Suggested Guidelines for Premarking

“Premark” means to identify the general scope of excavation activities using white paint, stakes or other suitable white markings, in a manner that will enable utility operators to know the boundaries of the proposed excavation activities. *

• Premark the area to be excavated before calling Dig Safe.
  
  
• Proposed excavation areas should be identified with white marks, with the excavator’s company name or logo within the premarked areas.
  
  
• Premark the exact area of excavation using solid lines, dashes or dots.
  
  
• Failure to premark when practical may jeopardize your Dig Safe permit and/or result in a civil penalty.
  
  
• Member utility companies will mark owned or maintained facilities in the premarked areas. Excavating outside the premarked area requires another permit from Dig Safe.**
  
  
• If working throughout an entire property, rather than just a particular area, define the outer perimeter of the property to indicate that work will take place everywhere within those premarked areas.
  

* Exemptions

Massachusetts: Excavations over 500 feet in continuous length; replacement of guardrail or fence posts in the same location

New Hampshire: Excavations over 100 feet in continuous length; replacement of utility pole within 5 feet of its existing location

Rhode Island: Excavations over 500 feet in continuous length.

Vermont: Excavations over 500 feet in continuous length