New Illinois "JULIE" Law - LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=175 BGCOLOR="#A6CAF0" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="132" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="21"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="21"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="35" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="20" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HOME PAGE LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN"><U><B><IMG SRC="00d0d1d0.gif" border=0 width="13" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id75.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="IL JULIE (Utility Locate) Rules Explaine"><U><B><IMG SRC="00e1b1d0.gif" border=0 width="27" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> <B>© </B>2001 Elias M. Gordan</div> <div> All rights reserved</div> <bR> <div> <B>Law Office of</B></div> <div> <B>Elias M. Gordan</B></div> <div> Post Office Box 60</div> <div> Palos Park, IL  60464</div> <bR> <div> Phone  708.923.9735</div> <div> Email  gordanlaw@att.net</div> <div> Web    www.gordanlaw.com</div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HOME PAGE LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN"><U><B>HOME</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN About Us"><U><B>About Us</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN Contact U"><U><B>Contact Us</B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>NEW STATE LAW TO GOVERN WORK AROUND BURIED UTILITIES - </B></div> <div> <B>A SUMMARY OF THE NEW ILLINOIS “JULIE” (UTILITY) LAW</B></div> <div> By Elias M. Gordan, Attorney at Law, <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.gordanlaw.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.gordanlaw.com"><U><U>http://www.gordanlaw.com</U></U></A></FONT></div> <div> Member, Illinois Road Builders Association</div> <div> © 2001, 2002  Elias M. Gordan.  All rights reserved.</div> <bR> <div> (5 December 2001, rev. 18 December 2001, 14 May 2002)   On 27 July 2001, Governor Ryan signed into law Public Act 92-0179, which makes major modifications to the “One Call” or “JULIE” system, for notifying utilities of planned excavation or demolition work.  This is found in the Illinois Compiled Statutes, chapter 220, Section 50 (“Illinois Underground Utility Facilities Damage Prevention Act”).  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.legis.state.il.us/legislation/ilcs/ch220/ch220act50.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.legis.state.il.us/legislation"><U><B>Read the text of the new law.</B></U></A><A HREF="http://www.legis.state.il.us/legislation/ilcs/ch220/ch220act50.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.legis.state.il.us/legislation"><U> </U></A> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HOME PAGE LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN"><U><B>Read tips for coping with it.</B></U></A>  </FONT>The new JULIE Act, <B>which takes effect 1 July 2002</B>, will impose added duties on owners or operators of underground utility facilities, including underground “community antenna television facilities” (CATV or cable TV lines). The new JULIE Act will also impose additional duties on parties involved in <U>excavation</U>, or involved in power-assisted or explosive-assisted <U>demolition</U> work.  The Act extends “excavation” to now include boring, and also extends its provisions to now cover work around sewers.   The Act does NOT apply to utilities operating facilities exclusively within Chicago, nor does it apply to electric cooperatives, and it DOES NOT apply to parties doing work within Chicago.  “Home rule” communities must also comply with the new Act.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>DUTIES IMPOSED ON CONTRACTORS</B></div> <div>         The JULIE Act imposes differing duties on parties doing excavating or demolition, depending on whether the excavation or demolition work is “emergency” or “nonemergency” in nature.  “Emergency” work is not specifically defined, but the Act now defines “emergency locate request” as a locate for “any condition constituting an imminent danger to life, health, or property, or a utility service outage, and which requires immediate attention”.  “Reinstallation of traffic control devices” IS specifically referred to as an “emergency”, however.  Duties are as follows:</div> <bR> <div> 1. For <B>nonemergency excavation or demolition</B>, the party doing the work must:</div> <div> - take <U>“reasonable action”</U> to find out where the underground facilities are;</div> <div> - take <U>special precautions</U> when working within a <U>“tolerance zone”</U>, defined as the larger of a 3-foot-wide strip about the approximate utility location, or the width of the underground utility, plus a 1.5 foot strip each side.  