Nevada Regional Common Ground Alliance

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  • NRCGA Participates in Record Setting 811 Day – Las Vegas’ Largest First Pitch

    The Las Vegas 51s, in a partnership with local utility and excavating companies, and the NRCGA, commemorated 811 Day (Aug. 11) with “Las Vegas’ Largest First Pitch.” As a reminder to Call 811 Before You Dig, 811 baseballs were thrown out by children from the Never Give Up Foundation, which supports local children with disabilities, as well as from kids in attendance.

    In addition, the Cashman Field Plaza area included a Touch-a-Truck opportunity and giveaway items for game attendees, courtesy of participating local utilities. Watch the video below for more information about this historic event!

  • Darrell Herbert wins 2nd Annual NRCGA Utility Locate Rodeo!

    Locator of the Year, Darrell Herbert (right) with Bob Ward (left), NRCGA Chair.

    On Saturday, April 28, Darrell Herbert, a utility line locator with ELM Utility Services, won the title of Locator of the Year at the 2nd Annual NRCGA Utility Locate Rodeo, held on the UNLV campus in Las Vegas. As Nevada’s top locator, Herbert took home a champion belt buckle, $1920 in cash, and a free trip to compete in the International Utility Locate Rodeo later in the year.

    Thirty-five line locators from across Nevada registered to compete in the 2nd annual NRCGA rodeo in three divisions: gas, electric and telecommunications. The University of Nevada, Las Vegas, graciously donated campus lawn space for the competition to take place. Each division competition area consisted of two “wheels,” with each competitor using his locating know-how to most accurately locate an underground gas, electric or telecommunication utility buried underneath each wheel. The competitors were given 12 minutes to find the buried utility, measure its location in proximity to wheel spokes, and report those measurement to scorekeepers.

    Rodeo Master Judge Rick Torrens (white t-shirt at left) explains how to locate and measure a buried utility for competition purposes with this demonstration “wheel.”

    Herbert won the electric division; Josh Albitre with USIC took the telecommunication division; and Lelan Merel with NPL Construction Co. took the gas division. Herbert, Albitre and Merel each received $960 as the top locator for their respective divisions.

    Along with the cash prize, Herbert, Albitre and Merel went on to compete in the Jackpot Locate for the title of top locator in Nevada. With only three minutes to complete the locate, Herbert received the top score and ultimately won the entire competition.

    Money paid out to division winners and the Jackpot Locate winner was provided by rodeo sponsors: USA North 811, USIC, RP Weddell & Sons, Paiute Pipeline, Southwest Gas Corporation, ELM Utility Services, Advanced Infrastructure Technologies, NPL, Byrd Underground, Vivax Metrotech, and NV energy. Each company contributed $400.

    In addition to providing cash prizes for division and Jackpot Locate winners, sponsors also provided door prizes to gift during the rodeo award ceremony at the end of the day. Tension in the room was palpable as locators waited to hear their numbers drawn for smart TVs, laptops, tablets, WiFi speakers, and many more fabulous gifts!

    See you at the 3rd Annual Utility Locate Rodeo in the spring of 2019!

  • National Safe Digging Month

    APRIL IS NATIONAL SAFE DIGGING MONTH

    Survey reveals nearly 40 percent of homeowners who plan to dig this year will put themselves and others at risk by not calling 811 before starting

    As part of National Safe Digging Month, the Nevada Regional Common Ground Alliance encourages homeowners to take the following steps when planning a digging project this spring:

    • Always call 811 a few days before digging, regardless of the depth or familiarity with the property. Or visit usanorth811.org to request an online 811 ticket.
    • Plan ahead. Call on Monday or Tuesday for work planned for an upcoming weekend, providing ample time for the approximate location of lines to be marked.
    • Confirm that all lines have been marked.
    • Consider moving the location of your project if it is near utility line markings.
    • If a contractor has been hired, confirm that a call to 811 has been made. Don’t allow work to begin if the lines aren’t marked.

    In observance of National Safe Digging Month, the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) announced results from a recent national survey that revealed 36 percent of homeowners who plan to dig this year, for projects like landscaping, installing a fence or mailbox, building a deck, pond or patio, or other DIY projects, will put themselves and their communities at risk by not calling 811 a few days beforehand to learn the approximate location of underground utilities.

