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Underground Safety Board seeks enforcement staff to handle rising damage notifications
Summary
The Underground Safety Board (part of OEIS) requested seven permanent positions and $1,330,000 ongoing to establish an Excavation Risk and Compliance Investigations unit to handle complex damage reports and PHMSA audit concerns.
Britney Bridal, acting executive officer for California's Underground Safety Board, asked the subcommittee for seven full-time permanent positions and $1,330,000 in ongoing Safe Energy Infrastructure Excavation Fund authority to create an Excavation Risk and Compliance Investigations unit.
Why it matters: The board enforces the "call before you dig" law to prevent excavation damage to underground utilities; the U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) audits state enforcement programs and has flagged reporting gaps because PHMSA receives damage reports from operators while the state board receives reports from excavators. PHMSA has in prior audits questioned whether the state's enforcement program has sufficient capacity should the volume of reported gas-damage notifications increase.
Board testimony and oversight plans Bridal told the committee the new unit will process complex damage notifications, complete timely investigations and ensure the state meets minimum statutory enforcement requirements. The board intends to measure success by investigation counts and by compliance with reporting and PHMSA evaluation cycles; the Legislature will also monitor progress through the board's triennial review and annual reporting to the Governor and Legislature.
Ending: Committee members expressed support and noted the federal enforcement gap that leaves state capacity important for public safety. No appropriations vote occurred at the hearing.
