Statutes, codes, and regulations
New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 17 - PUBLIC UTILITIES AND UTILITY SERVICESChapter 4 - UTILITY RIGHTS OF WAY AND EASEMENTS
Part 2 - REQUIREMENTS FOR OCCUPANCY OF STATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM RIGHT-OF-WAY BY UTILITY FACILITIES
Section 17.4.2.18 - SAFETY MARKERS FOR IDENTIFICATION OF ABOVE GROUND UTILITY APPURTENANCES, WITHIN PUBLIC HIGHWAY RIGHT-OF-WAY

N.M. Admin. Code § 17.4.2.18

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Current through Register Vol. 36, No. 1, January 14, 2025
Section 17.4.2.18 - SAFETY MARKERS FOR IDENTIFICATION OF ABOVE GROUND UTILITY APPURTENANCES, WITHIN PUBLIC HIGHWAY RIGHT-OF-WAY

Buried utility facilities with supporting above ground appurtenances shall be marked as follows:

A. All existing buried utilities, including pipeline carriers, delivering natural gas or other gaseous products, water, sewage, steam, buried electric lines, telephone and other communication systems, petroleum products, and any other buried facilities with above ground appurtenances thereto located within the rights-of-way of highways under the jurisdiction of the Department shall have such above ground appurtenances clearly marked with the appropriate warning markers as described herein.
B. Above ground appurtenances to all buried utility systems such as pipeline valves, regulators and the like, pad mounted transformers, telephone pedestals, junction boxes and the like, shall be identified with a yellow, red, orange or other appropriate industry colored flexible fiberglass restorable blade, four feet six inches (1.65 m) minimum height above the ground surface. It shall be color coded a minimum of six inches (150 mm) in height and three inches (75 mm) width at the top of the blade. The blade shall be visible in all directions. The color coded portion of the marker shall be at least two feet (.61 m) above the surrounding high grass, weed or shrubbery line.
C. The utility owner shall maintain the markers in good condition; color faded markers shall be replaced as necessary so that their visibility to maintenance crews and others is not impaired. The markers shall not be placed within the Access Control Lines of Interstate Highways or Freeways in a manner that would create a safety hazard, or by methods contrary to this regulation.
D. The utilities shall commence the placement of these markers on new facility installations within public highway rights-of-way thirty (30) days after the date this new statutory regulation is approved and becomes effective (the approval and effective date is that date inscribed on page one (1) of this rule). The utilities are also directed to make these marker installations on existing utility facilities on a continuing basis whenever their maintenance crews are repairing or maintaining their existing facilities located within the public highway right-of-way of this State in rural areas and/or on certain designated public highways within municipalities.
E. Variances not involving significant changes to the marker specifications detailed herein or the rules governing the installation of utilities within the access control lines, set forth in Paragraph 17 [now 17.4.2.17 NMAC] herein, may be approved by the Engineer or their representatives, upon the submittal by the utility owner of a written detailed justification supporting the variance requested.
F. During this marker installation process, the utility shall observe all appropriate regulations stipulated herein pertaining to the installation of utility facilities within the public highway right-of-way under control of this Department.

N.M. Admin. Code § 17.4.2.18

11/15/96; Recompiled 12/31/01