safety interests in utility coordination, the 1995 Oregon Legislature established the Oregon <br /> Utility Notification Center (OUNC) as a public corporation with the rule-making authority of <br /> a state agency. A key provision of the legislation creating the OUNC was a requirement <br /> that all operators of underground facilities subscribe to the center by July 1, 1997. Prior to <br /> this time, the utility notification system was voluntary and not all underground facility <br /> operators participated in the system. As such, excavators could not always be assured <br /> that all operators of underground facilities in the area of a proposed excavation were <br /> notified and were thus responsible for individually notifying other possible facility <br /> operators. If a facility whose operator was not notified is damaged, the excavator might be <br /> held liable for any damage which the excavation caused. <br /> The City of Eugene has subscribed to the utility notification center since its early <br /> development and maintains a notification system modem connection at the Maintenance <br /> Division office at 1820 Roosevelt Blvd. The Maintenance Planning Section has the <br /> responsibility for receiving and distributing notifications to the various divisions of the City <br /> responsible for underground facilities. <br /> 1.D THE UTILITY INSPECTOR <br /> 1.D.1 General <br /> The "Utility Inspector" is a term used to describe those individuals employed by the City to <br /> perform the duties described herein. Inspections of the permittee's work by the Utility <br /> Inspector shall in' no way relieve. the permittee from the obligation of performing all work <br /> within the public way in strict accordance with the requirements of the City of Eugene <br /> Standard Specifications, provisions of this manual, the'Eugene Code, and related <br /> administrative rules. 'Nor shall this inspection relieve the permittee of the permittee's <br /> responsibility of performing any required corrections in case the work is later found <br /> deficient. <br /> The Eugene Code places the responsibility with the City Engineer of seeing that all <br /> conditions and specifications for work within the public way are satisfactorily performed in <br /> line with sound engineering practice. Responsibility for the inspection, permit review and <br /> locates for the construction-related activities of licensees, franchised utilities and EWEB <br /> within the Public Way has been delegated by the City Engineer to the Utility Inspector. <br /> In general, the primary function of the Utility Inspector is to see that construction work <br /> performed within the public way is performed in the best interest of the City of Eugene and <br /> the general public. When work is not being performed in a manner acceptable under the <br /> Eugene Code or adopted rules and standards, the Inspector will so inform the permittee's <br /> representative in charge and require the necessary corrections be made. <br /> <br /> The Utility Inspector shat! maintain accurate records of the number of inspections each <br /> <br /> month, locates performed, requests for locates, right-of-way cut permits issued and <br /> incidents of damage to City facilities. Licensees, franchised utilities and EWEB submit _ _ <br /> <br /> monthly reports of all right-of way cuts made by their staff or contractors and these <br /> Utility & R/W Permit Policy 3 12/01 /97 <br /> <br />