Virginia Positive Response System
Code Usage and Explanations
Effective December 5, 2006 at 7:00 AM
10 – Marked.
Code 10 shall be used when all utility lines within the area of proposed excavation have been marked.
11 – Marked; abandoned utility lines may be in area.
Code 11 shall be used when all utility lines within the area of proposed excavation have been marked and the operator/locator is aware of the presence of abandoned utility lines.
12 – Marked up to privately owned utility; contact private utility owner for locate.
Code 12 shall be used when all utility lines within the area of proposed excavation have been marked and the operator/locator is aware of the presence of a private utility line.
13 – Marked up to privately owned utility; contact private utility owner for locate. Abandoned utility linesmay be in area.
Code 13 shall be used when all utility lines within the area of proposed excavation have been marked and the operator/locator is aware of the presence of both private utility lines and abandoned utility lines.
30 – No conflict; utility is outside of stated work area.
Code 30 shall be used when the operator/locator has determined that no utility lines are in the area of proposed excavation.
31 – No conflict; utility is outside of stated work area. Abandoned utility lines may be in area.
Code 31 shall be used when the operator/locator has determined that no utility lines are in the area of proposed excavation and the operator/locator is aware of the presence of abandoned utility lines.
32 – No conflict; privately owned utility on property. Contact private utility owner for locate.
Code 32 shall be used when the operator/locator has determined that no utility lines are in the area of proposed excavation and the operator/locator is aware of the presence of private utility lines.
33 – No conflict; privately owned utility on property. Contact private utility owner for locate. Abandoned utility linesmay be in area.
Code 33 shall be used when the operator/locator has determined that no utility lines are in the area of proposed excavation and the operator/locator is aware of the presence of both private utility lines and abandoned utility lines.
40 – Agree to meeting as proposed by excavator.
Code 40 shall be used in response to a meeting ticket when the operator/locator agrees to a meeting as proposed by the excavator. The meeting must take place by 7:00 AM on the third working day following the meeting notice.
42 – Mutually agreed to alternative meeting time and location.
Code 42 shall be used in response to a meeting ticket when an operator/locator is unable to attend a meeting as proposed by the excavator. The operator/locator shall set up a mutually agreeable time and location to meet no later than 7:00 AM on the third working day following the meeting notice. Both excavator and operator/locator are encouraged to document the arrangements.
50 – Installation records, maps or other documents have been provided.
Code 50 shall be used in response to a designer ticket when the designer does not request field markings to be placed. The information provided by the operator/locator may include, but is not limited to, maps, surveys, installation records, as-built records, or other means.
60 – Locator and excavator agreed and documented marking schedule. Call for 3 Hour Notice if you do not agree to Code 60.
Code 60 shall be used when an operator/locator is unable to mark the ticket within 48 hours beginning at 7:00 AM the next working day following the excavator’s call to the notification center. The operator/locator must contact the excavator and all parties must agree to an alternate marking schedule before the placement of this code. Operator/locator must document agreement in writing (electronic or paper) to include, at a minimum, full name of excavator representative agreeing to the schedule, the excavator’s phone number, excavator’s signature if possible, reasons for the marking schedule, and date and time of the agreement.
61 – Locator and excavator agreed and documented marking schedule. Abandoned utility linesmay be in the area. Call for 3 Hour Notice if you do not agree to Code 61.
Code 61 shall be used when an operator/locator is unable to mark the ticket within 48 hours beginning at 7:00 AM the next working day following the excavator’s call to the notification center and the operator/locator is aware of the presence of abandoned utility lines. The operator/locator must contact the excavator and all parties must agree to an alternate marking schedule before the placement of this code. Operator/locator must document agreement in writing (electronic or paper) to include, at a minimum, full name of excavator representative agreeing to the schedule, the excavator’s phone number, excavator’s signature if possible, reasons for the marking schedule, and date and time of the agreement.
70 – Critical facility marked. In case of dredging, the approximate horizontal location of the utility line has been identified. Locator or utility operator shall notify directly the person listed as the field contact on the applicable Miss Utility Ticket prior to posting Code 70 to the Excavator-Operator Information Exchange System. Operator must be present during dredging or other forms of excavation operations.
Code 70 shall only be used when the operator’s presence is necessary during dredging or other forms of excavation operations. In the case of dredging, an acceptable means of identifying and or marking the approximate horizontal location of the underground utility line must be determined and that information must be provided to the person intending to dredge. For other forms of excavation, the underground utility line(s) shall be marked. When an operator/locator responds to a ticket with a code 70, it shall be the operator/locator’s responsibility to provide the excavator/dredger with the appropriate name and preferred contact information, i.e. telephone number, facsimile ("Fax") number, email address and or mailing address, for the excavator/dredger to use to inform the operator of the date and time when the dredging or other forms of excavation operations will commence. Operator must be present during such operations.
71 – Critical facility not marked; locator or utility operator must contact excavator and must be present during excavation.
Code 71 shall only be used when the operator’s presence is necessary during the excavation due to the fact that the underground utility line is of such importance to national security that marking it in accordance with the Underground Utility Damage Prevention Act is not appropriate. When an operator/locator responds to a ticket with code 71, it shall be the locator/operator’s responsibility to provide the excavator with the appropriate name and contact information for the excavator to use to inform the operator of the date and time when excavation will commence. Operator must be present during excavation.
90 – Locator could not gain access to property; locator will contact excavator. Call for 3 Hour Notice if you do not agree to Code 90.
When an operator/locator responds to a ticket with code 90, it shall be the operator/locator’s responsibility to inform the excavator of their inability to gain access to the property to mark the area of excavation. The operator/locator shall inform the excavator before the response is due on the positive response system. It shall be the excavator’s responsibility to make the property accessible to the operator/locator and call a new ticket for those operators who initially responded to the ticket with a code 90, if necessary.
91 – Incorrect address information; please call Miss Utility and provide correct information.
Code 91 shall be used when the excavator has provided incorrect address information to the notification center. The operator/locator shall make a reasonable attempt to contact the excavator to verify the address information before the placement of this code. It shall be the excavator’s responsibility to verify the address information and call the notification center to request a new ticket with the correct information.
93 – Scope of work is too large; please call Miss Utility to reschedule.
Code 93 shall be used when the area of proposed excavation exceeds the limits of a work area as defined in § 56-265.17 F. It shall be the excavator’s responsibility to call the notification center and request a new ticket or tickets that complies with § 56-265.17 F.
94 – Marking instructions are unclear; please call Miss Utility to reschedule.
Code 94 shall be used when the operator/locator is unable to determine the area of proposed excavation according to the marking instructions on the ticket. The operator/locator must make a reasonable attempt to contact the excavator to clarify the instructions. It shall be the excavator’s responsibility to call the notification center and request a new ticket with clear marking instructions.
96 – No response required from this terminal.
Code 96 shall be used if no response is required from a specific terminal ID code. If an operator has multiple terminal codes that overlap, they may choose to use Code 96 to display that a certain terminal is not responding. If a ticket is cancelled, the operator/locator shall use this code to respond. (VUPS will not post responses on a cancelled ticket to the Positive Response system.) Operator/locators are encouraged to document the reason that no response was required.
97 – Extraordinary circumstances exist.
Code 97 is only used in the event that extraordinary circumstances exist. These circumstances may include: floods, snow, ice storms, tornadoes, earthquakes, other natural disasters, blackouts, and massive computer network failures.