Excavation Safety

Call Before You Dig—and Dig Safely

To protect public safety and the environment—and reduce the risk of pipeline damage—the law requires anyone planning to excavate or otherwise dig near our right-of-way in the United States to call the toll-free One-Call number 811 in advance of any excavation. In Ontario, anyone planning to dig should call Ontario One-Call toll-free at (800) 400-2255. One-Call operators will ask where you plan to excavate and then will notify all utilities—including your electric, phone, gas, cable and pipeline companies—who will mark the location of their underground utilities free of charge!

Please note that every state and province has different rules and regulations governing digging, some stricter than others. The national One-Call number in the United States, 811, was established in early 2007 to streamline the process of routing calls to the appropriate One-Call centers. For more information about 811, go to call811.com. For more information about Ontario One-Call, visit on1call.com.

(United States)	(Canada)

We strongly recommend that you directly contact Vector Pipeline at least 10 days before digging or using explosives in any area that you believe is on or near our right-of-way. Vector Pipeline representatives must be on site to inspect any excavation.

Below is a children’s video that teaches the younger generation to call before you dig. By continuing to spread the word, we can keep our families and communities safe.  

Don't forget:

• Call before you dig.
• Wait the required amount of time.
• Respect the markers.
• Dig with care.

Even though underground pipelines are identified above ground, the marker may not necessarily be directly over the pipeline. That's why it's important to call before you do any type of excavation, including:

• Fixing or improving an existing ditch, drain tile or fence.
• Constructing driveways or ditches.
• Altering the grade or deep tilling the soil.
• Operating non-agricultural equipment over the right-of-way.

Understanding the Right-of-Way 

A right-of-way is a strip of land usually about 60-125 feet wide (depending on location) containing one or more pipelines. Many rights-of-way contain more than one underground pipeline. Rights-of-way exist in many kinds of ecosystems, from river crossings to cultivated fields and urban areas. While permanent pipeline markers are located at roads, railways and other intervals along the right-of-way, these show only the approximate location of the buried pipelines—the depth and location of the pipelines vary.

Pipeline rights-of-way are acquired from landowners, other utilities or government entities by obtaining an easement, permit, license or in limited cases through purchase. Right-of-way agreements:

• Enable workers to gain access to the right-of-way for inspection, maintenance, testing or emergencies.
• Restrict certain activities by landowners, such as construction or paving, to protect the safety of the public and the integrity of the pipeline.