Disclaimer of Liability
About MS811 

Who We Are 
Our History 
Our Mission Statement 
MS811 Responsibilities 
Common Misconceptions 
Contact Information 
Hours of Operation 

Definitions 
APWA Color Code & Tolerance Zone 
Locate Request Ticket Types 
Positive Response Information System (PRIS) 
Service Area Editor (SAE) 
Excavators/Homeowners 

Excavator Requirements 
How to Submit a Locate Request 
When to Submit a Locate Request 
What To Expect When Submitting a Locate Request 
What To Do After Submitting a Locate Request 
Excavation Safety 

Facility/Utility Owners 

Facility/Utility Owner Requirements 
MS811 Membership 
Responding to Locate Requests 

Enforcement 

Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Board (UFDPB)
Alleged Violation Reporting (AVR) 
Violation Penalties 
Enforcement Injunctions 

Damage Fees 
When Disaster Strikes 
Frequently Asked Questions 

Disclaimer of Liability

This guide is an educational and informational document for those who plan to excavate in the state of Mississippi and for MS811 member utility companies. It is intended to be a reference tool only and should not be used as legal advice. The governing law for excavation in the state of Mississippi is contained in Mississippi Code of 1972, Chapter 13, Sections 77-13-1 through 77-13-23 (MS Dig Law).

This document, which contains summarized information from MS Dig Law, is provided as a convenient reference tool only and should not be used as a legal reference document. Every effort has been made to accurately relay information from the MS Dig Law. MS811, nor any employee or representative of MS811, makes any representations or warranties as to the accuracy of the information contained within this document.

Everyone is responsible for their interpretation of the law and should contact their attorney for assistance with interpretation. A full copy of the Mississippi’s Dig Law can be found on the MS811 website at www.ms811.org.

This guide is designed to assist excavators when contacting MS811 and safe digging practices. It is also intended to help member utility companies when responding to the underground utilities locate requests submitted by excavators. This information is provided to you as a public service by MS811 and is dedicated to the safety of our vital underground facilities, stakeholders, and the citizens of Mississippi.

About MS811

Who We Are

Mississippi 811, Inc. (MS811) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing underground utility notification services in accordance with the Mississippi Code of 1972, Chapter 13, Sections 77-13-1 through 77-13-23. Based in Pearl, MS811 operates a computerized information center that facilitates statewide communication between excavators—those who dig—and the owners and operators of underground utilities and facilities throughout Mississippi. Funded by its member utility companies, MS811 plays a critical role in preventing damage to underground infrastructure. Its members include operators from various sectors such as communications, gas transmission and distribution, electric power, pipelines, municipal gas, water and sewer systems, cable TV, and other industries that manage underground facilities. Mississippi law mandates that anyone planning excavation activities—whether they are excavators, contractors, builders, or private citizens—must notify MS811 before starting any digging project. This notification process is crucial for safeguarding underground utilities, preventing injuries or fatalities, and avoiding disruptions to essential services. Once MS811 receives an excavation notice, it promptly informs the relevant member utility companies, who then dispatch representatives to the site to mark the locations of any underground utilities.

Our History

Mississippi One-Call System, Inc. began in June of 1984 with 43 members. In 1985, our first full year of operation, we received 22,178 incoming calls and processed 62,131 outgoing tickets. By the end of 2021, our numbers had grown to 480,870 incoming locate requests and 2,354,467 outgoing tickets processed. On July 1, 2008, the law was modified to require that all operators who have underground utility lines or underground facilities within the State of Mississippi be members of MS811. In April 2009, our membership voted to change our name from “Mississippi One-Call System, Inc.” to “Mississippi 811, Inc.” The future promises continued growth and exciting new challenges and MS811 is poised and ready to meet these challenges.

Our Mission Statement

To receive excavation and demolition location information from excavators, contractors, builders, and private citizens who are going to dig, drill, blast, or bore, and to disseminate this information to our members in any attempt, through teamwork to:

• Promote a higher level of public safety
• Reduce underground utility damages
• Minimize utility service interruption
• Reduce on the job injuries and worse
• Protect the environment

Any organization is only as good as its people, the effort they put forth, and how they interact with one another. At MS811, our professional and highly trained staff works together as a team. We value diversity and demonstrate mutual trust and respect for the dignity of the individual. We believe in innovation, both technically and in the way we do things. We also believe in utilizing our talents to the fullest and in putting forth extra effort to exceed expectations.

