What to Know About Digging in North Carolina
Welcome to North Carolina! We are in an exciting phase where companies are dedicated to bringing essential broadband to rural communities. Your efforts contribute to various ongoing infrastructure initiatives across the state, utilizing locate resources to safeguard existing utilities. It’s crucial to adhere to the process, ensuring that your work requests align with permitted activities and fall within the required timeframe to maintain compliance.
When working underground in North Carolina, the law requires excavators and operators to perform specific activities during the process. As this varies from state to state, the key points to understand in NC include:
- Excavator should secure any city, county or state permits or encroachments prior to requesting locates.
- Excavator must request locates 3 to 12 full business days prior to the excavation. (§87-122(a))
- Facility Operators must respond to the locate requests during the 3 full business day window. (§87-121)
- If an excavator is aware of facilities at the site, regardless of operator reported status, the excavator is requested to notify NC 811 for a 3 Hour Notice. (§87-122(c)(6))
- White-lining is required of the excavator when the location of excavation cannot be adequately described. (§87-122(c)(1)).
- Positive Response (locate status) requirements include status provided by the operator and that the status be checked by the excavator. Details about positive response including meaning of the codes may be found here.
- Operators are required to provide their ID with the marks to distinguish each utility from the others. (§87-121(a)(1a). NC follows the APWA color code standard for marking colors.
- Attend your local UCC to discuss, meet and coordinate projects with industry stakeholders. Visit NCUCC.org for your local meeting.
- In addition to UCC attendance, conduct regular pre-construction meetings with locators and utilities in the areas you will be working.
If you need literature to distribute to your crews, you can request it from us here.
We offer free 811 training through Pipes Plus, including the ability to print a certificate showing completion of the online course. For more visit ncpipesplus.org.
News and Websites of interest
Residential Work to Expand in Google Fiber Project – JAN 2024
High-speed internet provider begins network construction in North Carolina city – FEB 2024
Completed fiber project connects over 14,000 locations in North Carolina’s Elizabeth City – FEB 2024
Kinetic completes Mount Pleasant, North Carolina fiber optic network project – APRIL 2024
AT&T Gigapower Joint Venture Will Expand to NC and SC Markets – MAY 2024
The NC Broadband Infrastructure Office