Can Facility Owners Be Fined For Not Locating In The Appropriate Amount Of Time?
Yes. Alabama’s Underground Damage Prevention Act currently has civil penalties that can be enacted on both excavators and facility owner for non- compliance with the law. When I Call AOC For A Locate Request, The CSR Reads A List Of Utilities That The AOC Will Notify. The CSR Then Instructs Me To Notify Any Non-Members On My Own. Why Do I Have To Make Those Additional Calls? Alabama’s law does not currently require mandatory membership in Alabama 811. Underground facility owners are given the option to either participate in AOC or have an in-house program that meets some of the same operational requirements as are placed on AOC. However, excavators are required to notify all underground facility owners 2 working days prior to start of excavation, whether they are or are not members of AOC. The AOC does not provide a list of non-members for the excavator to contact because there is no requirement on non-member to supply us with information as to where their facilities are located. There
