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before locating, or that you would like to request an on-site meeting. However, driving directions are still required. The agent cannot process a request without marking the proposed excavation location on our map. The area marked on the map determines which utility companies will be notified.
Q. How many days does the Dig Law require for locators to mark a site?
A. In most cases 3 working days not including weekends and holidays. See the Locate Request Ticket Types section of this guide to see when each ticket type must be located.
Q. What if the lines have not been marked in the 3 working days?
A. Call us back and we will submit a “No Response” notice. The notified utilities must contact you within 2 hours.
Q. Will I be able to dig once I’ve waited the 3 working days and the 2 hours?
A. Yes, according to law; however, give us a call back and we will call the companies directly to find out what has happened.
Q. What can be done when utility owners won’t locate their utilities?
A. The initial request is sent to the utility owners, and they are given 3 working days to respond. After that, the law requires you to call MS811 back, if not marked, to have a “No Response” ticket submitted. You are required, by law, to allow 2 hours for the utilities to respond. If a third request needs to be sent, the MS811 agent will resubmit the ticket and give the utility companies a call.
If this is a consistently reoccurring problem, you should file an AVR. See the Alleged Violation Report (AVR) section of this guide for information on submitting an AVR.
Q. Will I be responsible if lines are cut that were not marked?
A. You will have to speak to the utility company directly, as MS811 does not determine liability.
Q. Why do we have to pay for tickets we call in?
A. The excavator is not billed for
a locate request; instead, facility owners who are members of MS811 are responsible for covering the cost of the requests they receive. If you are the excavator and also own and operate underground utility lines in the excavation area, you can request to have the locate suppressed by
contacting MS811 to sign a suppression agreement. However, be aware that
if you subcontract work to multiple crews, they may not be aware of existing projects, increasing the risk of your lines being damaged.
Q. What can be done when excavators call in updates on jobs that have been completed?
A. Submitting or renewing a locate request ticket that includes any area within the proposed excavation location in which the excavator has already completed the excavation work is a violation of the law.
If this is a consistently reoccurring problem, you should file an AVR. See the Alleged Violation Report (AVR) section of this guide for information on submitting an AVR.
Q. Should MS811 be called when an industrial or residential building is on fire?
A. Only if excavation is involved. In case of an emergency, call 911 and contact the utility companies directly to have their services discontinued, preventing hazards to people or utilities. MS811 may also assist in identifying any underground utilities that are affected during an emergency.
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2024, Issue 3 Mississippi 811 • 19