Both “tolerance zones” are reckoned from the markings made by the utility owner or operator.  The precautions can include, but are not limited to, hand digging or vacuum excavation.</div> <div> - <U>mark the dig site</U> in white, if practical;</div> <div> - provide <U>at least 48 hours</U>, but not more than 14 days notice of the planned work, to the utility owners or operators, through the JULIE hotline (<B>1-800-892-0123, outside Chicago, </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.julie1call.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.julie1call.com"><U><B>www.julie1call.com</B></U></A></FONT>) or the DIGGER hotline (<B>1-312-744-7000, inside Chicago</B>).  Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays do not count.  <U>A name, address, phone number, and fax number for a live contact person must be provided, as well as the start date, address, and nature of the excavation or demolition work.  Nonresidential callers must also provide section and quarter-section information</U> (on IDOT plans, this is typically found on the front-page map).</div> <div> - <U>provide support for the underground facility</U>, and <U>backfill</U> the excavation, as “reasonably necessary” to protect it, unless  otherwise agreed to by the utility owner or operator.</div> <bR> <div> 2. For <B>emergency excavation or demolition outside Chicago</B>, the party doing the work must:</div> <div> - “<U>take all reasonable precautions</U>” to avoid or minimize interference with the undergound facility, through the JULIE system</div> <div> - <U>notify JULIE as far ahead of time as possible</U>.  A name, address, phone number, and fax number for a live contact person must be provided, as well as the start date, address, and nature of the excavation or demolition work.   <U>A two-hour wait time is required for the emergency JULIE locate before starting work, unless the excavator can demonstrate that site conditions warranted an earlier start time.</U></div> <bR> <div> 3. For <B>emergency excavation or demolition inside Chicago</B>, the party doing the work must:</div> <div> - “<U>take all reasonable precautions</U>” to avoid or minimize interference with the undergound facility, through the DIGGER system</div> <div> - <U>notify DIGGER as far ahead of time as possible</U>.  The JULIE Act does not specify the form of notice, not does it specify a wait time, as it is not intended to cover work inside Chicago.</div> <bR> <div> 4.  If JULIE notice is given, the excavator sets foot on the excavation site, and it “observes clear evidence” of an unmarked utility or CATV facility at the site, the excavator <U>must notify JULIE and wait 2 hours before starting the excavation</U>, to provide the required 2-hour window for the utility/CATV operator to respond. No specific mention of DIGGER here, again, since work inside Chicago is not covered.</div> <bR> <div> 5. If <B>an underground facility is hit</B>, the party responsible for the excavation or demolition must <U>immediately notify both the utility operator and JULIE</U>.  No specific mention of DIGGER here, again, since work inside Chicago is not covered.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>DUTIES IMPOSED ON UTILITIES</B></div> <div>         The JULIE Act also imposes the following duties on owners or operators of underground utility facilities or CATV facilities:</div> <bR> <div> 1. <U>Log</U> the locate request, and <U>mark</U> the approximate locations of the underground facilities within <B>48 hours</B> of notice (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays).  However, the Act specifically defines it “unreasonable” to expect 48-hour response, when a large number of locates; excessive, extensive locates; or repeated locates are being requested.  Nevertheless, owners and operators must “reasonably anticipate seasonal fluctuations in the number of locate requests and staff accordingly”.</div> <div>    The new JULIE Act adds new utility colors to the traditional red/yellow/orange/blue/green¹ scheme: <U>purple</U> (non-drinkable water and slurry lines), <U>pink</U> (temporary survey marks), and <U>white</U> (proposed excavation).</div> <bR> <div> 2. If an utility/CATV owner or operator does <U>not</U> have an underground facility in the area of the locate request, they must notify the excavation/demolition party that sent in the notice, unless the excavation/demolition party specifically waived the notice, at the time JULIE was called (again, no mention of DIGGER).  Waiver of “no notice” may not be made for emergency locate requests.  Moreover, such a waiver is not admissible as evidence in any civil or criminal litigation arising from the excavation or demolition in question.  </div> <div>    The “no utility” notice can be given in a variety of ways, including face-to-face notice, phone notice, fax notice, or by marking in the planned work area.  