Damage Prevention
The single greatest cause of pipeline accidents is damage from outside forces. Most pipeline leaks occur when landowners, contractors or excavators are unaware of a pipeline's location before they begin to blast, dig, ditch, drill or plow. It's important to become partners in safety.
Together we can reduce third-party damage to the pipeline, prevent accidents and maintain public safety. You can help by watching for and notifying Kern River about suspicious activity and construction near the pipeline right of way. No one should blast, dig, ditch, drill, level or plow near the right of way without first contacting 811 or their state One Call center at least two business days in advance to have underground utilities marked.
How to Locate a Pipeline
For safety reasons, most of Kern River's pipelines are buried. We install line markers at road, rail and river crossings and other places along the rights of way to help the public identify the location of our buried pipelines.
Markers show the general location of the pipeline and provide emergency contact information. Markers cannot be relied upon to indicate the exact location or depth of the pipeline. If you are planning a digging project, it's important that you first call 811 so we can mark the location of the pipeline and have a representative present when digging occurs.
In case of an emergency, call 911 or your local emergency response number and Kern River's 24-hour emergency number listed on the line markers. Call us immediately if one of our pipelines is struck or if you see someone working near them. Even minor dents, chips or scrapes are serious and may cause future leaks if they are not repaired.
For additional information on transmission pipelines and pipeline operators in your area, access the National Pipeline Mapping System, a geographic information system maintained by the Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
Call Before You Dig
Whether you're a contractor, a farmer or just planning to do some work around your yard that requires excavation, you must contact a One Call center at least two business days before beginning any work. One easy phone call to 811 quickly begins the process of getting underground facilities marked. The call and the marking service are free.
These simple steps can prevent most third-party pipeline accidents:
- CALL before you dig. Before digging, call 811 within the time frame required by your state. In California, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming you are required to provide at least a two-business-day notice before you begin excavation. The One Call center will notify local utilities and companies that operate underground facilities in your area.
- WAIT the required time for the site to be marked. If your project is close to underground facilities, the affected utility or company will send a representative to your work site to clearly mark the route and location of their operations.
- CONFIRM that all affected utility operators have responded to your request and marked underground utilities. State laws vary on the confirmation process, so be sure to check with your local One Call center for more information.
- RESPECT the marks. Respect and protect the facilities operators' marks. Note the color of all markings used and what types of facilities they indicate. Marking colors may vary from state to state, but Kern River always uses yellow when marking our lines.
- DIG with care. Always hand dig when within 2 feet on either side of any marked lines. A Kern River representative will be present when digging occurs on our right of way.