    Digging without knowing the approximate location of underground utilities can result in serious injuries, service disruptions and costly repairs when gas, electric, communications, water and sewer lines are damaged.

    The national public opinion survey of homeowners conducted in February by the CGA, the national association dedicated to protecting underground utility lines, people who dig near them, and their communities, also revealed that 47 percent of homeowners who plan to dig this year have no experience with the 811 call before you dig process. The most popular planned projects cited among surveyed homeowners include:

    • Planting a tree or shrub (63 percent)
    • Building a fence (35 percent)
    • Building a patio or deck (28 percent)
    • Installing a mailbox (16 percent)

    The CGA’s 1,700 members, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and most governors, including Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval, have proclaimed April as National Safe Digging Month to bring extra attention to the issue of underground utility line safety and reduce the risk of unnecessary infrastructure damage.

    An underground utility line is damaged once every nine minutes nationwide because someone decided to dig without first calling 811, according to industry data collected by CGA. There are more than 20 million miles of underground utilities in the United States, per data compiled by CGA from various industry groups. That figure equates to more than one football field’s length (105 yards) of buried utilities for every man, woman and child in the U.S.

    Everyone who calls 811 a few days before digging is connected to a local one call notification center that will take the caller’s information and communicate it to local utility companies. Professional locators will then visit the dig site to mark the approximate location of underground utility lines with spray paint, flags or both. Once a site has been accurately marked, it is safe to begin digging around the marked areas.

    About the study
    SSRS conducted a national omnibus phone study between Feb. 21-25, 2018, on behalf of the CGA. A total of 621 American homeowners ages 18+ were asked for their opinions on home and property improvement project topics. The survey had a margin of error of +/- 3.71% at the 95 percent confidence level.

  • 2017 NRCGA Year in Review

    MEMBERSHIP:

    Thirty-eight organizations joined the NRCGA in 2017, including 29 stakeholder members and 7 associate members.

    1ST  ANNUAL NRCGA UTILITY LOCATE RODEO HELD AT UNLV:

    NRCGA Utility Locate RodeoThe NRCGA conducted its first annual locate rodeo on June 3, 2017, on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, campus. Eric Flores, a utility line locator with ELM Utility Services, walked away as Nevada’s top locator. In addition to $2120 in prize money provided by sponsors, Flores also received a free trip to Dallas to participate in the June 24 International Utility Locate Rodeo. The rodeo was sponsored by Southwest Gas, Kinder Morgan, ELM Utility Services, USIC, Paiute Pipeline, NPL, USA North 811, CenturyLink, RP Weddell & Sons, UNLV, KCI Technologies, Advanced Infrastructure Technologies, and NV Energy.

    EXCAVATOR TRAINING:

    Hard hat sticker given to those who take the NRCGA's excavator training
    Hard hat sticker

    Statewide, 1,818 excavators and landscapers attended the NRCGA’s Excavator Safety Training during 2018. In addition to classes taught in English, the NRCGA also offered classes in Spanish in the Las Vegas area.

    BYRD ATTENDS ANNUAL CGA CONFERENCE:

    The NRCGA sponsored 2016 Silver Shovel Winner Tyler Byrd’s attendance at the Common Ground Alliance’s Annual Conference in Orlando, in March 2017.

    SNHBA TEE SPONSORSHIP:

    NRCGA sponsored a tee at the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association golf tournament in Las Vegas. At the tournament, NRCGA volunteers set up a tent to talk to golfers about the NRCGA and 811.

    NRCGA SPONSORS RENO ACES:

    The NRCGA provided the Reno Aces minor league baseball team with a $10,000 corporate sponsorship to promote 811. The promotion included outfield signage and other 811 messaging during Reno Aces home games.

    SILVER LAKE CONSTRUCTION WINS SOUTHERN NV SILVER SHOVEL:

    Siler Lake Construction

    The NRCGA held its annual Southern Nevada excavator appreciation dinner Nov. 8 in Henderson and honored Silver Lake Construction with the Silver Shovel award for the company’s stellar performance in damage prevention. Winning the Silver Shovel includes one complimentary trip to Phoenix to attend the Common Ground Alliance’s March 2018 annual conference, as well as a complimentary 2018 NRCGA associate membership.

