Underground Damage Prevention

PSC Protection of Underground Facilities

The Public Service Commission is responsible for enforcing regulations for the protection of underground facilities known as Part 753 or Code Rule 53 and more commonly referred to as 811, Call Before You Dig, or UDig NY.

New York State has two One Call Notification Centers covering the state. Excavators are to provide notice of intent to excavate by contacting the appropriate One Call Notification Center:

• For Bronx, Kings, New York, Kings, Richmond, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk counties:
  New York 811: https://newyork-811.com/ or 811
• For all other Counties:
  UDig NY: https://udigny.org, 811 or 800-962-7962

Protection of Underground Facilities Law Amendments

Amendments to the General Business Law Article 36 require certain excavators to be trained. This amendment went into affect on May 4, 2019. View Case 18-M-0777 for a Commission Order issued on May 1, 2019, plus workshops on the subject.

The law authorizes both One Call Notification Centers to be providers of training and education program. Excavator training is available online from UDig NY's Certified Excavator Program (information below) or from New York 811 Excavation Training & Education Program.

Certified Excavator Program

UDig NY offers an Excavator Certification Program to all excavators in NYS. Excavators who have completed the Program have demonstrated a fundamental understanding of the best practices that should be used for safe digging in accordance with the Common Ground Alliance Best Practices and Title 16 of New York Codes, Rules and Regulations (NYCRR) Part 753 – Protection of Underground Facilities.

Find out if your contractor is a certified excavator on UDig NY's Training Verification page.

Enforcement

To submit an enforcement request, use the Enforcement Request Form. Please provide as much detail and information as possible. Any supporting documentation, such as photographs, videos, reports, or other evidence, may be emailed to [email protected].