MS811 Responsibilities

• Furnish persons giving notice of the intent to excavate an individual locate request number and a list of the member utilities that will be notified.
• Transmit the locate request notice to all members with underground facilities registered within the area of the proposed excavation.
• Maintain and retain an adequate record of all locate request notices for no less than 4 years and shall be made available at a reasonable cost upon proper and adequate advance request.
• Provide services on working days at least between the hours of 7:30 am and 5:00 pm. However, it is our policy to provide services 24/7.
• Voice-record notification phone calls.
• Ensure that after-hour calls at the least reach a voice recording that explains emergency notification procedures.

Common Misconceptions

• MS811 does not locate underground utilities
  o We transmit locate request information to the member utility owner/operators.
  o The utilities are located by the utility’s in-house staff or by a locating service contracted by the utility.
• MS811 does not determine MS Dig Law changes
  o Legislation changes are determined by the MS Damage Prevention Committee (MDPC)
  o MDPC is made up of Utility Owner/Operators, Locators, and Excavators
  o MS811’s involvement in MDPC meetings is to provide education, support, and guidance only
• MS811 is not regulatory.
  o We are educators and messengers
  o The MS Dig Law is enforced by the MS Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Board (UFDPB), not MS811
  o Violation fees are used by the UFDPB to provide Damage Prevention education to violators
  o MS811 does not receive any of the violation fees collected by the UFDPB

Contact Information

Mailing Address:
Mississippi 811, Inc.
200 Country Place Parkway, Pearl, MS 39208

Phone Numbers:
Contact Center – 811 or (800) 227-6477 (toll-free)
Administration – (601) 362-4322
Member Services – (601) 362-3887
GIS – (601) 368-1150

Websites:
MS811 – www.ms811.org
MS Dig Law  – www.msdamageprevention.com/law/
Web Portal – geocall.ms811.org/geocall/portal
Service Area Editor – geocall.ms811.org/ui/login
Portal & Service Area Editor Help – www.ms811.org/portal-help-3/

MS811 Staff:
President – Fred Johnson
Operation Director – Mike Morgan
Contact Center Manager – Mia Rhymes
Virtual Contact Manager – Chasberdee Sample
IT Director – Amanda Russell
IT Manager – Lisa Stallings
GIS Manager – Haley Feather
Member Services Manager – Joanna Henderson
Damage Prevention Coordinator (North MS) – Jerry Kennemur
Damage Prevention Coordinator (Central MS) – John Stallings
Damage Prevention Coordinator (South MS) – Charles Stallings
Damage Prevention Coordinator (South MS) – Bert Pickard
Damage Prevention Coordinator (Municipalities) – Bill Rutledge

Hours of Operation

Locate requests are processed 24/7; however, the MS811 office is open from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday, excluding the following observed holidays.

MS811 Observed Holidays:
New Year’s Day
Thanksgiving Day
Memorial Day
Day after Thanksgiving Day
Independence Day
Christmas Eve
Labor Day
Christmas Day

