NEW: Free Dig Safe Training and Certification Course

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Created: Tuesday, 11 February 2025 16:43

Written by Courtney Ommen

Gopher State One Call and Underground Safety Academy are excited to announce the launch of a new Dig Safe Training and Certification course! Free for damage prevention professionals, the online course covers both the GSOC handbook and MN State Statue 216D – also known as the “Minnesota One Call Law” – in an engaging and interactive platform that allows users to go at their own pace and work around their existing schedule.

Click here to enroll now or bookmark the link for later.

Example Still from a Course Training Video

Join Us at the 2025 MNCGA Upper Midwest Locate Rodeo

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Created: Thursday, 23 January 2025 12:29

Written by Courtney Ommen

The annual MNCGA Upper Midwest Utility Locate Rodeo is back! The 2025 competition will take place at Xcel Energy in Hugo starting on April 1 and going through the April 3, as needed. Prizes will be awarded to first, second, and third place finishers, and those three winners will have the opportunity to compete at the International Locate Rodeo on December 11–12 in Springfield, Missouri.

When: April 1–3, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Xcel Energy at 13620 Fenway Blvd N, Hugo, MN 55038

Register: via Eventbrite

Rules & Eligibility
This competition is open to anyone who has located in the Upper Midwest, which includes: North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. If you are or have been a practicing technician employed by a utility company or one of their locate contractors, are an owner or employee of a private locating company, or use electronic equipment to locate underground facilities as part of your job duties, you are eligible to compete in the MNCGA Upper Midwest Utility Locate Rodeo free of charge.

A brief overview of the rules and equipment will be sent to all registered participants prior to the competition. Each participant will be assigned a 1-hour time block to compete to help manage your day. Each competitor will have 12 minutes to complete the locate.

Click here to register for free via Eventbrite.

Sponsors
Email Steve.Olinger@CenterPointEnergy.com to inquire about sponsoring. A full list of sponsors will be identified during the event.

2025 GSOC Holiday Schedule

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Created: Monday, 30 December 2024 14:00

Written by Courtney Ommen

When submitting a locate request with Gopher State One Call, those digging need to consider the 48-hour waiting period that excludes the day of submission, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays in their planning. Whether you submit a ticket online or by calling the GSOC center, the 48-hour period will begin at 12:01 a.m. the business day after the request is made. Being aware of GSOC’s hours of operation – which shift seasonally – and the center’s observed holidays can help ensure your project starts on time. You can see a list of both the hours of operation and observed holidays below.

Emergency calls are exempt from business hours and are always accepted.

While the 48-hour waiting period for a routine locate request begins at 12:01 a.m. the business day after the request is made, you can submit a ticket online at any time. If you prefer to plan ahead, you can submit your locate request up to 14 calendar days before the start date and time of the excavation. 

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I'm Digging Soon – When Should I Submit a Locate Request?

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Created: Tuesday, 03 December 2024 11:02

Written by Taylor Jones

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 requests have a 48-hour waiting period after submission, excluding the day of submission, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. The 48-hour period will begin at 12:01 a.m. the business day after the request is made. This means that if you submit a ticket on Tuesday, you can start digging on Friday. If you submit on a Friday, you can start digging on the following Wednesday.

Prior to August 1, 2024, the date the locate request was submitted did count in the 48-hour waiting period. Changes made to Minnesota State Statute 216D – also known as the “One Call Law” – changed this requirement to exclude the day of submission on that date. See the graphic below for a visual reference of the call timeline.

If you’d like to save or print the call timeline graphic for visual reference, you can download the PDF.

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Learn From the Unexpected with Elena Rutkowski of Xcel Energy

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Created: Wednesday, 27 November 2024 16:35

Written by Courtney Ommen

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 – also known as the “One Call Law” – that went into effect on August 1, 2024. Check out LearnFromTheUnexpected.com/GSOC to watch the video.

For additional information on the changes to MN State Statute 216D, click here.

About Learn from the Unexpected
The damage prevention industry isn’t always predictable. Gopher State One Call believes in learning from the unexpected moments that do happen and proactively working to avoid damages. Through these efforts, we can all work towards a safer future.

That’s why we’ve introduced our Learn From the Unexpected video series. These videos feature Minnesota-based damage prevention professionals like you and allow community members to share their stories so that we can all work smarter and safer as our industry continues to grow. Visit LearnFromTheUnexpected.com/GSOC to learn more and watch the videos.

Submit Your Story
Have you faced the unexpected at a jobsite or found something especially useful in avoiding unexpected damages or delays? We want to hear about it! Submit yourself or a colleague to be entered for the chance to be featured in an official Learn From the Unexpected video. Those selected will also earn the honorary title of Damage Prevention Influencer and receive a $200 Visa gift card that you can use for anything from a new pair of work boots to a much-deserved dinner out. To submit, scroll to the bottom of LearnFromTheUnexpected.com/GSOC and click “Submit Your Story.”