IDENTIFYING, INVESTIGATING & CHARACTERIZING UNKNOWNS

1. IDENTIFYING, INVESTIGATING & CHARACTERIZING UNKNOWNS

2. WHAT ARE UNKNOWNS & HOW ARE THEY IDENTIFIED? • Unknowns are typically linear conductors or targets which can not be readily correlated to available record information, utility related structures or positively identified utility configurations. • Unknowns are typically identified through the employment of surface geophysical equipment during a Quality Level “B” (QL-B) subsurface utility engineering (SUE) investigation. • Unknowns may also be discovered during the excavation of Quality Level “A” (QL-A) test holes or while investigating utility related structures such as manholes, vaults, inlets, cabinets and pedestals. • In some cases, unknowns may first show up as unidentified facilities on plans, permits or record drawings.

3. UNKNOWN CONDUCTORS vs. UNKNOWN UTILITIES NON-UTILITY CONDUCTORS Old Fencing Typically found near existing or old ROW lines. Rebar Typically found in curbs, sidewalks & concrete paving. Railroad & Trolley Tracks Typically found in older urban, metropolitan and industrial areas. Construction/Demolition Debris Occurs randomly on a small percentage of projects. UNKNOWN UTILITIES Undocumented “Active” Utilities Found everywhere, they are most often communications, traffic control and privately owned facilities. Abandoned Communications Most often found in suburban and rural areas, their number are growing rapidly. Abandoned Natural Gas & Water Most often found in older urban, metropolitan and industrial areas. Aban & Gas Gathering Systems Commonly found in regions with a history of oil & gas production. Steam & Pneumatic Systems Casings and Culverts

4. WHAT ARE THE PRIMARY GOALS OF INVESTIGATING UNKNOWNS? ATTEMPT TO DETERMINE THE FOLLOWING: • What is it? Obtaining this information is critical because it is the only way to eliminate non-utility related targets. It also allows for the narrowing of search parameters aimed at determining ownership. • Who owns it? The determination of ownership is critical because it establishes a direct contact for obtaining additional facility specific information. Direct contact with the owner also facilitates the timely negotiation, design and planning of relocations. • What is its operational status? This information is critical regardless of the establishment of ownership. The time and costs associated with removing “abandoned” facilities are far less than those associated with the design and relocation of “inactive” or “abandoned” facilities.

5. HOW CAN WE DETERMINEWHAT IT IS? • Employ surface geophysical equipment to tie the target in to a utility related structure or positively identified utility configurations. This may require investigation beyond the strict limits of the project. • Research additional sources of record and anecdotal information. These sources may include “archival” utility records, permits, deeds, tax records, public libraries, county courthouses, regulatory agencies, property owners, the internet, etc. • Employ non-destructive excavating techniques to expose the target. Exposure will allow for the elimination of non-utility unknowns. It also allows for the collection of important physical information such as the size, material type and general condition of unknown utilities.

6. HOW CAN WE DETERMINE OWNERSHIP? • Employ surface geophysical equipment to tie the target in to a utility related structure or positively identified utility configurations. This may require investigation beyond the strict limits of the project. • Research additional sources of record and anecdotal information. These sources may include “archival” utility records, permits, deeds, tax records, public libraries, county courthouses regulatory agencies, property owners, internet, etc. • Post public notices as required by state and local statutes. • Is there an owner? Abandoned utilities are often not included in the sales, mergers, etc. of corporate interests. In these cases, ownership may have reverted to the surface owner.

7. FROM THE TxDOT UTILITY MANUAL: Section 9: Unknown Utility Ownership Policy Determining the ownership and authorized agent of the utility can be accomplished by: 􀁺 visiting with people being served by the facility; 􀁺 checking with the owners or representatives of similar facilities in the area; 􀁺 contacting the landowners where the utility is located; 􀁺 reviewing TxDOT permits and Joint Use Agreements in the area; 􀁺 investigate other adjacent roadway utilities; or 􀁺 contacting county maintenance personnel or commissioners.

