Author: GSOC
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Unpacking an 811 Ticket
After submitting a locate request to Gopher State One Call (GSOC), Minnesota’s 811, you’ll receive an emailed copy of your ticket if you provide an email address. This email will come with a variety of helpful materials, along with all of the information about your locate request. Let’s unpack a sample ticket to see what…
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Surprising Reasons to Contact 811
Contacting 811 is always a good call, but sometimes it can be hard to know if your project warrants a locate request. Perhaps you’ve had the area marked for underground utilities before, maybe you’re just extending your garden a little bit past where it was last year, or you’re just knocking out a quick landscaping…
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August 11 is 8/11 Day: A Reminder for Minnesota Residents to Call 811 Before Digging
A simple call can protect your property, your community, and the utilities you rely on every day. August 11 (8/11) serves as an important reminder for Minnesota homeowners, contractors, and professionals: always contact 811 before starting any digging project. Whether you’re planting a tree, installing a mailbox, building a deck, or beginning a large construction project, contacting…
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Minnesota Wildfires Service Alert
Due to the ongoing wildfires affecting northern Minnesota, locate requests submitted to Gopher State One Call for the impacted area may experience delays. The safety of emergency responders, utility personnel, and the public remains our highest priority. Active fire conditions, road closures, dangerous air quality levels, and restricted access may temporarily prevent locators from completing…
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Ticket Talk for Contractors: Stop Chasing Answers. Keep Your Project Moving.
As a contractor, every delay costs money. When utility markings are unclear, schedules change, or questions arise in the field, valuable time is often spent making phone calls, sending emails, and waiting for responses. Ticket Talk was built to reduce that back-and-forth and help contractors get the information they need faster. Why Contractors Should Use…
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Review Before You Submit: Updated Guidance for Automated Marking Instructions and Electronic White Lining
When creating a locate request, automated marking instructions are generated based on the area you map. These instructions are designed to help facility operators accurately identify your excavation area and, when applicable, support Electronic White Lining (EWL) requirements. If the automated marking instructions accurately describe your excavation area, leave them unchanged whenever possible. This helps…
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Private Facilities: Are They On Your Property?
Private underground facilities, also called customer-owned facilities, may be found anywhere, including your excavation site. Chapter 216D requires operators of lines buried in the public right-of-way to register with Gopher State One Call (GSOC), so these lines will be marked as the result of a locate request. Privately-owned facilities, like utility lines that serve heaters…
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Understanding Non-Excavation Ticket Types for Safe & Efficient Project Planning
Gopher State One Call (GSOC) wants to remind excavators of some of the tools available to you when planning upcoming projects. To help you plan your projects efficiently and stay compliant with regulations this summer, below is a clear overview of the different “non-excavation” ticket types available and some guidance on when to use them.…
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Minnesota’s 2026 Damage Prevention Meetings
Spring 2026 presented another great season of damage prevention meetings all around Minnesota! Held by and for the excavation community, the annual meetings are highly anticipated and feature presentations by Gopher State One Call(GSOC) and the Minnesota Office of Pipeline Safety (MNOPS) focused on topics important to the state’s industry stakeholders. This year’s meetings shifted the conversation towards new ticketing…
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GSOC’s Updated Ticket Features in 2026
In response to the 2024 changes to Minnesota State Statute 216D, Gopher State One Call (GSOC) has rolled out several new ticketing features that provide ways to enhance communication with all stakeholders, meaning you can work faster, safer, and smarter when excavating in MN. Watch the video below to learn more about Automated Marking Instructions,…