Preventing damage to underground utilities when digging 9 March 2006 Afke van Rijn Deputy director Telecom market

TOPICS  Current situation  Problems/Bottlenecks  Goal of this particular Act  Content of the Act  Current state of affairs

Current situation  Dutch situation in general  Current system of self- regulation (KLIC)  Policy document (November 2004) New Act

Problems/Bottlenecks  No obligation to report digging/to provide data  Lack of quality of the information asked/information not on time  Digging must be done with the utmost care  Unclear who, in practice, is accountable for what

Goal of this particular Act  Prevention of damage to underground utilities when digging.  To guarantee public interests as security of supply of utilities and safety for environment Means: legal obligation to exchange information + obligation to dig with care

Responsibilities  Excavator responsibilities - Notification - Digging with care  Owners or operators responsibilities - Providing correct and timely information The information process

Digging with care Just acting according to the Law is not enough. Prearrangements necessary about what digging with care is. But also:  Communication to the parties involved  Measures by third parties

Government bodies involved  Dutch Land Registry Office (Kadaster)  Radiocommunications Agency Netherlands (Agentschap Telecom)

Current state of affairs The Act will not take effect at the same time as the electronic information system:  Act a.s.a.p. after approval Upper Chamber  Electronic system: according to plan in 2009  February 2006: Act sent to Parliament  Before summer 2006: debate Lower Chamber  After summer 2006: debate Upper Chamber

Summary With the new law there will be:  Obligations with regard to exchange of information for excavators and owners/operators  Obligations to dig carefully  More clarity regarding the individual responsibilities of parties involved But to achieve desired change in behaviour:  Agreement between parties involved with regard to digging safely  Communication  Actions by others (for instance: insurers) All parts needed to achieve goal (less incidents)

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