49 CFR § 196.1 - What is the purpose and scope of this part?

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t49/s196.1"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "49 CFR § 196.1 - What is the purpose and scope of this part?"
title_number: 49
title_name: "Transportation"
section_number: "196.1"
section_name: "What is the purpose and scope of this part?"
chapter_name: "PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION"
subchapter_number: "D"
subchapter_name: "PIPELINE SAFETY"
part_number: "196"
part_name: "PROTECTION OF UNDERGROUND PIPELINES FROM EXCAVATION ACTIVITY"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "49 U.S.C. 60101  and 49 CFR 1.97."
regulatory_source: "80 FR 43866, July 23, 2015, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "196"
---


# 196.1 What is the purpose and scope of this part?

This part prescribes the minimum requirements that excavators must follow to protect underground pipelines from excavation-related damage. It also establishes an enforcement process for violations of these requirements.