Underground Utilities Damage Prevention Act

The Underground Utilities Damage Prevention Act, found at Title 65, Chapter 31, Part 1, was substantially revised in 2015.  The revised law establishes a system of civil, rather than criminal, enforcement for failing to follow the statutory procedures for notifying the Tennessee One-Call system prior to engaging in excavation activities.  The new law does carve out an exception for "routine road maintenance activities."  If the work of the highway department falls within this exception, the department is not statutorily required to notify the One-Call system.  Failing to provide notification, however, could create safety hazards and expose the county to liability.  Penalties for violations of the act include training and civil monetary penalties of up to $15,000 per incident.  The act does provide that local governments will not be fined unless they engage in a pattern of willful noncompliance.  The act also establishes an enforcement board and an executive committee, which is responsible for levying the penalties.