16 TAC Chapter 18
16 TAC Chapter 18
The Railroad Commission of Texas (TRRC) recently took part in the Central Texas Damage Prevention Council’s Live Dig Demo to educate excavators, contractors and homeowners to call 811 before digging. The primary cause of pipeline incidents in Texas comes from digging or excavation and in 29 percent of those incidents, 811 was not called or notified. In Texas, failure to call before digging or incorrectly marking a pipeline location can result in fines of up to $200,000 per day, per violation.
With more than 431,000 miles of pipeline, Texas has the largest pipeline infrastructure in the nation. The TRRC regulates 217,065 miles of intrastate pipeline in Texas. TRRC’s Pipeline Damage Prevention Program enforces the state law requiring excavators and the public to call 811 to have underground pipelines located and marked before beginning any digging project. More information on TRRC’s Pipeline Damage Prevention program can be found on the TRRC website.