Code of Virginia - Title 56 Public Service Companies - Chapter 10.3 Underground Utility Damage Prevention Act

  • 56-265.14 Short title
    This chapter may be cited as the "Underground Utility Damage Prevention Act." (1979, c. 291.) ...
  • 56-265.15 Definitions; calculation of time periods
    A. As used in this chapter: "Abandoned" means no longer in service and physically disconnected from a portion of the underground utility line that is ...
  • 56-265.15:1 Exemptions; routine maintenance
    Nothing in this chapter shall apply to: 1. Any hand digging performed by an owner or occupant of a property. 2. The tilling of soil ...
  • 56-265.16 Description unavailable
    Repealed by Acts 1989, c. 448, effective July 1, 1990. ...
  • 56-265.16:1 Operators to join notification centers; certification
    A. Every operator, including counties, cities and towns, but excluding the Department of Transportation, having the right to bury underground utility lines shall join the ...
  • 56-265.17 Notification required prior to excavation or demolition; waiting periods; marking of proposed sit...
    A. Except as provided in subsection G, no person, including operators, shall make or begin any excavation or demolition without first notifying the notification center ...
  • 56-265.17:1 Notification and procedures for designers
    A. Each designer, who prepares drawings and plans for projects requiring excavation or demolition work, may notify the notification center and provide the center with ...
  • 56-265.17:2 Procedures for project owners
    The project owner shall provide copies of those portions of the drawings that affect the respective operator with underground utility lines in the project area ...
  • 56-265.17:3 Procedures for operators in response to a designer notice
    An operator, upon notification by a designer in accordance with § 56-265.17:1, shall: 1. Respond to the designer's request for underground utility line information within ...
  • 56-265.18 Notification requirements
    Every notice served by any person on a notification center shall contain the following information: 1. The name of the individual serving such notice. 2. ...
  • 56-265.19 Duties of operator; regulations
    A. If a proposed excavation or demolition is planned in such proximity to the underground utility line that the utility line may be destroyed, damaged, ...
  • 56-265.20 Description unavailable
    Repealed by Acts 1994, c. 890, effective January 1, 1995. ...
  • 56-265.20:1 Locating nonmetallic underground utility lines
    Notwithstanding the provisions of § 56-257.1, any plastic or other nonmetallic utility lines installed underground on and after July 1, 2002, shall be installed in ...
  • 56-265.21 Marking by color
    In marking the approximate location of underground utility lines or proposed excavation if required pursuant to subsection E of § 56-265.17 the American Public Works ...
  • 56-265.22 Duties of notification center upon notification by person intending to excavate; record of notifica...
    A. The notification center shall, upon receiving notice by a person, notify all member operators whose underground lines are located in the area of the ...
  • 56-265.22:1 Meetings between excavators and operators
    A. Any person planning excavation or demolition in such proximity to the underground utility lines that the utility lines may be destroyed, damaged, dislocated, or ...
  • 56-265.23 Exemption for roadway maintenance operations by the Virginia Department of Transportation and certa...
    Employees of the Virginia Department of Transportation acting within the scope of their employment, and certain employees of those counties, cities, and towns which maintain ...
  • 56-265.24 Duties of excavator
    A. Any person excavating within two feet on either side of the staked or marked location of an operator's underground utility line or demolishing in ...
  • 56-265.25 Liability of operator and excavator; penalties
    A. 1. If any underground utility line is damaged as a proximate result of a person's failure to comply with any provision of this chapter, ...
  • 56-265.26 Description unavailable
    Repealed by Acts 1994, c. 890, effective January 1, 1995. ...
  • 56-265.26:1 Utility line depth requirement
    Every operator having the right to install underground utility lines shall install such underground utility lines at depths required by accepted industry standards. Such standards ...
  • 56-265.27 Description unavailable
    Not set out. (1979, c. 291.) ...
  • 56-265.28 Sovereign immunity
    Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to abrogate the immunity from suit accruing to the Commonwealth, her political subdivisions, agencies, officers or employees, or ...
  • 56-265.29 Other similar laws
    Compliance with the provisions of this chapter shall not exempt any operator or person from the operation of any other applicable laws, ordinances, regulations, or ...
  • 56-265.30 Authority of the State Corporation Commission
    A. The Commission shall enforce the provisions of the Underground Utility Damage Prevention Act as set out in this chapter. The Commission may promulgate any ...
  • 56-265.31 Commission to establish advisory committee
    A. The Commission shall establish an advisory committee consisting of representatives of the following entities: Commission staff, utility operator, notification center, excavator, municipality, Virginia Department ...
  • 56-265.32 Commission to impose civil penalties for certain violations; establishment of Underground Utility D...
    A. The Commission may, by judgment entered after a hearing on notice duly served on any person not less than thirty days before the date ...

Last modified: April 3, 2009