California board releases draft rules to tighten GIS mapping and accuracy for subsurface installations

The California Underground Safety Board on July 15 presented draft regulations to implement the statute requiring operators to map subsurface installations using geographic information system (GIS) records and proposed specific accuracy, attribute and metadata standards for those records. Board staff said the draft would implement the law’s GIS provision by defining which installations qualify as new and by setting minimum horizontal-accuracy and metadata requirements, then open the draft for public comment. "This item builds on direction provided by the board at the April 2025 meeting," staff presenter Brennaman said in opening remarks. Why it matters: Board staff said clearer definitions and minimum accuracy will standardize what operators must collect and keep so excavators and emergency crews have reliable data when exposing or working near underground facilities. The draft ties the requirement to a date-based statute staff described as effective 01/01/2023, and includes a new…