Part 196: Protection of Underground Pipelines from Excavation Activity

Current as of Oct 29, 2026PHMSA14 sections and appendicesPart 196 on eCFR ↗

Subpart A: General

  • §196.1 What is the purpose and scope of this part?
  • §196.3 Definitions

Subpart B: Damage Prevention Requirements

  • §196.101 What is the purpose and scope of this subpart?
  • §196.103 What must an excavator do to protect underground pipelines from excavation-related damage?
  • §196.105 [Reserved]
  • §196.107 What must an excavator do if a pipeline is damaged by excavation activity?
  • §196.109 What must an excavator do if damage to a pipeline from excavation activity causes a leak where product is released from the pipeline?
  • §196.111 What if a pipeline operator fails to respond to a locate request or fails to accurately locate and mark its pipeline?

Subpart C: Administrative Enforcement Process

  • §196.201 What is the purpose and scope of this subpart?
  • §196.203 What is the administrative process PHMSA will use to conduct enforcement proceedings for alleged violations of excavation damage prevention requirements?
  • §196.205 Can PHMSA assess administrative civil penalties for violations?
  • §196.207 What are the maximum administrative civil penalties for violations?
  • §196.209 May other civil enforcement actions be taken?
  • §196.211 May criminal penalties be imposed?

Compiled from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), an editorial compilation and not an official legal edition of the CFR. The official text is the Federal Register and the annual CFR edition.