8. Cooperative facilities may be used by consumers who are unaware that the facilities are consumer owned, or that the original members of a cooperative may no longer exist. Yet, the cooperatives are responsible for the adjustment of utilities. This situation may be remedied by the following methods: 􀁺 Call the consumers using the facilities to a meeting. Have the TxDOT Utility Liaison explain the scope of the project and potential impact on the facilities. 􀁺 If the cooperative is unable to fund their portion of the required adjustment, inform them of financing options. These include SIB and State's Hardship Financing Fund and other than State sources, e.g., bond.

9. When ownership cannot be determined and the utility is not abandoned or inoperative, TxDOT will exhibit a good faith effort by publishing its intention to abandon the utility according to State or industry standards using a citation by publication. This should be accomplished in the same manner as that for a right of way parcel; refer to TxDOT’s right of way Manual, Volume 4, Eminent Domain Guide, Sections 3 and 8. Another method of handling this situation could be leaving the utility in place through highway design mitigation.

10. GENERALLY RECOGNIZED OPERATIONAL STATUS CHARACTERIZATIONS ACTIVE – Any or all of the following may apply: • The utility owner has characterized the operational status of this facility as ACTIVE . • There is physical, electronic, record or anecdotal evidence found to suggest this facility is in regular use.

11. GENERALLY RECOGNIZED OPERATIONAL STATUS CHARACTERIZATIONS INACTIVE – Any or all of the following may apply: • The utility owner has characterized the operational status of this facility as INACTIVE . • There is physical, electronic, record or anecdotal evidence found to suggest this facility is not in regular use. • There is physical, electronic, record or anecdotal evidence found to suggest this facility is serviceable or, could be economically repaired and returned to ACTIVE status.

12. GENERALLY RECOGNIZED OPERATIONAL STATUS CHARACTERIZATIONS ABANDONED – Any or all of the following may apply: • The utility owner has characterized the operational status of this facility as ABANDONED. • There is physical, electronic, record or anecdotal evidence found to suggest this facility is not in regular use. • There is physical, electronic, record or anecdotal evidence found to suggest this facility is unserviceable and, could not be economically repaired and returned to ACTIVE or INACTIVEstatus.

13. GENERALLY RECOGNIZED OPERATIONAL STATUS CHARACTERIZATIONS UNKNOWN – Any or all of the following may apply: • The utility owner was unable or unwilling to characterize the operational status of this facility. • There was insufficient physical, electronic, record or anecdotal evidence found to warrant a more specific status.

14. HOW CAN WE DETERMINE OPERATIONAL STATUS? • Employ surface geophysical to search for “EOIs”. EOI’s can indicate the cut ends of pipes or cables. • Employ non-destructive excavating techniques to expose target utilities. > Physical exposure at an EOI can provide verification that a line has been cut. >Physical exposure at points of poor electronic information may yield additional telling information such as holes or other conditions which are indicative of operational status. >Physical exposure of pipes facilitates external testing for cathodic protection, pipe wall thickness, asbestos content and flowing liquid or gas. • As a last resort and provided a number of prerequisite criteria have been met, pipes can be “cold tapped”. This facilitates direct sampling inside of the pipe.

15. DOCUMENTING & REPORTING INFORMATION • Provide QL-B information in the appropriate CADD platform using the client’s standards for line styles, symbology, etc. • Add a unique non-embedded text label i.e., A-Z, 2A-2Z, 3A-3Z to each line. • Provide a Utility Characterization Report which includes detailed information such as size, material type, depth, general condition, ownership, operational status, etc. for each line.

16. TYPICAL QL-B WORK PRODUCT

17. TYPICAL QL-B/UC WORK PRODUCT

19. C/I ASCE 38-02Standard Guidelines for the Collection and Depiction of Existing Subsurface Utility Data • National engineering standard published in Dec. 2002. • Utility ownership or type should be noted when known. • 38-02 is silent on how much investigation should go into determining utility ownership or type.