Definitions

• Abandoned Facility – Any underground utility/facility line that is no longer used in business and is not intended to be used in the future.
• Board – Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Board
• Calendar day – A 24-hour period
• Damage – The substantial weakening of structural or lateral support of underground utility/facility lines, penetration or destruction of any protective coating, housing, or other protective devices of an underground utility/facility, and the partial or complete severance of any underground utility/facility but does not include abandoned facilities.
• Excavate or Excavation – Includes, but is not limited to, the operations of demolition, blasting, grading, land leveling, trenching, digging, ditching, drilling, augering, directional boring, tunneling, scraping, cable or pipe plowing, driving, jacking, wrecking, razing, rending, dredging and anchoring, moving or removing any structure or other material or mass of material on or below the ground, except for the following:
  o Tilling soil less than 24 inches deep for agricultural purposes
  o Excavating less than 12 inches deep on private property by the owner without using mechanical equipment.
  o Excavating less than 12 inches deep on private property by a non-owner without mechanical equipment, except in marked underground areas.
  o Routine railroad maintenance within 30 feet of the track structure, drainage ditches, or within the railroad right-of-way by railroad employees or contractors, done carefully to avoid damaging underground facilities.
  o Routine railroad maintenance conducted within the track structure, drainage ditches, or within the railroad right-of-way up to 30 feet from the outside rail of the outermost track, by railroad employees or contractors, done carefully to avoid damaging underground facilities.
  o Routine cemetery activities after notifying MS811, and all affected operators have confirmed that there are no underground facilities within the cemetery
  o Routine maintenance of public roads or rights-of-way, not penetrating more than 12 inches deep, done carefully to protect underground facilities.
  o Driving wooden stakes by hand, not deeper than 6 inches.
•  Excavator – Any person who engages directly in excavation.
• Mark – The use of stakes, paint, or other identifiable materials to show the field location of underground facilities following the current color code standard of the American Public Works Assoc. This includes uncovering underground facilities or pointing out aboveground facilities such as, but not limited to, manhole covers, valve boxes, and pipe and cable risers, which indicate the location of underground facilities.
• Operator – Any person who owns or operates a utility excluding railroads or the MS Dept. of Transportation.
• Underground Facility – Any underground utility lines and other items buried or submerged including, but not limited to, pipes, sewers, conduits, cables, valves, lines, wires, manholes, vaults, attachments, and those portions of poles below the ground.
• Underground Utility Lines – Buried cable, conduit pipes, and related facilities for transportation and delivery of electricity, telecommunications (including fiber optics), water, sewage, gas, mixtures of gases, petroleum, petroleum products or hazardous, flammable, toxic or corrosive liquids.
• Utility – Any person who supplies, distributes, or transports through underground utility/facility lines or any of the following materials or services: gas, mixture of gases, petroleum, petroleum products or hazardous, toxic, flammable, or corrosive liquids, electricity, telecommunications (including fiber optics), sewage, drainage, water, steam or other substances.
• Working Day – 24 hours commencing from the time a locate request is entered into the MS811 system excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays. The following legal holidays (state and federal) are excluded as working days in the MS811 system. This means that the system skips them when calculating the legal locate by date/time on locate request tickets. You will need to remember that this can affect how soon requests submitted around these holidays are located.
  o New Year’s Day
  o Robert E Lee/Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Birthday/President’s Day/Washington’s Birthday
  o Confederate Memorial Day
  o Memorial Day
  o Juneteenth
  o Independence Day
  o Labor Day
  o Columbus Day
  o Veterans Day
  o Thanksgiving Day
  o Christmas Day
  Note: Although the MS811 office is closed the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, they are not considered as legal holidays; therefore, they are considered a working day in the MS811 system.
• Locate Request Ticket – An electronic document generated by MS811. The document contains the excavation project details provided by the excavator as well as the following important date/time information.
  o Work On – When the excavator would like to have the lines located by and begin their work.
  o Locate By – When the utilities are required to be located by.
  o Update From & Update To – The time in which the locate request must be updated.
  o Expires – When the locate request will expire.
• MS Dig Law or Law – Mississippi Code of 1972, Chapter 13, Sections 77-13-1 through 77-13-23
• Trenchless Excavation – Horizontal excavation parallel to the surface of the earth which does not use trenching or vertical digging as the primary means of excavation, including, but not limited to, directional boring, tunneling, or augering.

APWA Color Code & Tolerance Zone

American Public Works Association (APWA) Color Code

Utility/Facility Owners are required to mark the approximate location of underground utilities/facilities following
the APWA Color Code standards.

Tolerance Zone

Utility/Facility Owners are required to mark the approximate location of underground utilities/facilities. The marks must be accurate within 18 inches measured horizontally from the outside edge of each side of the facility, or a strip of land 18 inches on either side of the operator’s field mark, or the marked width of the facility or line plus 18 inches on each side of the marked width of the facility or line. Excavation within the tolerance zone should be performed with hand tools until the marked facility or facilities are exposed.

Locate Request Ticket Types

The following is a list of the ticket types processed by MS811 and the timeframes within which excavators must submit the request in advance of excavation work and when operators are required to locate and respond by:

Normal

• Submit By: At least 3 and no more than 10 working days in advance notice
• Locate/Respond By: 3 working days

Short Notice

An excavator can request that the utilities be marked earlier; however, by law, the utilities do not have to respond any sooner than the standard 3 working days.

