Preventing to Damage to Canada’s Critical Underground Infrastructure Mike Sullivan – Executive Director

Preventing damage to Canada’s Underground Infrastructure

Millwoods, Alberta - 1979

Recommendations Development of an awareness and education program targeting local contractors Development of an emergency call-down process for Edmonton-area utilities Initiate a Call Before You Dig process EAPUOC Safety Seminars have been held for over 25 years.

Oshawa, Ontario - 1985

Oshawa, Ontario - 1985

Follow-up 1988 - National Energy Board releases Pipeline Crossing Regulations establishing: requirements for excavations and construction over pipelines; and responsibilities of pipeline operators in relation to excavation activity in the vicinity of pipelines.

The Common Ground Alliance An alliance of ground disturbance stakeholders committed to improving the integrity of underground infrastructure through awareness, advocacy, process and best practices. Formed following several catastrophic events in the United States. Successes: Damage prevention legislation emerged in all U.S. states. Simplified access to One-call services – 811 Damages to underground infrastructure reduced

The Canadian Common Ground Alliance CCGA Stakeholders Electrical Distribution and Transmission Gas & Oil - Distribution and Transmission Construction Engineering and Land Surveying Road Builders Municipal and Public Works Government / Regulators Telecommunications One Call / Notification Centres Landscaping / Fencing Railways Equipment Manufacturer & Sales Emergency Services Insurance The CCGA’s estimated reach is 1.5 million Canadians

Canadian Common Ground Alliance - CCGA Successes: Damage Prevention White Paper Harmonized Best Practices CSA Z247 Damage Prevention Symposiums DIRT Reports ClickBeforeYouDig.com Societal Cost Formula Bill S-229

DIRT Anonymous damage reporting enabling creation and implementation of practice, training, policy and legislation to prevent a recurrence. Results…

99% of Damages are avoided when a locate request is made.

Societal costs: $1 Billion

Societal Costs Formula developed by CIRANO – the Centre for Interuniversity Research & Analysis of Organizations Considers costs of damage beyond repairs including: Emergency response Evacuation Environmental contamination and remediation Down-time Business interruption / loss of production & sales Re-direction of safety services such as 9-1-1 Loss of business

Canada Shifts to “Click” Before You Dig

Benefits of Online Locate Requests Users: Place locate requests 24/7 Never be on HOLD! Eliminate errors in data entry Include attachments / photos Contact Centres: Decreased processing time Reduce cost to members Members Attachments reduce the need to locate while maintaining system integrity So why the web? What are the benefits? For Users: Place locate requests 24/7 Never be on HOLD! Eliminate errors in data entry Include attachments / photos For Contact Centres: Decreased processing time Reduce cost to members For Members Attachments reduce the need to locate while maintaining system integrity Each of these points outline the benefits of requesting locates online. Alberta and Quebec have set the stage for online locate requesting in North America. In Alberta, for example, online locate requests outpace phone requests by a margin of 4:1. Considering Alberta One-Call processes over half a million locate requests annually, the operational savings have been considerable and have allowed the One-Call centre to increase promotion, awareness and advocacy efforts.

Underground Infrastructure Safety Enhancement Act “An Act respecting underground infrastructure safety… …addresses the need for a comprehensive, rigorous damage-prevention system built around click-before-you-dig notification centres across the country. Such a system is essential to avoid tremendous risks and costs related to damage to our underground infrastructure caused far too frequently by those who dig before they find out literally what is beneath their feet. - Senator Grant Mitchell

Underground Infrastructure Safety Enhancement Act Next Steps: Bill S229 now sponsored by Lloyd Longfield, Member of Parliament for Guelph, Ontario Awaiting speech from the Speaker of the House Bill expected to be tabled shortly after Three reading process including Committee review before Royal Assent.

I need your help. S229 needs your help to achieve our goal of Royal Assent and becoming law. Reach out to your Member of Parliament by phone or email. Follow #SupportS229 Follow the @CanadanCGA and your MP on Social Media RT / Re-post & “Like” all posts promoting S229

Thank you Mike Sullivan Executive Director – Canadian Common Ground Alliance Email: MSullivan@CanadianCGA.com Web: www.CanadianCGA.com