Underground Safety Revisions.

Definition of 'Nonmechanized equipment' was updated to explicitly include 'soft dig technologies' alongside hand tools, clarifying that low-impact excavation methods receive the same protections as manual digging.

Notice timing requirements were adjusted to provide clearer language about working days for excavation notifications, particularly for subaqueous facilities and emergency situations.

New sub-sections were added to specify how excavation areas can be defined, allowing for either a single parcel or up to five adjoining parcels, providing more flexibility for site planning.

The expiration period for excavation notices was clarified and standardized to 28 calendar days, with provisions for extending the period through subsequent notices if needed.

Added new definitions for 'Nonmechanized equipment' (hand tools and soft dig technologies), 'Positive response' (automated locate request status system), 'Soft dig technologies' (air or water pressure excavation methods), and 'Tolerance zone' (safety buffer distances around facilities)

Reorganized the bill structure by splitting the original Section 1 into three separate sections covering definitions, operator responsibilities, and excavator responsibilities for better clarity

Updated the APWA marking requirements to specify that painted surface marks 'should' be adequate length rather than 'shall', and clarified dimension marking requirements for facilities over four inches wide

Consolidated and clarified notification timeframes for utility marking requests, including emergency requests (3 hours) and unmarked facility requests (3 hours from notification)

Added a new requirement for subaqueous facilities to receive notice within 10 full working days after the excavation notice is provided to the Notification Center.

Removed the previous subaqueous facility notification requirement that allowed 10 to 20 full working days notice.

Changed the notice expiration period from 15 full working days to 28 calendar days for excavation permits.

Added new subsection (10) requiring excavators to avoid using mechanized equipment within 24 inches of certain high-risk pipeline systems unless the facility operator consents.

Added a new provision for unmarked facilities that requires operators to arrange marking within three hours of receiving additional notice.

Updated document header information including session date, bill number, and version identifier from DRH10086-TQ-10A to H247-v-1

Expanded sponsor information to include Representatives Zenger, Watford, and Setzer as primary sponsors, with reference to the General Assembly website for complete sponsor list

Updated committee referral information to include Energy and Public Utilities, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House with date March 3, 2025

Reorganized section numbering and formatting of the bill text, particularly in the utility notification timeline requirements