^® will provide, upon written request, one copy of any DigAlert^® and if also requested a .wav format of the conversation.  All revisions, through the date of incident or such date as requested, of the DigAlert^® ticket will be provided.  For current fees for copies of DigAlert^®s see Exhibit II– Archive Record Fees.

6.11   Design Stage

Excavators not excavating within 14 calendar days can request “design stage” information either via the Centers website or from Center personnel. A list of members and their contact information, that has been provided by the member(s), with underground facilities in the proposed excavation area will be supplied.  For current fees see Exhibit III– Design Stage Fees.

 6.12   Area of Continual Excavation Tickets (ACE)

Locations where excavation is part of the normal business activities of agricultural operations or flood control facilities are considered ACE tickets.  Excavators can obtain an ACE ticket by notifying the Center at least two working days, not including the date of notification, up to six months from the date of notification.  ACE tickets are valid for one year from date of issuance. An electronic reminder will be sent one month before expiration.

6.13   Electronic Positive Response (EPR)

Members must supply an electronic positive response through the center before the legal excavation start date and time.  DigAlert^® will make those responses available to the excavator.

7. PUBLIC RELATIONS AND PUBLICITY

7.01  

Arrangements may be made through the Safety Awareness Director for presentations of the 811 process to be given to  interested groups.

7.02

Members will be encouraged to list 811 and www.DigAlert.org as the member’s “contact information” for purposes of notifying before excavating near their underground facilities in any directories in which the member’s company or agency appears.

7.03

The Center will encourage all members and excavators to report “incident events” via the California Regional Common Ground Alliance Virtual Private Damage Information Reporting Tool.  For purposes of this section a “incident event” means the occurrence of excavator downtime, damages, near misses and violations.

EXHIBIT I

 Dues Schedule

Effective July 1, 2026

I. Principal and Associate members will pay a percentage of the previous month’s budgeted costs.  The percentage will be determined by the number of new DigAlert^® tickets received in the previous month in relation to the total new DigAlert^®tickets sent to all members in the previous month.  Amounts will be rounded to the nearest $0.05.

II. Principal members may be assessed from time to time an amount as determined by the Board to maintain the level of working capital necessary to ensure financial stability.  Such assessment shall be based on the ratio which the number of miles of underground facilities owned or operated by that member bears to the total miles owned or operated by all Principal members within the area served by the Corporation.

III. In addition to new ticket charges, all billed members will be charged $10 per month according to the number of member codes listed for each billed member according to the chart below:

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EXHIBIT II

Archive Record Fees

Effective January 1, 2026

I. Member

   ** Request is a ticket or conversation – example 10 tickets with 10 conversations equals 20 requests **

 

 II. Non Member

 

EXHIBIT III

Design State Fees

Effective January 1, 2024

I. Member

   

 II. Non Member