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County deputy utility manager explains March communication outages, says PRC will determine fault and Lumen to provide on-site locators
Summary
James Allred, Deputy Utility Manager of Engineering, told the council during public comment that two recent communication outages were excavation-related incidents subject to New Mexico PRC determination; the county has asked Lumen to provide an on-site line locator to reduce future strikes.
James Allred, deputy utility manager of engineering for Los Alamos County, used the public-comment period on March 18 to explain two recent communications outages and how responsibility and compensation are determined.
Allred said New Mexico excavation law and the Public Regulation Commission's (PRC) Pipeline Safety Bureau govern determinations when underground or overhead utility facilities are hit. He said both the utility owner and the excavator must file reports with the PRC, which investigates and decides responsibility; the county itself does not have a local compensation mechanism for those events.
What the county is doing
Allred said county crews and contractors are coordinating with Lumen and other communications providers. After a recent incident the county requested that Lumen provide an on-site monitor and a dedicated line-locating subcontractor for the project; Lumen agreed and the locator is expected to attend construction meetings and daily contractor tailgate talks.
Allred described standard process points: when a contractor calls for a locate, the utility has two business days to mark the ground; marked locates are valid for 10 days. He said markings can fade quickly and that careful contractor housekeeping and the presence of a utility locator are among the best steps to reduce strikes.
Public questions and procedure
Allred said county staff can refer affected residents or businesses to the infrastructure owner or the contractor for claims, and that the PRC may be on-site during investigations. He encouraged residents with questions to speak with him after the meeting.
Ending
Allred said the county can place the item on a future agenda for broader discussion if the public requests it; he remained available after the meeting to answer individual questions.