• Submit By: At least 3 and no more than 10 working days in advance notice
• Locate/Respond By: 3 working days

Impending Emergency

When excavation involves circumstances that are potentially dangerous to life, health, property, or the loss of customer services, which would likely develop into an emergency if excavation were not initiated sooner than permitted under the standard notification requirements, you may submit a request immediately.

• Submit By: Requests submitted:
  o Between 8:00 pm and 11:59 am: No sooner than 12 hours
  o Between 12:00 pm and 7:59 pm: No sooner than 8:00 am the following calendar day
• Locate/Respond By: No earlier than 12 hours or 8:00 AM the next calendar day. Check the Locate By field on the ticket for the exact deadline.

Note: Any misrepresentation of an impending emergency excavation is a violation of the law.

Emergency

When excavation involves excavation involving imminent/immediate danger to life, health, or property or a
customer service outage, you may submit a request immediately

• Submit By: Immediately.
• Locate/Respond By: The law does not specify that utilities must be located any sooner than the
  standard 3 working days at this time; however, many utilities have internal policies to locate
  emergency requests within a few hours.

Note: Any misrepresentation of an emergency excavation is a violation of the law.

No Response

If the excavator has waited the required time and there are utilities that have not located their lines, they should check the MS811 Positive Response Information System (PRIS) to see if the utility in question has submitted a response. If the utility has responded “Clear” the utility is indicating that they do not have utilities within the excavation area. If the utility has not submitted a response, you should immediately contact MS811. The members notified are required to contact the excavator within 2 hours.

• Submit By: Immediately, if the excavator has waited the required time.
• Locate/Respond By: 2 hours

Unmarked

If the utilities notified have responded; however, some markings are incomplete, you should contact MS811 immediately.

• Submit By: Immediately, if the excavator has waited the required time.
• Locate/Respond By: 2 hours

Design

A “Design” request can be made by a person providing professional services and making a request in preparation for bidding, preconstruction engineering, or other advance planning efforts that do not involve excavation. A design information services request may not be used for excavation purposes.

• Submit By: At least 7 working days
• Locate/Respond By: Respond by 1 of the following methods within 7 working days
  o Mark the approximate location of its underground utility lines;
  o Provide the best available description of its underground utility lines which may include drawings or other records to the person making the request; or
  o Allow the person making the request or any other authorized person to inspect or copy the drawings or other records for all underground utility lines in the area.

Cancel Req

The excavator can cancel a locate request upon confirming that the excavation work will no longer be taking place

• Submit By: Immediately
• Locate/Respond By: No locate or response required.

Positive Response Information System (PRIS)

The Positive Response Information System (PRIS) is an automated tool managed by MS811 that allows utility owners/operators to report the status of locate requests. Excavators can check PRIS to verify whether utilities have been marked before visiting the site. Utility owners are required to use PRIS to report the status of the locate request—whether the marking is completed or if no underground utilities are present in the excavation area. This reporting must be done within the timeframe specified by the Locate Request Ticket Type.

Utility Response Actions:

The excavator can cancel a locate request upon confirming that the excavation work will no longer be taking place

Clear – No conflict

• The utility does not have underground lines in the excavation area.
• If no marks are visible on-site, excavators should check the status of their locate request in PRIS before contacting MS811 just in case the utility has submitted a “Clear” response.
•  To prevent delays in work or possible utility damage, utility owners should confirm that they do not have underground lines in the excavation area before submitting a “Clear” response.

Located – Facilities marked

• The utility has marked its facilities within the proposed excavation area.

Located To Meter Only – Private property beyond meter not located

• The utility has marked their line up to the meter.
• Most utility companies only mark up to the meter or the property line.
• The landowner is responsible for locating utilities beyond that point.

On-Site Meeting Request – Utility representative is requesting to be on site during excavation

• The utility operator may request to be present at the site upon commencement of the excavation, so long as the operator complies within 3 working days.
• MS811 will not set up the meeting.
• The operator must contact the excavator directly to set up the meeting.

Locate Delayed – The utility will be delayed in locating their lines.

• The only legally supported reason for a delay in locating utility lines is if they can only be identified through excavation. Any other reason for a delay is considered non-compliant with the law. Utilities must be allowed a reasonable amount of additional time, not exceeding four working days from the date the original notice was given, to complete the locating process.

