Dear Stakeholders,
The Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement is considering developing a new regulation under the Ontario Underground Infrastructure Notification System Act, 2012 that would change locate requirements in specific circumstances.
The proposal is available on the Regulatory Registry for comment. We encourage you to review it and provide your written feedback via the Regulatory Registry. Feedback is due by July 22, 2024.
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Background
What does the regulatory proposal entail?
- Digging may continue beyond the locate validity period under specific circumstances. If certain requirements are met, requesting a new locate won’t be necessary.
- The following are some of the requirements proposed that must be met to continue to dig past locate expiry:
- Excavation projects where all known underground infrastructure has been removed or fully exposed and safely protected, with a buffer of a minimum of one metre below the lowest identified infrastructure.
- The excavator would be required to notify Ontario One Call (OOC) five business days prior to the expiration of the locate confirming that the excavation has the same fixed parameters as identified in the last valid locate request and no underground infrastructure has changed since the last locate was completed.
- The excavator will continue to confirm to OOC that digging conditions are the same until one year has passed from the expiry date of the last valid locate, after which a new locate request would be required.
Read the full proposal.
Why is this proposal being brought forward?
This potential regulation is intended to address stakeholder concerns regarding delays to construction projects and financial burdens related to legislated requirements that a new locate is required once the locate validity period has expired (minimum of 60 days).
If a decision is made to proceed with this proposal, the ministry is considering a regulation effective date of April 1, 2025.
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Ontario One Call continues to work closely with Government and industry stakeholders to promote safe excavation and facilitate timely locates.
As always, we are happy to support you. If you have any questions or feedback related to Ontario One Call, please send them via digsafety@OntarioOneCall.ca. Feedback related to the regulatory proposal must be submitted through the Regulatory Registry.
We will continue to update you on any developments as they become available.
The Ontario One Call Team