    3 EXCAVATORS RECOGNIZED AT 12th ANNUAL NORTHERN NV SILVER SHOVEL EVENT:

    Nevada Barricade & Sign Company

    The NRCGA held its 12th Annual Northern Nevada Silver Shovel Event on Dec. 15 at the Nugget Casino Resort in Sparks. At this annual breakfast, three excavators were honored based on the number of tickets they called in over a 12-month period and having had no at-fault damages. The winners were: Frank Lepori Construction (0 – 50 tickets), Tahoe Fence (51 – 200 tickets) and Nevada Barricade & Sign Company (201+ tickets). Nevada Barricade & Sign also received a complimentary 2018 NRCGA associate membership.

    NRCGA PROVIDES $1000 TO CCSD FOR 811 ART CONTEST:

    The winning bulletin board.

    On Dec. 8, NRCGA members Bob Ward and Dennis Bott presented Martin Luther King Elementary School in Las Vegas with a $1000 check for winning a national art contest illustrating the importance of calling 811. Martin Luther King Elementary School was also awarded $5000 by the contest’s sponsors, Fuel for Success and the Common Ground Alliance.

  • NRCGA Provides $1000 to CCSD for 811 Art Contest

    On Dec. 8, NRCGA members Bob Ward and Dennis Bott presented Martin Luther King Elementary School with a $1000 check for winning a national art contest illustrating the importance of calling 811. Martin Luther King Elementary School was also awarded $5000 by the contest’s sponsors, Fuel for Success and the Common Ground Alliance.

    The 811 art contest invited school districts participating in the Fuel for Success program across the U.S. to participate in creating a bulletin board illustrating the importance of calling 811. The contest was judged by members of the Fuel for Success program, sponsored by the Shell NASCAR team, and CGA.

    Martin Luther King Elementary School adminstrators say the funds will be used for playground upgrades.

  • 3 Northern NV Excavators Recognized at 12th Annual Northern Nevada Silver Shovel Event

    The NRCGA held its 12th Annual Northern Nevada Silver Shovel Event on Friday, December 15, 2017, at the Nugget Casino Resort in Sparks Nevada. At this annual breakfast, three excavators were honored based on the number of tickets they called in over a 12-month period and having had no at-fault damages.

    The winners of the three categories were:

    • Frank Lepori Construction                             0 – 50 tickets
    • Tahoe Fence                                                  51 – 200 tickets
    • Nevada Barricade & Sign Company             201 tickets or more

    There were approximately 50 people in attendance. As an added bonus, the NRCGA held prize drawings and gave away $600.00 worth of Home Depot gift cards, hats, and a backpack from USA North 811.

  • Silver Lake Construction wins 2017 Southern Nevada Silver Shovel Award!

    By Bob Ward, NRCGA Vice Chair

    The NRCGA held its annual Southern Nevada excavator appreciation dinner Nov. 8 in Henderson and honored two local excavating contractors for taking the extra step towards digging safely.

    The NRCGA’s top honor – the Silver Shovel – was awarded to Silver Lake Construction (a first time recipient) for their stellar performance in damage prevention. Winning the Silver Shovel includes one complimentary trip to Phoenix to attend the Common Ground Alliance’s March 2018 annual conference.

    Ditch Diggers took second place and received the NRCGA’s Outstanding Performance Award for their strides in damage prevention.

    A total of four excavators were in the running for the Silver Shovel and Outstanding Performance awards. The NRCGA selected candidates based on the number of dig tickets called in to USA North 811 between May 2016 and May 2017 and no at-fault damages during the same time period.

    Attendance exceeded 90 hungry excavators eager to see which one of their peers was to receive the coveted Silver Shovel.

    Several stakeholders spoke at this event on topics such as utilizing online ticket requests through USA North 811’s website, as well as excavating safely around buried fuel lines.
    Vendors were on hand to give away various swag items as well.

    The NRCGA’s very own Dave Dahl, formerly of Kern River Gas Transmission, was awarded the NRCGA Plaque of Honor, which was very well deserved.

    Overall excellent attendance, food and great raffle prizes (all donated, of course)!