• It is recommended that the utility enter a reason for the delay in the comments. (e.g. “Must excavate to locate water line”, “Locked gate”, “Weather”, etc.)

• The utility owner must submit a “Located” response once the process of locating their utilities is complete.

Located – Facilities marked

The excavator can cancel a locate request upon confirming that the excavation work will no longer be taking place

Clear – No conflict

• The utility does not have underground lines in the excavation area.
• If no marks are visible on-site, excavators should check the status of their locate request in PRIS before contacting MS811 just in case the utility has submitted a “Clear” response.
•  To prevent delays in work or possible utility damage, utility owners should confirm that they do not have underground lines in the excavation area before submitting a “Clear” response.

System Response Actions:

The following are response actions that are automatically posted by the MS811 system when specific requirements are not met.

Overdue – Utility did not submit a response by the required date/time

• The utility owner did not submit a response by the Locate By date/time on the locate request ticket.

No Response – Utility did not submit response

• The utility owner did not submit a response by the Expires date/time on the locate request ticket.

Non-Participant – Company is not currently participating in Positive Response

• The utility is not currently participating in the Positive Response program and is not in compliance with the law.

Utility Owners – Submitting Locate Request Status Information to PRIS

Response information can be submitted to the Positive Response Information System (PRIS) via a supported Ticket Management System or the MS811 Web Portal.

Ticket Management Systems (TMS) in Positive Response
A ticket management system, also known as a ticketing system, is a software tool used by utility owners to manage and locate request tickets. Most TMS applications used by utility owners in MS, such as Hyperweb, Irth, and KorWeb, are already configured to communicate with PRIS. When locate request status or response information is submitted in a PRIS-configured TMS, the TMS automatically transmits the information to PRIS. If your company is using a TMS, check with your IT department to confirm that it is transmitting response information to PRIS.

MS811 Web Portal or Mobile App
Utilities that are not using a TMS will need to submit response information through the MS811 Web Portal or the MS811 Mobile App. A Portal account with Positive Response permissions is required. If you do not currently have a Portal account you can sign up at https://www.ms811.org/909-2/ or by going to https://www.ms811.org/, clicking on “Positive Response”, then selecting “Sign Up Online”. If you have a Portal account but do not see “Response” listed as a menu item when logged into your account, contact Joanna Henderson at (601) 362-3887.

How to Submit Information to PRIS
Submitting locate request status information to PRIS using the MS811 Web Portal is easy.

• Log in and click “Respond”
• Tickets that need to be responded to will be displayed.
• Place a check in the box beside the ticket(s) that you want to submit a response for.
• Select the appropriate Response Action
• Enter your First and Last Name (must be the person submitting the response)
• Enter Comments (optional)
• Click Save

When any response other than “Locate Delayed” is submitted the list should refresh and you should no longer see the tickets that you submitted a response for in the list. Detailed instructions on submitting response information to PRIS can be accessed by clicking on the “Help” link located in the top right corner of the Portal.

Excavators – How to View the Locate Request Status

If the excavator provides a valid email address when submitting a request, a response status notice will be sent as soon as all utilities have responded to PRIS or at the end of the required 3 working days, whichever occurs first. The response status notice will contain all the response information submitted up until the notice is sent.

Ticket # Hyperlink
If you need to see if additional information was submitted after the notice was sent you can check the current status of the request using the MS811 Web Portal. The quickest way to do so is by clicking on the ticket number hyperlink located in the upper left corner of the locate request confirmation or response status notice email. Doing so will immediately open the associated ticket in the Portal.

Portal Find Ticket
If you do not have access to the response status notice email you can manually search for the locate request in the Portal, but you will need the ticket number handy to do so. You can access the Portal directly by going to https://geocall.ms811.org/geocall/portal or you can go to the MS811 website and click “Ticket Lookup”. Once you have accessed the Portal, select “Find Tickets”, enter the locate request ticket number and click Search.

If all utilities respond before the “Locate” date/time on the locate request, work can begin immediately. If all the utilities have not marked or submitted a “Clear” response to PRIS you will need to contact MS811 to submit a “No Response” ticket.

Service Area Editor (SAE)

MS811 notifies its members of locate requests based on the member’s service area database and the work area location information provided by the excavator. Members are required to submit and maintain an accurate service area database with MS811. The service area is a buffered (radius) area or polygon boundary around the geographic locations in which infrastructure exists including lines that run underground or into rivers, lakes, ponds, the gulf, etc. Membership cannot be activated until the service area has been submitted.

