Risks on transmission and distribution projects as a result of our increasingly crowded underground infrastructure are on the rise. These risks are manifested in project delays and costs, and some significantly large claims. The American Society of Civil Engineers recognized the problem with one result being a new national engineering standard. ASCE C/I 38-02, Standard Guideline for the Collection and Depiction of Existing Subsurface Utility Data, is intended to serve as the basis for developing and implementing a clearly understood scope of work regarding the investigation and portrayal of utilities on design and construction documents. Its use will reduce the total risk that existing utilities create on construction projects, in addition to providing a template for fairly allocating the remaining risk between parties. It applies to virtually any type of transmission and distribution project where excavation may eventually occur. For additional information, contact Jim Anspach, chairman of ASCE C/I 38-02, at Jhanspach@aol.com, or the publications department at www.asce.org.