20. SCOPES OF WORK • Most scopes of work, whether generated by the SUE consultant or the client, fail to specifically address the issue of unknowns. • Therefore, individual SUE consultants will address these issues in different ways, based upon their perception of the owner’s expectations, pricing mechanisms, project due dates, and other factors. • However, lacking a scope of work to the contrary, a majority of SUE consultants will take a relatively minimalist approach and simply label “unidentified conductors” as an “UNKNOWNS” and leave it at that.

21. Range of Practices – Consultant 1 • Research records of the major “known” utilities. • Employ surface geophysical equipment to confirm only these “utilities of record”. • If they happen across an “unidentified conductor” it is traced to the project limits, mapped and labeled whatever the technician thinks it might be or simply left as an UNKNOWN.

22. Range of Practices – Consultant 2 • Research records of the major “known” utilities. • Employ surface geophysical equipment to confirm only these “utilities of record”. • If they happen across an “unidentified conductor” and it is traced to the project limits, it is mapped and labeled whatever the technician thinks it might be or simply left as an UNKNOWN. • If it is traced to a utility related structure (e.g. a telephone pedestal), it is labeled based upon it association with that structure (e.g. telephone).

23. Range of Practices – Consultant 3 • Research records of the major “known” utilities. • Employ surface geophysical equipment to confirm the “utilities of record” and, actively sweep the projects to search for others. • If “unidentified conductors” are found, they are traced to the project limits and mapped. If no structures are found within the project limits, they labeled as an UNKNOWNS. • If an unknown conductor is traced to a utility related structure (e.g. a telephone pedestal), it is labeled based upon it association with that structure (e.g. telephone).

24. Range of Practices – Consultant 4 • Research records of the major “known” utilities. • Employ surface geophysical equipment to confirm the “utilities of record” and, actively sweep the projects to search for others. • If “unidentified conductors” are found, they are traced to the project limits and mapped. If no structures are found within the project limits, they labeled as an UNKNOWNS. • If an unknown conductor is traced to a utility related structure (e.g. a telephone pedestal), it is labeled based upon it association with that structure (e.g. telephone). • Perform additional records research and meet or correspond with owners of “known” utilities in an attempt to obtain additional anecdotal information leading the identification of unknowns and their ownership.

25. Range of Practices – Consultant 5 • Research records of the major “known” utilities. • Employ surface geophysical equipment to confirm the “utilities of record” and, actively sweep the projects to search for others. • If “unidentified conductors” are found, they are traced for some distance beyond the project limits and mapped within the limits. If no structures are found within the project limits, they labeled as an UNKNOWNS. • If an unknown conductor is traced to a utility related structure (e.g. a telephone pedestal), it is labeled based upon it association with that structure (e.g. telephone). • Perform additional records research and meet or correspond with owners of “known” utilities in an attempt to obtain additional anecdotal information leading the identification of unknowns and their ownership. • If unknown is thought to be relatively shallow, a hand excavation is performed in an attempt to at least identify its size and material type.

26. SUMMARY • Unknown conductors can end up being almost anything from buried railroad tracks, to scraps of abandoned phone cables, to active petroleum or natural gas pipelines. • The amount of effort required to determine what they are, who owns them and whether or not they are “active” covers a large spectrum • Some courses of action are simple, inexpensive, and can be relatively effective • Other actions may be quite costly and time consuming, with liability issues regarding environmental releases or property damage (e.g. to a line being tapped). • Good communications and a clear scope of work are critical to controlling costs, mitigating risks, and ensuring adherence to project timelines. • Project owners may perceive a conflict of interest between the normal utility mapping scope and the costly measures necessary to identify some unknowns; they may desire separate contracts to eliminate this perceived conflict of interest.