2023 Rhode Island General Laws › Title 39 - Public Utilities and Carriers › Chapter 39-1.2 - Excavation near Underground Utility Facilities › Section 39-1.2-5. - Notice of excavation.

§ 39-1.2-5. Notice of excavation.
(a)
Except as provided in § 39-1.2-9, any person, public agency, or public utility responsible for excavating within one hundred feet (100′) or for discharging explosives within one hundred feet (100′) of a public utility facility shall notify the association of the proposed excavation or discharge at least seventy-two (72) hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, but not more than thirty (30) days before commencing the excavation or discharge of explosives. Actual excavation must thereupon commence within thirty (30) days. Each public utility shall, upon receipt of each notice of excavation, mark within seventy-two (72) hours or, where applicable in accordance with § 39-1.2-12, re-mark within forty-eight (48) hours, the location of all underground facilities.
(b)
Each excavator shall provide a description of the excavation location that shall include:
(1)
The name of the city or town where the excavation will take place;
(2)
The name of the street, way, or route number where appropriate;
(3)
The name of the streets at the nearest intersection to the excavation;
(4)
The numbered address of buildings closest to the excavation; and
(5)
Any other description that will accurately define the excavation location, including landmarks and utility pole numbers.
(c)
If an excavator determines that a public utility facility has been mismarked, the excavator may notify the association and the appropriate public utility shall re-mark no later than three (3) hours after receipt of notification from the association. The failure to mark or re-mark the location of all underground facilities upon each notice of excavation shall constitute a separate violation of this chapter. Where an excavation is to be made by a contractor as part of the work required by a contract with the state or with any political subdivision thereof or other public agency for the construction, reconstruction, relocation, or improvement of a public way or for the installation of a railway track, conduit, sewer, or water main, the contractor shall be deemed to have complied with the requirements of this section by giving one such notice to the association as required by this section, except when unanticipated obstructions are encountered, setting forth the location and the approximate time required to perform the work involved. In addition, the initial notice shall indicate whether the excavation is anticipated to involve blasting and, if so, the date on which and specific location at which the blasting is to occur. If after the commencement of an excavation it is found there is an unanticipated obstruction requiring blasting, the excavator shall give at least four (4) hours’ notice to the association before commencing the blasting. When demolition of a building containing a public utility facility is proposed, the public utility or utilities involved will be given written notice by registered mail at least ten (10) days prior to the commencement of the demolition of the building. All notices shall include the name, address, and telephone number of the entity giving notice; the name of the person, public agency, or public utility performing the work; and the commencement date and proposed type of excavation, demolition, or discharge of explosives. The association shall immediately transmit the information to the public utilities whose facilities may be affected. An adequate record shall be maintained by the association to document compliance with the requirements of this chapter.
History of Section.
P.L. 1984, ch. 119, § 1; P.L. 1990, ch. 182, § 1; P.L. 1998, ch. 367, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 92, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 103, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 97, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 128, § 1; P.L. 2016, ch. 512, art. 1, § 25; P.L. 2017, ch. 83, § 1; P.L. 2017, ch. 91, § 1.