There are three issues in the drafts that will change RCW 19.122. First, it will make it so that underground facility owners that do not join the CBYD system will be responsible for all dig up damages if a ticket was called in for the dig site. 2nd, service laterals must be located and 3rd, there must be some sort of positive response system.
1. Every homeowner would have to belong to the "Call before you dig call center". They own sewer laterals and services to their homes. Will the list of notification fax or phone numbers be current at the Call center?
2. Properties change hands.The service lateral and private irrigation systems as-builts are lost in this transition or never created. There is a section in the current RCW 19.122 that addresses utilities that cannot be located and the contractor must pothole for these utilities that cannot be located. If not the contractor pays for the damages he creates.
3. This potentially could generate more income for the "Call before you dig call center" and each locator will need to be paid to do a call back to the One call center to state “I have located the utilities.” The current law states the underground facility owner must locate or pay for the damages “if proof of a Call center ticket can be produced in Court and the contractor could win his case if he used due diligence in verifying location, depth, and size of the utilities.