  • 2017 Excavator Appreciation BBQ/Award Ceremony Scheduled for Nov. 8 in Henderson

    Join us! Visit nrcga.org/RSVP for more information and to RSVP for yourself and your colleagues.

  • PUCN reports excavators attempting improper repairs to damaged gas facilities

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

    CONTACT: Peter Kostes
    Public Information Officer
    Public Utilities Commission of Nevada
    (775) 684-6118

    Date: July 27, 2017

    PUCN pipeline safety division urges safe excavating procedures

    Carson City, Nev. – The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (“PUCN”) pipeline safety division reports it has investigated several recent incidents involving excavators attempting improper repairs to stop the flow of natural gas from damaged facilities.

    “In situations where a natural gas pipeline has been damaged and natural gas is escaping, the most fundamental and important actions to take are: To immediately cease work, evacuate the impacted area to minimize the hazard presented by the damaged pipeline, telephone emergency 911 services from a safe area, and contact the utility operator,” says PUCN Senior Gas Pipeline Engineer Neil Pascual.

    Nevada Revised Statute (“NRS”) 455.140 and Nevada Administrative Code (“NAC”) 455.160 require excavators to follow those steps and not attempt to operate any valve or other device owned by a utility.

    Residential and small commercial connections typically are 1-inch polyethylene lines.
    Excavators can minimize the ongoing hazard of a broken pipeline by evacuating all persons from the area, rather than attempting to have an unqualified person attempt to stop the gas flow.

    Excavators should not attempt to temporarily stop the flow of gas from a damaged pipeline because:

    • The potential for a buildup of static electricity on the plastic pipeline or a person’s fingers can cause ignition. If an excavator attempts to touch the damaged pipeline, that could result in a spark that ignites the escaping gas and cause a fireball in the immediate area.
    • If the excavator is in a deep enough hole or trench where the gas is escaping, the gas could displace most of the oxygen in the trench, resulting in the person potentially inhaling a large quantity of pure natural gas and losing consciousness.

    Any entity failing to adhere to the laws outlined in NRS Chapter 455 can be subject to civil penalties of up to $2,500 per day per violation, up to a maximum of $250,000 for a given calendar year. The PUCN has issued approximately 20 civil penalties to excavators and operators in the past 12 months for violations associated with NRS Chapter 455. Additionally, the excavator could face utility repair and damage costs that may range from a few thousand dollars to millions of dollars if the damage were to result in a significant incident.

    811 – Call Before You Dig

    The PUCN reminds commercial and residential excavators that every digging project, no matter how large or small, warrants a call to the statewide 811 hotline (“Call Before You Dig” program). Professional locators are dispatched, usually within two working days, to the requested dig site to mark the approximate locations of underground lines. Utility lines need to be properly marked because even when digging only a few inches, the risk of striking an underground utility line still exists.

    For more information about safe digging procedures, visit www.call811.com,
    www.usanorth811.org or www.puc.nv.gov.

    In an effort to control a damaged and blowing gas pipeline, the PUCN reports one excavator entered a trench, folded the 1-inch pipeline back onto itself and secured the folded pipeline with zip ties. Residential and small commercial connections typically are 1-inch polyethylene lines.

  • Eric Flores wins 2017 NRCGA Utility Locate Rodeo

    Eric Flores, a utility line locator with ELM, walked away from the June 3 NRCGA Utility Locate Rodeo as Nevada’s top locator. Now Flores will go on to represent Nevada at the June 24 International Utility Locate Rodeo in Dallas.

    Thirteen locators from around Nevada competed in one of three Rodeo divisions – gas, power and communications. USIC’s Brian Alfred took the communication division, Ricky Spurlock, ELM, won the power division, with Flores locking up the gas division. Each division winner took home $1060 in prize money, all provided by Rodeo sponsors. Alfred, Spurlock and Flores went on to compete in the Jackpot Locate for the title of Locator of the Year and $2120 in additional prize money provided by Rodeo sponsors, which Flores ultimately claimed.

    Prize drawings during the event’s award ceremony, held at the close of the Rodeo, ensured each competitor walked away a winner. Thanks to the generosity of the Rodeo’s vendors and sponsors, competitors took home TVs, drones, an iPad, Google speaker, and power tool.

    Event photos available here.