Author: Dawn Rivard

Hand Dig Defined

Governor Lombardo Signs SB 27 into Law

Governor Lombardo signed Senate Bill 27 into law on May 25, which changed the definition of excavation from the use of mechanical equipment to the use of mechanical equipment and non-mechanical equipment by a contractor, or any person other than a contractor digging more than 12 inches below the ground.

Effective July 1, contractors must have a dig ticket if they’re using mechanical equipment or hand tools. In other words, a contractor ALWAYS needs a dig ticket. A non-contractor (i.e., homeowner, boy scout planting a tree) also always needs a ticket if they’re digging with mechanical equipment, and they will also need one if they’re digging with hand tools more than 12 inches down.

 SB 27 defines non-mechanical equipment, or hand tools, as “equipment operated solely by human power, including, without limitation, a hammer or other device used to drive stakes or rods into the ground, mattock, pickaxe, shovel or spade.”

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Assembly Bill 177 Passes

a.k.a. The USA North 811 Bill

AB 177 authorizes counties to share GIS data with USA North 811.

USA North’s Pelican ticketing system uses Google maps for selecting excavation areas, which isn’t always up to date with new subdivisions. With access to GIS data, USA North will be able to add a layer over Google maps with Clark County GISMO data, including new parcels.

• Membership
  The NRCGA had 38 member companies in 2021, including 31 stakeholder members and 7 associate members. https://nrcga.org/about/nrcga-members/
• Excavator Safety Training
  Excavator Safety TrainingThe NRCGA’s Excavator Safety Training Committee oversaw the training of 2,074 excavators and landscapers statewide. Training was provided in English and Spanish. https://nrcga.org/nrcga-damage-prevention-training/
• 811 Day at Cowabunga Bay
  On August 6, the NRCGA held sponsored 811 Day at Cowabunga Bay, a water park in Henderson. Cowabunga Bay offered a special ticket price of $24.99, with $5 from each ticket sold donated to the NRCGA for a total of $1,370. NRCGA members handed out thousands of pieces of 811 swag while talking to homeowners about the importance of calling 811 before digging. https://nrcga.org/811-day/   
• 1st Annual NRCGA Golf Tournament
  The NRCGA raised $14,000 at its first annual fundraiser golf tournament at Siena Golf Course in Las Vegas on November 5. Due to the rising costs of goods and services, the NRCGA implemented this tournament to raise money to maintain outreach programs at their current level. https://nrcga.org/golf/
• 4th Annual Utility Locate Rodeo
  After a two-year hiatus due to Covid-19, the NRCGA held its 4^th Annual Utility Locate Rodeo on Dec. 17 on the UNLV campus in Las Vegas. Each competitor competed in three divisions – telecommunications, power and gas. The winner of each division went on to compete in the Jackpot Locate to decide the overall competition winner. Sponsors provided $6200 in prize money for competitors. Each division winner took home $1240; the jackpot locate winner, Gregory Carreras, took home an extra $2480. https://nrcga.org/rodeo/
  Division winners were:
  • Telecommunications Division: Gregory Carreras, City of North Las Vegas
  • Gas Division: Vincent Griffin, USIC
  • Power Division: Terrence Steinline, Stake Center

• Membership
  The NRCGA had 38 member companies in 2021. 32 were stakeholder members and 6 were associate members. 6 of the 38 newly joined the NRCGA in 2021. https://nrcga.org/about/members/

• Excavator Training
  Statewide, 2,918 excavators and landscapers completed the NRCGA’s Excavator Safety Training classes in English or Spanish. https://nrcga.org/nrcga-damage-prevention-training/

• 811 Day Skate Knight
  On August 11, the NRCGA held a free skate night, including 2-hours of skating and skate rentals, at the Lifeguard Arena in Henderson, where the Las Vegas Knights hockey team trains. The event included a school supply giveaway. Guests were given a free backpack, compliments of Southwest Gas, stuffed with 811 information and school supplies. The NRCGA partnered with Southwest Gas, R.P. Weddell & Sons Co, Flywheel, and USA North 811 to make the event possible. https://nrcga.org/811-day/

• NRCGA Sponsorships in Northern Nevada
  The NRCGA provided the Douglas Dirtbags Baseball Club and Embrace Dance Company ballroom dance competition with $1500 each to promote 811. The promotion included banners hung at the baseball field and inside the ballroom.

• Lone Mountain Excavation & Utilities Wins Silver Shovel Award
  The NRCGA held its annual Southern Nevada Excavator Appreciation Dinner and Silver Shovel Award Ceremony on Nov. 4 at the Golden Knight’s training facility, Lifeguard Arena, in Henderson. The Silver Shovel Award was presented to Lone Mountain Excavation & Utilities for the company’s stellar performance in damage prevention during the previous 12 months. Byrd Underground and Trenchless Evolutions were runner ups. All three companies had zero at-fault damages during the “look-back” period.
  https://nrcga.org/excavator-appreciation-events/

• Best Practices Committee
  Committee members worked with USA North 811 to implement and create codes in preparation of electronic positive response becoming mandatory in Nevada, which is expected to happen in 2022. Once a contractor, excavator or homeowner places an 811 locate request to USA North 811, each utility must go online to communicate the status of the locate once it is completed. USA North 811 will then publish these responses online, allowing contractors, excavators, and homeowners the ability to check the status of responses to their ticket request online 24×7.

• NUCA/NRCGA Damage Prevention Committee
  The NRCGA developed this partnership to meet with members of the National Utility Contractors Association of Las Vegas to discuss damage prevention in Nevada.