Safe digging and damage prevention

ENGLISH | FRANÇAIS

To protect people and the environment, and to reduce the risk of pipeline damage, federal and provincial/state laws require anyone planning a ground disturbance or excavation activity near a pipeline right-of-way (ROW) to request a locate in advance using clickbeforeyoudig.com or by calling their local toll-free one-call number in either Canada or the United States.

Clickbeforeyoudig.com is a North American “one-window” portal for requesting location of buried utilities prior to ground disturbance.  Excavators can visit the online portal to access their state or province’s one call center online.  In the United States, 811 is the free, FCC-designated national one-call number that connects a caller from anywhere in the country to the appropriate local one-call centre. Anyone conducting soil-disturbing activities in the U.S. should use clickbeforeyoudig.com or call 811. The phone numbers for the Canadian One Call Centres can be found at www.clickbeforeyoudig.com.

Though pipelines are identified by above-ground markers, the markers should never be used as a reference for the exact location of the pipeline. Also, as the depth of pipelines and other underground utilities can change over the years due to erosion, previous digging projects or uneven surfaces, there are varying depths to underground systems. That’s why it’s important to contact your local state/provincial one-call service provider, or Enbridge directly, at least three days before you do any type of excavation in any area that you believe might be on or near an Enbridge ROW.

Activities that require a locate request include, but are not limited to:

• fixing or improving an existing ditch, drain tile or fence
• building a berm
• constructing roads, paving, parking, driveways, ditches, railways, overhead or underground utilities
• installing fence posts
• altering the grade or deep tilling the soil
• operating non-agricultural equipment or vehicles on or over the ROW
• encroaching on the ROW with services or other utilities

The construction of buildings or foundations, and stockpiling of materials or burn piles, are also prohibited on the ROW.

Enbridge representatives must be on-site to supervise any excavation near the ROW.

For installations or to operate a vehicle or mobile equipment across the ROW, written permission from Enbridge is required. Depending on the installation, approval could take up to 10 days, so please plan ahead. We can help you avoid problems and delays by:

• helping you obtain written permission for construction/excavation over Enbridge pipelines
• locating and marking Enbridge pipelines
• acquainting others with the 30-metre prescribed/controlled area on either side of the centreline of the pipe (Canada only), and providing guidelines for excavation and blasting
• ensuring an Enbridge field representative is on-site
• Please contact Enbridge for your specific ROW questions