Category: Best Practices
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Expanding Access to Safe Digging: GSOC Spanish Resources Now Available
To better serve Minnesota’s Spanish-speaking communities, GSOC has launched a Spanish Resources page within our Resource Center, making essential safe digging information easier to find, understand, and use. The Spanish Resources page includes
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Dig Smart This April: Five Ways to Keep Minnesota Safe During National Safe Digging Month
April is National Safe Digging Month, making it the perfect time to remind homeowners, renters, and DIYers across Minnesota that safe digging starts before the shovel ever hits the ground.
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Coming Soon: Excavators Can Provide Electronic White Lining
Starting January 1, Minnesota excavators will be able to provide electronic white lining in place of physical markings, provided they deliver the same level of information. Whether you’re submitting tickets,
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Submitting Tickets for a Dig Site Without a Specific Address
My Dig Site Doesn’t Have a Specific Address—How Do I Submit a Ticket? If you ever find yourself needing to break ground in a location without a specific address—perhaps somewhere
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Suggested Practices for Electronic Marking from MNCGA
Minnesota law requires excavators to provide facility operators with white markings on all excavations, without exception. Starting January 1, 2026, an excavator may provide markings in electronic form if they
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Meet Tickets: Working Better Together on Large Projects
In 2024, Minnesota state law changed to require any project where the work involves excavation of one mile or more in length—or any combination of notices provided for adjacent geographic
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I’m Digging Soon – When Should I Submit a Locate Request?
Prior to digging in Minnesota, it’s required for the excavator – including professional contractors and homeowners or other non-professionals – to submit a locate request with Gopher State One Call (GSOC) to have underground facilities marked before breaking ground. But exactly how far in advance do you need to submit your ticket? Great question! Locate…
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Learn From the Unexpected with Elena Rutkowski of Xcel Energy
Elena Rutkowski, operations supervisor of damage prevention at Xcel Energy Minnesota, is featured in our latest Learn From the Unexpected video. Elena covers changes to Minnesota State Statute 216D –
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White Lining Your Excavation Site: Q&A with Jason Ponciano
In Minnesota, it’s a requirement for anyone looking to excavate – whether a professional landscaper or other contractor, homeowner, or anyone else – to “white line” or “white mark” their excavation site with paint or flags as part of the locate request submission process. By clearly identifying the dig site, white lining reduces potential confusion…
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Learn From the Unexpected with Jason Ponciano of Vannguard Utility Partners
The latest Learn From the Unexpected video features Jason Ponciano, Minnesota State Manager at Vannguard Utility Partners. Jason discusses the importance of white lining and how it can impact both