Electronic positive response is an important part of the damage prevention process, helping excavators understand the status of underground facilities before work begins and giving facility operators a consistent way to communicate their response to a locate request. Effective August 1, 2026, all facility operators are required to provide an electronic positive response on each excavation notice they receive through Gopher State One Call (GSOC) prior to expiration of the required locate period. Whether you are excavating or responding on behalf of a facility operator, understanding the positive response process—and reviewing each response carefully—can help support safer excavation across Minnesota.
Excavators: Review Every Response Before You Dig
Before beginning excavation, review your ticket and confirm that each facility operator listed on the ticket has provided a response and that each underground facility has been appropriately marked or cleared. A ticket may include multiple responses from the same facility operator because different departments or underground facilities may be listed separately. Facility operators may also update their response before the legal start date, so checking the ticket status before work begins is an important final step.
Do not assume that one response clears the entire ticket. Pay particular attention to responses such as:
- Not Yet Responded: The facility operator has not yet provided clearance to excavate.
- Marked: Facilities have been marked in the field. Confirm that the expected markings are present before beginning excavation.
- Clear/No Conflict: The operator has indicated that the excavation area identified on the ticket is clear of its underground facilities.
- Marking Will Be Delayed: The facility operator has not completed the locate by the required time. Do not begin excavation until the situation has been resolved.
- Not Complete/In Progress: Locating work is underway but has not been completed. Excavation should not begin.
- No Access to Site: The locator was unable to access the excavation area. This does not mean the area is clear.
Remember: Before breaking ground, make sure every notified underground facility has been accounted for. Excavators can review ticket responses using GSOC’s Search & Status tool.
Facility Operators: Select the Response That Matches the Situation
Facility operators should carefully select the electronic positive response that accurately communicates the status of the locate request. Common responses include:
Clear/No Conflict
Use when the excavation area identified on the ticket is clear of your underground facilities.
Marked
Use when the requested excavation area has been marked in the field.
Marking Will Be Delayed
Use when an unexpected situation prevents marking from being completed before the legal start date. If marking cannot be completed on time, the delay must be indicated through electronic positive response, and the excavator or land surveyor should be contacted promptly.
Not Complete/In Progress
Use when locating has begun but is not yet complete.
Marked, Critical Facilities in Area
Use when facilities have been marked and the operator wants to alert the excavator that critical facilities are present.
No Access to Site
Use when the locator cannot access the excavation area. The excavator should be contacted so access can be arranged.
Some response codes are intended for specific ticket types:
- Non-Excavation – Planning tickets only
- Maps Provided – Planning tickets, or when maps of abandoned facilities are provided, as applicable
- Marked per Meet Schedule – Meet and Design/Pre-Con Meet tickets
- Agreed to Marking Schedule – Meet and Design/Pre-Con Meet tickets
- Maps Provided Per Agreement – Boundary Survey tickets when maps are provided according to an agreement between the facility operator and the land surveyor
Choosing the correct response helps ensure that the excavator receives clear, accurate information about the status of the ticket.
Electronic Response is Required
Field markings may supplement the information provided through GSOC, but as of August 1, 2026, field markings alone do not satisfy the facility operator’s electronic positive response requirement. Facility operators must submit their response electronically through GSOC for each applicable excavation notice. Facility operators can submit positive responses through iSite by opening the appropriate ticket, selecting Change Status/Locator, choosing the appropriate status and saving the response.
Need Help With Positive Response?
GSOC offers resources to help both excavators and facility operators understand the positive response process.
Electronic Positive Response Guide
Step-by-step instructions for facility operators submitting responses through iSite.
GSOC Positive Response Page
Review response definitions and additional positive response information.
Search & Status
Excavators can use Search & Status to review the responses associated with their locate ticket.
Facility operators that need assistance setting up or using electronic positive response can contact [email protected] for training or support. Taking a few moments to provide the correct response and verify every response before excavation begins helps improve communication and supports safer digging throughout Minnesota.