Which agency must be notified prior to excavation?

• A. EPA
• B. Department of Transportation
• C. County Sewer Department
• D. Utilities Protection Service

Answer: (D)

Before any digging, you need to know what lies underground to prevent damaging lines and causing injuries or outages. The agency you must notify is the Utilities Protection Service. They coordinate with all utility owners—gas, electric, water, telecom—to locate and mark buried lines at the job site before excavation begins. You typically file a notice about your project’s location, scope, and timing, and UPS arranges for the marks to be placed so you can dig safely. Do not start until the marks are visible and you have clearance. The EPA focuses on environmental protection, the Department of Transportation handles roads and transportation, and the County Sewer Department deals with sewer systems—not the universal obligation to notify underground utilities.