AGRICULTURAL AWARENESS COMMITTEE MINNESOTA REGIONAL COMMON GROUND ALLIANCE (MNCGA)

Transcription

1 AGRICULTURAL AWARENESS COMMITTEE MINNESOTA REGIONAL COMMON GROUND ALLIANCE (MNCGA) MNCGA Damage Prevention Bulletin No Agricultural Drainage: Call 811, A Safety Tool for Your Tiling and Ditching Project by Claude Anderson, MNOPS The ongoing improvements in efficiency and economic viability of modern agriculture rely heavily on the development and use of improved tools and techniques for their operations. This is particularly important in Minnesota with approximately 1/3 of the state s land area being agricultural. In our southern and western counties, typically over 75% of the land area is agricultural. By improving drainage on existing farm land, a farmer can often increase crop yields. Drainage improvements are often accomplished by constructing new or upgrading existing ditches and/or drain tile systems. Ditches are open channel conduits designed to carry runoff away from a field. Ditches are typically constructed or cleaned with conventional construction excavators, for example as shown in Figure 1. Drain tile, used to drain land by removing excess water from the soil, is perforated flexible plastic pipe often installed 2-6 feet underground. Common methods of drain tile installation include trenching and then backfilling over the pipe (Figure 2). Alternatively drain tile may be plowed in with a tile plow (Figure 3). The drain tile collects excess water and then drains to a roadside or field ditch (Figure 4). Due to the widespread adoption of these drainage practices in Minnesota, an extensive network of ditches and tile drainage systems currently exist throughout the agricultural areas of the state. These networks often come in conflict with underground utilities such as pipelines, power and communication facilities that also are widespread in rural Minnesota. In Figure 5, an estimated 27,000 miles of drainage ditches are shown as well as representations of the state s hazardous liquid and natural gas transmission pipelines. Although not shown, extensive networks of other utilities such as fiber optic and other communication cables also exist throughout the state. It is apparent that potential interferences between ditch cleaning and existing utilities can arise.

2 Figure 1- Construction/cleaning drainage ditch Figure 2 Trench installation of agricultural drain tile

3 Figure 3 Drain tile plow Figure 4 Drainage ditch with drain tile outlet

4 Figure 5 Map of transmission pipelines and drainage ditches. It is estimated that over 40% of the cropland in Minnesota has been tiled. It is also estimated that over an additional 20,000 miles of drain tile are annually installed in Minnesota. The outline of an example tile pattern is shown in the aerial photo in Figure 6. Even in tiled fields, a common

5 practice to improve a field s drainage is to add additional tile lines within the existing tile field, thereby reducing the distance between tile laterals. Although tile and ditch installations are often completed by professional contractors, the increasing availability and affordability of tiling equipment has allowed farmers to install drain tile on their own, their leased or for neighboring landowners, as a part-time business in addition to conducting their regular farming operations. This increases the challenge of distributing safe excavation information to all active excavators. Figure 6 Aerial photo of tiled farmland. With the high frequency of adding, maintaining or upgrading drainage systems and the high (and growing) density of existing underground utilities in agricultural areas, potential conflicts exist that increase the likelihood of underground utilities being damaged by drainage system excavations. Tools exist for reducing the frequency of underground damages. The primary tool for an excavator is to call GSOC and wait 48 hours, excluding weekends and holidays prior to beginning the excavation. This allows the utility operators to mark any utilities that may be present. The excavator will need to determine if private facilities may be present, and if so, arrange for locating these utilities. In Minnesota, 14% of all (urban and rural) excavator damages in 2014 were not preceded by a locate request (Est. by Minnesota Office of Pipeline Safety). Although Minnesota does not

6 estimate excavator groups separately, according to a recent report (Common Ground Alliance, in 2013 DIRT ANALYSIS & RECOMMENDATIONS) for the US overall, the group Occupants/farmers was least likely to notify a one call center prior to underground excavation. Two-thirds (66%) of damages involving this excavator group were not preceded by a locate request. Based on available information, low compliance with the Gopher State One Call (GSOC) law by farmers and rural excavators is also a problem in Minnesota. Drain tile excavation damages to underground utilities are infrequent, can result in significant economic losses and may be catastrophic. In 2012, a Marshall, MN near miss of a steel 6-inch, 800 psi natural gas pipeline was identified by the pipeline operators aerial patrol. (See Figure 7) Figure 7. Near miss 2012 Marshall, MN

