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• Submit a Locate Request notice to MS811 in advance of excavation projects.
• Waiting for the time required (based on the ticket type) for the utility owners to mark the location of their underground lines and excavate with care.
The information above is only a summary of excavator requirements. There are additional details on how to meet these requirements throughout this document.
Notes:
• Submitting a locate request protects the notifying party from liability if the utility fails to respond or provides incorrect information. However,
the excavator is still responsible for digging carefully and can be held liable for any injuries or damage caused by their negligence.
• If an excavator damages an underground line or facility and hasn’t fully complied with the MS
Dig Law, they are responsible for all costs to fix or replace it. This does not apply to the property owner unless they are the one doing the excavation.
How to Submit a Locate Request
Submitting a Locate Request notice to MS811 is a free service. Requests can be submitted or renewed by phone or online through the MS811 Web Portal, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
By Phone
Contact the MS811 Contact Center by dialing 811 or (800)227-6477. When dialing 811 you must be physically inside the state of MS when calling. When dialing 811 you will be directed to the state Call Center for the state that you are physically calling from.
MS811 Web Portal
Portal users can have either a standard (aka Level 1-2 users) or advanced (aka Level 3 users) user account. When
an advance user submits a locate request through the Portal, they are immediately issued a locate request ticket number, and the request is automatically transmitted to the MS811 members with underground utilities in the area. Portal users must complete a special Portal training class to obtain
advanced user permissions. If you
are interested in obtaining advanced user permissions, contact Chasberdee Sample at (601)362-2851.
Requests submitted by standard
users are reviewed and completed by an MS811 agent. The member utility companies are not notified until the MS811 agent saves the request. Most requests submitted by standard users, between 7:00 am and 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday excluding observed holidays, are processed by MS811 on the same business day. Requests submitted after 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday, or on observed holidays are processed on the next business day.
If you do not have a Portal account you can sign up by going to https://geocall. ms811.org/geocall/portal and clicking on the “Sign Up” link located in the top right corner of the page, or contact Joanna Henderson at (601) 362-3887.
When to Submit a Locate Request
In most situations, you should contact MS811 at least 3 and no more than 10 working days in advance of excavation projects. See Locate Request Ticket Types for details on when to submit a request for different scenarios.
Before Excavation
No person shall engage in excavation of any kind before meeting the notification requirements of the MS Dig Law.
This includes but is not limited to,
the operations of demolition, blasting, grading, land leveling, trenching, digging, ditching, drilling, augering, directional boring, tunneling, scraping, cable or pipe plowing, driving, jacking, wrecking, razing, rending, dredging and anchoring, moving or removing any structure or other material or mass of material on or below the ground. It refers to any operation that moves or displaces earth, rock, or other material on or below the ground by any means.
When There are Unmarked Utilities
If an excavator finds evidence of unmarked underground facilities at an excavation site, they must immediately contact MS811. The notified operators must then inform the excavator within 2 hours about any known underground facilities, whether active or abandoned, at the site.
When Markings are Destroyed
Utility markings can be destroyed
by weather, grass being mowed, or someone pulling up flags. If this happens and your work is incomplete, stop excavating and contact MS811 to have the utility lines remarked.
When a Utility is Damaged
Anyone responsible for an excavation that damages an underground utility line or facility must:
• •
•
Immediately notify MS811 and the operators of the damaged utility.
Allow the operator reasonable time to make necessary repairs before completing excavation around the damage.
If hazardous, flammable, toxic, or corrosive gas or liquid is escaping from the damaged line the responsible party must:
o Immediately call 911
o Then notify MS811, and the
operator
o Take necessary actions to
protect people and property and minimize hazards until the operator’s personnel and emergency responders arrive.
Activities that Do Not Require a Locate Request
The following activities do not require the submission of a locate request notice:
o Tilling soil less than 24 inches deep for agricultural purposes
o Excavating less than 12 inches deep on private property by the owner without using mechanical equipment.
o Excavating less than 12 inches deep on private property by a non-owner without mechanical equipment, except in marked underground areas.
o Routine railroad maintenance within 30 feet of the track structure, drainage ditches, or within the railroad right-of- way by railroad employees or contractors, done carefully to avoid damaging underground facilities.
o Routine railroad maintenance conducted within the track structure, drainage ditches, or within the railroad right- of-way up to 30 feet from the outside rail of the outermost
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2024, Issue 3 Mississippi 811 • 13