Missouri enacts new standards for safe digging following fatal gas explosion
Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe on Monday signed SB133, intended to reduce the risk of damage to the state’s buried utility lines, the type of incident that caused the fatal April 9 explosion in Lexington. The bill adopts Common Ground Alliance (CGA) Best Practices for properly marking buried utilities in advance of digging.
CGA President and CEO and Damage Prevention Action Center (DPAC) Executive Director Sarah K. Magruder Lyle was in attendance at the Missouri State Capitol for the bill signing ceremony alongside Governor Kehoe and bill sponsors State Senator Travis Fitzwater and State Representative Josh Hurlbert.
The NTSB’s initial report determined the incident was caused in part by damage to an unlocated, unmarked buried natural gas line. The bill will significantly improve damage prevention practices to protect all Missouri residents.
See also: NTSB publishes preliminary report on fatal gas pipeline explosion in Lexington, Mo.
CGA is the Washington, DC-based national association that publishes the underground infrastructure industry's Best Practices for preventing damage to utility lines. According to CGA's industry data, utility line locating issues are one of the top three contributors to underground damages, along with not contacting 811 call centers and excavation issues.
According to CGA’s data, Missouri suffers more than 3,000 incidents of damage to buried utilities each year — eight times each day, on average.
“The State of Missouri has taken an important step forward today to help avoid future tragedies," said Sarah K. Magruder Lyle following the bill's signing. "By adopting CGA’s Best Practices, state leaders are helping protect Missourians from the risks of utility damage – from families and businesses to the essential workers who install and maintain these critical underground utilities."
The changes will take effect in August and include:
- Defines damage prevention best practices as CGA Best Practices
- Improves 811 center leadership by including board directors from the construction industry
- Requires all buried utilities installed after August 28, 2025 to include detectable locating devices
- Limits damage liability for excavators if proper procedures were followed
- Expands presumption of negligence for failing to properly mark buried utilities
"The passage of SB133 marks a critical victory for public safety across Missouri. Working closely with industry experts and our communities, we've crafted legislation that directly addresses a persistent and dangerous problem: the damage to our buried utility lines," added State Senator Travis Fitzwater, who co-sponsored the bill. "This bill will significantly reduce incidents that put lives at risk and disrupt essential services.”
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