7 In September 2011, a tile plow damaged a 6-inch steel natural gas pipeline operating at 528 psi. Even though there was not a fire or explosion, as a result of this, 3 towns were without natural gas service while repairs were being made and significant costs were incurred for repairs and lost product. Figure 6. Gas pipeline damage 2011 Morris, MN In 1997 (See Figure 8) a 12-inch petroleum pipeline operating at 1200 psi was damaged near Morris, MN. The product ignited and the resulting flume was visible 31 miles away. As a result of this incident, 2 people were injured, 1 severely. A common link among all these example incidents was that GSOC was not called by the excavator to obtain a locate ticket.

8 Figure 8. Petroleum pipeline damage 1997 Plummer, MN

9 USE YOUR AVAILABLE TOOLS Call Before You Dig A call to Gopher State One Call Call 811 or click online at is the tool to begin with to enhance safe excavation. Until Gopher State One Call is called, utility operators will not be aware of your excavation project and cannot implement their standard safeguards to protect their facilities during excavation. Use of Gopher State One Call is not just encouraged, but it is required by Minnesota Statute MS 216D for installing or repairing drainage systems using machine powered equipment. Instances of excavation without the required locate notice raise public safety issues for those in the vicinity of the excavation, in addition to the concerns of potential damage to underground facilities. The Minnesota Office of Pipeline Safety (MNOPS) enforces Minnesota Statutes - Excavation Notice System (Chapter 216D) which applies to drainage related excavations. Drain tile installing or ditching done with power equipment is defined as excavation under existing state statute and requires GSOC notification. Although certain agricultural activities are exempt from GSOC notification, as noted below, drain tile installing or ditching is not listed as exempt. Any agricultural activity meeting the definition of an excavation deeper than an18-inch depth would not be exempt. Compliance with these laws is necessary to ensure public safety and minimize costly damages. Noncompliance is enforceable by MNOPS. Specifically, those excavating for tile or drainage systems should be familiar with the following requirements: GSOC notification required An excavator shall make a notification at least 48-hours (excluding holidays and weekends) before beginning an excavation (MS 216D.04 Sub. 1). This is required for nonexempt activities that would be defined as excavations (this does not include hand tools). Definition of excavation: Excavations under MS 216D.01 (5) include: an activity that moves, removes, or otherwise disturbs the soil by use of a motor, engine, hydraulic or pneumatically powered tool, or machine-powered equipment of any kind, Agricultural exemption is available for some agricultural excavation, but does not apply to mechanized drain tile installation, cleaning or repair: Excavation does not include.4) plowing, cultivating, planting, harvesting, and similar operations in connection with growing crops, trees, and shrubs, unless any of these activities disturbs the soil to a depth of 18 inches or more;

10 When excavation is involved in your tiling or ditching project, the following steps need to be included. NOTIFY Notify GSOC, the Minnesota one-call center, by calling 811 or making an online request at 2 working days before excavation begins. The one-call center will transmit information to affected utility operators. WAIT Wait 48 hours, excluding weekends and holidays for affected utility operators to respond to your request. CONFIRM Confirm that all affected utility operators have responded to your request and located accurately. If you see clear evidence of a utility, such as an above ground marker, but no marks, please call GSOC so that utility operator can be notified. Private utilities are not owned by the utility and are generally anything "after the meter" or main line. When a property owner or tenant has any type of private underground facility, they are responsible to locate those facilities, or hire someone to locate them. RESPECT Respect the marks. The marks provided by the affected utility operators are your guide for the duration of your project. If you are unable to maintain the marks during your project, or the project will continue past your request s expiration date, please call 811 to ask for a re-mark. For Further information: To get involved, join MNCGA at Anyone observing excavation practices that do not conform to MN Statute 216D is encouraged to contact MNOPS at (651) or Thank you for helping keep Minnesota safe!