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News + Events

GSOC at the MN State Fair

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Planning to visit the “Great Minnesota Get-Together” this year? While you are at the State Fair, stop by and visit the Gopher State One Call (GSOC) booth! We will be spreading the damage prevention message to fair-goers and distributing our wildly popular GSOC yardsticks, along with other GSOC promotional items. Spin our wheel and land on an APWA color-coded utility to determine the color of the yardstick you’ll receive! You can find us in the Blue Flame Gas Association building on the west side of Nelson Street, between Dan Patch and Carnes Avenues (across from the Giant Slide) from August 24th-September 4th, 2017.

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The 811 Run Returns to MN

811 Run MN blogIMGTo celebrate 811 Day, the 811 Run is returning to Minnesota! The event promotes the “Call or Click Before You Dig” message, and all proceeds go to Twin Cities Firefighters Operation Warm, an organization that provides winter coats to children in need. Gopher State One Call (GSOC) is a proud sponsor of this family-friendly event that will feature a free kid’s “fun run”, an awards ceremony, a prize giveaway, and a safety fair following the 5K run. Come visit the GSOC booth to learn more about the damage prevention message and the important steps that you should take to excavate safely.

 

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Staking University at GSOC - Recap and upcoming events

On May 22-23, 2017, Gopher State One Call (GSOC) hosted a two-day Locator Certification Seminar (LCS) taught by Staking University (Staking U) instructor John Foster. John estimated that the LCS included 75% of hands-on training, with 25% of classroom education. Students went outside to locate a variety of different underground electric, telecommunications, water, and gas lines around the office building.

On September 21-22, 2017, GSOC will host another LCS at its office in Mendota Heights. The LCS will include classroom and outdoor presentations intended to teach Minnesota locators:

  • Superior troubleshooting techniques;
  • Skills to help them consistently provide accurate and complete utility locations;
  • A mastery of locating equipment; and,
  • The competencies required to pass Staking U’s locator certification test.

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Why Are There Flags And Paint In My Yard?

flags blogIMG

At some point in time, you’ve probably noticed small colored flags placed in your yard or around town. Sometimes the ground is also marked with different colors of paint. If you have these flags and paint in your yard, it means that someone in the area is planning to dig, and they have contacted Gopher State One Call (GSOC) to file a locate request. When someone files a locate request with GSOC, we notify the facility operators who have underground utilities in the proposed excavation area. These facility operators dispatch locators to the site who mark the location of utilities with different colored flags and paint that correspond to specific utility types. 

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Radon - An Underground Danger

radon gas warning blogIMGStriking an underground pipeline or cable can result in an array of consequences, but did you know that there are non-excavation related underground dangers? One prime example is an odorless, colorless gas named “radon”. “Radon...forms naturally from the decay (breaking down) of radioactive elements, such as uranium, which are found in different amounts in soil and rock throughout the world. Radon gas in the soil and rock can move into the air, underground water, and surface water. Radon is present outdoors and indoors. It is normally found at very low levels in outdoor air and in drinking water from rivers and lakes. It can be found at higher levels in the air in houses and other buildings, as well as in water from underground sources, such as well water.” 1

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Upcoming Events

ITIC'S New Interface Webinar

01/08/2025 - 01/08/2025

ITIC'S New Interface Webinar

01/15/2025 - 01/15/2025

ITIC'S New Interface Webinar

01/29/2025 - 01/29/2025

Date

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