[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6260860,"mediaKeyId","3126761-762d9571c35f883f9e5b9a3f93090545","parentId",3126761,"title","Contractors and volunteers praise Dig Alert; company demonstrates bulk dig-ticket tool used in fire cleanup","audioSeconds",173,"startMs",341000,"endMs",514000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3126761-762d9571c35f883f9e5b9a3f93090545&start=341&end=514","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3126761-762d9571c35f883f9e5b9a3f93090545/thumbnail_341000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6260860/California/Contractors-and-volunteers-praise-Dig-Alert-company-demonstrates-bulk-dig-ticket-tool-used-in-fire-cleanup","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6260860-7c7181f0023ce5ddffc29265c9b6d89c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175460&Signature=GJjoR1tZARYMXPZjYKojel99CmjVQwr1fjycIAHUqRfTnjZxjZ-fbcdW6wFUhWJuGPvZfTBPFSzal2WJ8T0~GmzWHhTV~bL1pjqV86HelDRtkpaKvUa4ALBDXDLLqZoqVqoyUIz3GxuI-f1Ghj9l9tX1-~IBBA3jUIyTK71bjBs9I-1jgJMgddoxIJ7f2hRYYDQxFhwt2W14x6DpyJjmFN-sj~qrrdL7krioqiO7GRDT0EiZIvL2qQz0gjOHpoNs~TSGw5PMPlpqfKucw4OCJeFUB~kvMl7nUSttOmyKuSzsgCqLnysofxniypYktG53Tv1QQg8pisEggUJS8XcH8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety","date","2025-04-25T20:42:50.457Z","article","Industry and contractor representatives used the board's public-comment period to describe a dig-ticket management tool and to thank Dig Alert staff for support during post-fire cleanup operations in Southern California.

Ron Bianchini, who identified himself as a founding participant in related local efforts, said Dig Alert staff and volunteers helped coordinate large crews during debris-removal operations and that the service sped work for victims. \"You guys really need to be aware of all the help that we got out of Dig Alert and how much it helped the people...getting cleaned up and getting their lives back on the way,\" Bianchini told the board.

Logan Downer, representing a company called Excavate (described during the comment as a \"dig ticket management system for excavators\"), said the company adapted its bulk-upload tool to submit 50–350 dig tickets per day for cleanup crews in Altadena after a fire. \"We had been working on a tool for Firewise to enable a bulk upload...When the debris removal efforts started in Altadena, it was a pretty obvious translation of this tool,\" Downer said. He said his company and Dig Alert worked through operational kinks and that the tool is being prepared for deployment in Northern California.

Why it matters: The commenters described a practical, operational approach to managing high volumes of simple dig tickets during disaster cleanup. Board members and staff took note of the work as an example of collaboration between industry, nonprofits and the regional notification system.

What was said (direct quotes):
- Ron Bianchini: \"I'll let Logan talk about the rest of it, but you guys really need to be aware of all the help that we got out of Dig Alert and how much it helped the people...getting cleaned up and getting their lives back on the way.\"
- Logan Downer (Excavate): \"Our customers are able to submit 50 to 350 tickets in a single day so that they can get to that many more properties faster. ... We're working to deploy this tool in Northern California, we're not there yet, but it is something we're working on getting done hopefully by this summer.\"

Board response and context: Board members heard the comments during the public-comment period that preceded enforcement and regular agenda items; staff and members noted the operational value of tools that reduce ticket-processing time during disaster recovery.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Underground Safety Board Meeting April 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","During public comment industry representatives described use of a bulk-ticketing tool developed with Dig Alert that accelerated cleanup after a Southern California fire, and urged the board to note the operational benefits.","taxTitle","Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety, Other State Agencies, Executive, California","taxId",16242,"location","California","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6260865,"Board elects Bill Johns chair, assigns members to committees and adopts parliamentary procedure update",1309,660000,1969000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3126761-762d9571c35f883f9e5b9a3f93090545&start=660&end=1969","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3126761-762d9571c35f883f9e5b9a3f93090545/thumbnail_660000.jpg","/articles/6260865/California/Board-elects-Bill-Johns-chair-assigns-members-to-committees-and-adopts-parliamentary-procedure-update","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6260865-48be292dbcee0f8b40013e034744e560/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175460&Signature=hy2woC8DjLdeoai5taeli4BTV5Fp~sOKq7DMQQ4O9QNiQBsdDQ0NiQ0sGFNFCvbgPo~~3ehrmXcs0Tq0jeycjmgl8OtvDmzQx8vDfTxTaBPj7e14wzlwDcxqQxqv2op1bO9tiSGSVY4t3UbEuALQhpBEb2WaIbOZ3Ripx-6ceTRiuMSP2qYLbSeUr3MwK0Jrh2Fuzj90CkXMLe-DnygxFX-UIJ6Rw0t~OV90EGTDGJDXo3fBear2NlusepgHXq40Gw9Iy8PCFKU-Fsa~Vey9QzGnWuLKnfLO1V1udWY2NaTOfzON-s020g1n4V4D-Mqqhf9tPG3TZitqzJsa8ZiNUw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Underground Safety Board elected Bill Johns as chair and named Member Charland vice chair during its April 19, 2025, meeting. The board then reviewed and assigned members to its standing committees and approved an update to Policy G01 (Parliamentary Procedures).

