THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

INTRODUCED BY BAKER, BROWNE, ERICKSON, MENSCH, SMUCKER, WAUGH, YUDICHAK, SCHWANK, BOSCOLA, COSTA, FARNESE AND FONTANA, OCTOBER 12, 2011

REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, OCTOBER 12, 2011  

AN ACT

Amending the act of December 10, 1974 (P.L.852, No.287),

entitled, as amended, "An act to protect the public health

and safety by preventing excavation or demolition work from

damaging underground lines used in providing electricity,

communication, gas, propane, oil delivery, oil product

delivery, sewage, water or other service; imposing duties

upon the providers of such service, recorders of deeds, and

persons and other entities preparing drawings or performing

excavation or demolition work; and prescribing penalties,"

further defining "line."

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  The definition of "line" in section 1 of the act

of December 10, 1974 (P.L.852, No.287), referred to as the

Underground Utility Line Protection Law, amended November 29,

2006 (P.L.1593, No.181), is amended to read:

Section 1.  As used in this act:

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"Line" or "facility" means an underground conductor or

underground pipe or structure used in providing electric or

communication service, or an underground pipe used in carrying,

gathering, transporting or providing natural or artificial gas,

petroleum, propane, oil or petroleum and production product,

sewage, water or other service to one or more transportation

carriers, consumers or customers of such service and the

appurtenances thereto, regardless of whether such line or

structure is located on land owned by a person or public agency

or whether it is located within an easement or right-of-way. The

term shall include unexposed storm drainage and traffic loops

that are not clearly visible. The term shall not include crude

oil or natural gas production and gathering lines or facilities

unless the line or facility is located in the Marcellus Shale

region or unless the line or facility is a regulated onshore

gathering line as defined in regulations promulgated after

January 1, 2006, by the United States Department of

Transportation pursuant to the Pipeline Safety Act of 1992

(Public Law 102-508, 49 U.S.C. § 60101 et seq.), if the

regulated gathering line is subject to the damage prevention

program requirements of 49 CFR § 192.614.

* * *

Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.