The utility/CATV owner or operator has met this duty if they attempted to send notice to a disconnected phone or fax line.  The utility/CATV owner or operator has <U>not</U> met this duty if they attempted to send notice, and got a busy signal.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>PENALTIES  </B>                       </div> <div>         The new JULIE Act specifies the following administrative penalties against parties doing excavation or demolition, including homeowners (these are not fines, since they will beimposed by the Illinois Commerce Commission, not a judge):</div> <bR> <div> 1. For “wilfully failing to comply” with the new JULIE Act, by <U>failing to notify JULIE</U> of planned nonemergency excavation or demolition: <B>up to $5000 for each separate offense, plus civil liability for damage caused</B> to the owners or operators of the underground facility.  This was increased from $200 under the old law.  This penalty applies whether or not any actual damage has occurred.</div> <bR> <div> 2. For “wilfully failing to comply” with the new JULIE Act, <U>in spite of notice to JULIE</U>, of planned nonemergency excavation or demolition: <B>up to $2500 for each separate offense, plus civil liability for damage caused</B> to the owners or operators of the underground facility.  This was increased from $100 under the old law.  This penalty applies whether or not any actual damage has occurred.</div> <bR> <div> 3. For damaging an underground utility or CATV line, <U>in spite of notice to JULIE</U>, of planned nonemergency excavation or demolition, and <U>in spite of “reasonable actions” while digging or demolishing</U>: <B>no penalty, but civil liability for the damage</B>, if the line was properly marked. This is unchanged from the old JULIE Act.</div> <bR> <div> 4. For calling in an “emergency” locate request to JULIE, when there is no “condition constituting an imminent danger to life, health, or property, or a utility service outage, and which requires immediate repair or action”: <B>up to $2500 for each separate offense</B>.</div> <bR> <div>         Penalties of up to $5000 per separate offense (up from $300 per offense) are also specified against any utility/CATV owner and operator that fails to mark its lines after notice through JULIE. Owners or operators of utility or CATV lines outside Chicago, have until 1 January 2003 to join JULIE, or face a $100/day penalty.  </div> <div>         In addititon, the new JULIE Act calls for a penalty of up to $1000, against anybody who tampers or damages locate stakes, unless they have something to do with the utility/CATV owner or operator, or are the excavator doing the excavation work.  This applies to acts inside Chicago, as well as acts outside Chicago.  Finally, the new JULIE Act exempts liability of the JULIE “clearinghouse” from liability for negligence in handling the JULIE locate requests, unless “wilful and wanton misconduct” (a higher degree of blame than negligence) is found.  Nevertheless, “it is not the intent of [the new JULIE Act to change any remedies in law regarding the duty of providing lateral support [to an underground facility]”.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>ENFORCEMENT</B></div> <div>         The above penalties will be enforced in a formal, quasi-judicial administrative proceeding, by the <B>Illinois Commerce Commission (ILCC)</B>, which has been given power under the new JULIE Act to develop detailed rules and procedures for its<B> </B>enforcement.  <B>The detailed rules and procedures are available by </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id77.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="JULIE Rules: LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS GORDAN"><U><B>clicking here</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id75.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="IL JULIE (Utility Locate) Rules Explaine"><U><B>Click here to read our explanation of the proposed rules.</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div>         In enacting the new JULIE Act, the Illinois Legislature has allowed the ILCC to consider the following factors in assessing penalties:</div> <div> - the gravity of the noncompliance with the rule;</div> <div> - the culpability (degree of blame) of the offender;</div> <div> - the offender’s history of noncompliance in the past;</div> <div> - the offender’s ability to pay the penalty;</div> <div> - the degree of “good faith” shown by the offender;</div> <div> - the offender’s ability to continue business; and</div> <div> - other special circumstances.</div> <div>         In addition, if public safety or utility service is threatened by actions on the part of the party doing the excavation or demolition, or by wilful failure of the utility/CATV owner or operator to respond to a locate request, the owner, operator, excavator, State’s Attorney, or ILCC may sue for a court order to stop the excavation or demolition, or to mark the utility line or CATV line.