In the chair election the board received nominations and held a roll-call vote; Johns was recognized as chair and presided over the remainder of the meeting. The board then nominated and elected Member Charland as vice chair.

Ms. Hastings (staff) presented committee assignment recommendations and attendees agreed to maintain or adjust memberships. Staff recited the assignments as of January 1 and noted vacancies created by recent departures and new appointments. The board confirmed membership for these committees (examples noted below):

- Unmarked and Abandoned Lines Committee: Bill Johns and Aparo Munoz (no change)
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Committee: Member Soren added to join existing member
- Educational and Outreach Committee: assignments adjusted to fill vacancies
- Ticket Process Committee: Wendy Charlene and Marshall Johnson
- Potholing and Planning and Design Committee: Bill Johns and Marshall Johnson (members confirmed)

The board then considered agenda item 6, a staff report and action on board policies (Resolution 205-41). Ms. Grama introduced the staff recommendation to adopt Policy G01 (Parliamentary Procedures) with revisions. Key policy changes: update of the quorum definition to require a majority of the board's full statutory membership (rather than a majority of currently seated members), and alignment to the twelfth edition of Robert's Rules of Order. The board approved Policy G01 as presented; board members said the change was intended to make decisions reflect a larger cross-section of appointed members.

Why it matters: The election determines who presides over meetings and sets the procedural tone; committee assignments shape which members handle technical policy work; the Policy G01 update alters the board's voting-quorum baseline and voting documentation practice.

What comes next: Staff will publish updated committee rosters and the amended Policy G01, and will implement the clarified quorum rules for future meetings.","The Underground Safety Board elected Bill Johns as chair, selected a vice chair, assigned members to standing committees, and approved an update to Policy G01 on parliamentary procedures clarifying quorum and voting rules.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6260870,"Underground Safety Board recommends education, fines for multiple excavation violations",7688,2792000,10480000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3126761-762d9571c35f883f9e5b9a3f93090545&start=2792&end=10480","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3126761-762d9571c35f883f9e5b9a3f93090545/thumbnail_2792000.jpg","/articles/6260870/California/Underground-Safety-Board-recommends-education-fines-for-multiple-excavation-violations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6260870-b5b989976d8ab929dcfcaa98e0061714/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175460&Signature=RQOrI88M9XQnP9zRiLP4EZiSPZ7l504zlvt1ge9iq3fH4gs7-idQYn-pTHojOp4JXn3Y1B0k3McjN1AfevBWImD7PeZkwiYnKNJoq52aDKIJs56wq1is5FD2rYo0VGh-6l-w9eMDJobLViYPKFeZsZnEGxUQQnw7I52lraCd8xW22a5yJhiWv~Wjmbb0mZhFgbsxMhyIacTJbZ~NS8h9o-A4C-7Y6PIFVvYSjlg3HS0xLypkzjml-0Je~CnrLKvMwR79~A6CEs9F-YSAjwQ~BmaPAzgdCJI-HJ54OmVivW1m~Rw3mHoH2dbQtAtjIjhsqNp~0oFdeMBzhR-VOfKc3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Underground Safety Board on April 19, 2025, found violations in a series of excavation-related cases and recommended mandatory completion of the board's education course in each case, and in several cases recommended monetary penalties to be forwarded to the Contractors State License Board.

The board's actions followed staff investigations into incidents that included excavations without an 8-1-1 ticket, failures to call emergency services after hitting natural gas facilities and failures to notify the regional notification center within required time windows. Board members said the measures were intended to reinforce safety practices and prompt better compliance with existing law.