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>APPEALS</B></div> <div>         If a penalty is contested, the new JULIE Act provides for a <U>peer review</U> of the penalty by an Advisory Committee, to consist of one of each following group: utility operator, JULIE “clearinghouse”, excavator, municipality, and the public.  Disputes remaining after this process may be appealed through the Illinois Appellate Court, which must hear the appeal ahead of other civil proceedings (other than election contests), in accordance with Article X of the Public Utilities Act (Illinois Compiled Statutes, chapter 220, Section 5, Article X, 220 ILCS 5/10-201).  </div> <div>         The facts found by the ILCC will be presumed true, until proven otherwise by the challenging party.  ILCC decsisions may be reversed, if the ILCC decision is not supported by substantial evidence, or if State or Federal law was violated by the rule, regulation, order, or decision.  Appellate court decisions can be appealed to the Illinois Supreme Court, which may decline to hear the case.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>WHAT TO DO</B></div> <div>         Due to the many uncertainties of the new Act, Contractors and other affected parties would be well advised to consider the following:</div> <div> - Have a written procedure for complying with the new JULIE Act, and make sure that your field crews are familiar with it.  This may serve to reduce any penalties or liability for utility hits.</div> <div> - Check if your CGL (commercial general liability) insurance covers administrative proceedings, litigation, and related defense costs (including attorney’s fees) for incidents falling under the Act.  Also, check if such coverage is available on a “rider” or “endorsement” basis.</div> <div> - Consider the possibility of appealing penalties, as is done in OSHA cases.  Your trade association may be of help here.</div> <div>         </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >        If you have any further questions, please contact Attorney Elias M. Gordan at 708.923.9735 (phone), or </FONT><A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN Contact U"><U>Contact us</U></A>.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>RESOURCES AND LINKS</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>JULIE Website:</B> </div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.julie1call.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.julie1call.com"><U>http://www.julie1call.com</U></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >  </FONT></div> <div> <B>Illinois Commerce Commission (ILCC) Information</B>: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.icc.state.il.us" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.icc.state.il.us"><U><U>http://www.icc.state.il.us</U></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <B>Our Summa</B><B>ry of the New ILCC JULIE Rules</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id75.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="IL JULIE (Utility Locate) Rules Explaine"><U>Click here</U></A></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>DISCLAIMER</B></div> <div> The information contained in this guide is meant only to convey general information, and is not intended to serve as legal advice or counsel, nor is it meant to create an attorney-client relationship.  The information presented here is subject to change or modification that any time without notice, and may not apply to the specific facts of your case.  Accordingly, you should check with a with an attorney before acting on this information, to make sure that it applies to your situation.</div> <bR> <div> FOOTNOTES</div> <div> 1. JULIE colors include red for electric lines, yellow for gas or oil lines, orange for telephone, telegraph, and CATS lines, blue for water lines, and green for sewer lines.</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HOME PAGE LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN"><U><B>BACK TO HOME PAGE AND RECENT NEWS</B></U></A></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Law Office of Elias M. Gordan, </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><A HREF="http://www.gordanlaw.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.gordanlaw.com"><U><B>http://www.gordanlaw.com</B></U></A></FONT><B> </B></div> <div> <B>Post Office Box 60, Palos Park, IL, 60464   </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><A HREF="http://www.gordanlaw.com/id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.gordanlaw.com/id26.htm"><U><B>email gordanlaw@att.net</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <B>708.923.9735</B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>