Board members adopted enforcement recommendations case-by-case. In each matter the board first voted that the record showed a violation, then considered corrective action. Where the board recommended a civil penalty it referred the monetary recommendation to the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) and required the respondent to complete the Underground Safety Board's education course.

Votes at a glance (selected items):

- WJ Landscape Maintenance (investigation D231510004): The board found violations including excavating without first contacting the regional notification center and failing to notify emergency services after damaging a subsurface gas facility. The board voted to recommend mandatory completion of the board education course and a $1,000 fine be forwarded to the Contractors State License Board. Will Jamieson, owner of WJ Landscape Maintenance, told the board the company has added monthly safety meetings and weekly tailgate talks and asked the board to limit corrective action to education. \"Since then, we now have monthly safety meetings and weekly tailgate talks in which we've incorporated gas line safety as well as excavation safety,\" Jamieson said.

- Advanced Erosion Services (investigation 23NTS0019): The board found the respondent excavated without a ticket and failed to call emergency services after damage. The board recommended mandatory completion of the board education course and a $1,000 penalty to be presented to CSLB.

- Patriot Construction Services (investigation C232960003): The board found violations for excavating without first contacting the regional notification center and for not notifying emergency services after damage to a gas facility. The board recommended mandatory completion of the board education course and a $1,000 penalty to the Contractors State License Board.

- Novostar Construction Corporation (case CAS-01557/related file): The board found multiple violations, including failing to call emergency services and failing to notify the regional notification center within required time windows, and recommended mandatory completion of the board education course and a $1,500 penalty to CSLB. (Board discussion noted repeated contact attempts and the respondent's lack of cooperation during parts of the investigation.)

- City of Huntington Beach / Huntington Beach Fire Department (investigations 23NTS024 and related): The board found failures to provide an electronic positive response prior to the legal start date/time and failures to cooperate with staff. The board recommended mandatory completion of the board education course, a $1,000 recommendation to the Huntington Beach City Council, and directed staff to draft a letter asking the city to explain its EPR procedures and to provide updated contact information.

- Pasha Real Estate Brokerage and related respondents (investigations C2499906 and related): One NOPD was withdrawn; on other related matters the board accepted respondents' offers to enroll in the board education course and required corrective action. For examples where real estate signage required excavation, the board ordered respondents to provide a written corrective-action plan describing future procedures for sign installation that requires excavation and to include 8-1-1 notification; the board set a 30-day deadline for that plan.

Why it matters: The board's findings reiterate the legal obligation to call the regional notification center (the 8-1-1 system) before excavation, to call emergency services when damage to a gas facility occurs, and to notify the regional center within statutory timeframes after damage. Board members repeatedly emphasized that education alone had not produced sufficient change in some parts of the industry and that monetary penalties need to be part of the enforcement mix to prompt compliance.

What the board did: For each contested matter the board (1) deliberated whether the record supported one or more violations; (2) if the board found violations, it considered sanctions under the board's authority and state regulations; and (3) when appropriate, it recommended financial penalties to the Contractors State License Board or to local jurisdictions and required mandatory completion of the board's education course.

Public and industry voices: Contractors and industry representatives spoke during the enforcement comment periods. James (\"Jim\") Wingate urged the board to account for precedent when deciding whether to treat buried vaults as requiring tickets; Steve Cleaver of Pacific Gas & Electric's damage prevention and compliance team urged the board to account for emergency-response needs in its sanctions; and Armando Loera, president of Advanced Erosion Services, said his firm had implemented revised reporting policies and asked the board to consider the nature of grading versus excavation when making findings.

Next steps: Monetary recommendations and sanctions that are outside the Underground Safety Board's direct fine authority were forwarded to the Contractors State License Board or to local governing bodies as appropriate for final disposition. The board required completion of its education course and, in some cases, corrective-action plans with specified deadlines. Staff will monitor compliance and report back as required.","At its April 19 meeting the Underground Safety Board found violations in several excavation incidents and recommended mandatory board education and fines or corrective actions for contractors and other respondents, including targeted corrective steps for local agencies and brokerages.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Contractors and volunteers praise Dig Alert; company demonstrates bulk dig-ticket tool used in fire cleanup

Board elects Bill Johns chair, assigns members to committees and adopts parliamentary procedure update

Underground Safety Board recommends education, fines for multiple excavation violations