Member utilities are required to update their service area database on an annual basis; however, it is recommended that an update be submitted as soon as possible when a new line is put in the ground, or an existing line is sold or abandoned.

All service area updates must be submitted through the MS811 Service Area Editor (SAE). SAE is an online tool that allows members to create, maintain, and edit as well as upload or download their underground service area information. MS811 will provide the member with access to SAE during membership setup or at the request of the member. Members may be charged a processing fee for service updates submitted outside of SAE. The processing fee will be $80 per hour, with a minimum charge of $80 per update. These fees can be avoided by submitting all service area updates through SAE.

An MS811 Portal account with SAE permissions is required to submit service area updates through SAE. If you do not currently have a Portal account you can sign up at https://www.ms811.org/service-area-editor-sign-up- form/ or by going to https://www.ms811.org/, clicking on “Service Area Editor”, then selecting “Sign Up Online”.

If you have a Portal account but cannot access SAE, contact Amy Williams at (601) 368-1160.

SAE can be accessed by going to https://geocall.ms811.org/ui/login or by going to https://www.ms811.org/, and clicking the “Service Area Editor” button.

Learn more about SAE by going to https://www.ms811.org/service-area-editor-2/ or https://www.ms811.org/ and selecting “Service Area Editor”.

Excavators/Homeowners

Excavator Requirements

In addition to complying with all other applicable regulations and requirements of federal, state, county, and municipal authorities, no person shall engage in excavation of any kind, before meeting the notification requirements of the MS Dig Law. The law requires excavators to:

• Inform themself of the presence and location of underground utility/facility (utility) lines in or near the area of excavation.
• Plan and excavate to avoid or minimize interference with or damage to underground utility lines in or near the excavation area.
• Maintain a safe clearance between underground utility lines and mechanical excavating equipment, including during any backfilling operations.
• Pre-mark the approximate boundary of the proposed excavation area with white paint, flags, or stakes, before submitting a locate request to MS811 or provide a sufficient description of the proposed excavation when submitting the locate request.
• Submit a Locate Request notice to MS811 in advance of excavation projects.
• Waiting for the time required (based on the ticket type) for the utility owners to mark the location of their underground lines and excavate with care. The information above is only a summary of excavator requirements. There are additional details on how to meet these requirements throughout this document.

Notes:

• Submitting a locate request protects the notifying party from liability if the utility fails to respond or provides incorrect information. However, the excavator is still responsible for digging carefully and can be held liable for any injuries or damage caused by their negligence.
• If an excavator damages an underground line or facility and hasn’t fully complied with the MS Dig Law, they are responsible for all costs to fix or replace it. This does not apply to the property owner unless they are the one doing the excavation.

How to Submit a Locate Request

Submitting a Locate Request notice to MS811 is a free service. Requests can be submitted or renewed by phone or online through the MS811 Web Portal, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

By Phone

Contact the MS811 Contact Center by dialing 811 or (800)227-6477. When dialing 811 you must be physically inside the state of MS when calling. When dialing 811 you will be directed to the state Call Center for the state that you are physically calling from.

MS811 Web Portal

Portal users can have either a standard (aka Level 1-2 users) or advanced (aka Level 3 users) user account. When an advance user submits a locate request through the Portal, they are immediately issued a locate request ticket number, and the request is automatically transmitted to the MS811 members with underground utilities in the area. Portal users must complete a special Portal training class to obtain advanced user permissions. If you are interested in obtaining advanced user permissions, contact Chasberdee Sample at (601)362-2851.

Requests submitted by standard users are reviewed and completed by an MS811 agent. The member utility companies are not notified until the MS811 agent saves the request. Most requests submitted by standard users, between 7:00 am and 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday excluding observed holidays, are processed by MS811 on the same business day. Requests submitted after 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday, or on observed holidays are processed on the next business day.

If you do not have a Portal account you can sign up by going to https://geocall.ms811.org/geocall/portal and clicking on the “Sign Up” link located in the top right corner of the page, or contact Joanna Henderson at (601) 362-3887.

When to Submit a Locate Request

In most situations, you should contact MS811 at least 3 and no more than 10 working days in advance of excavation projects. See Locate Request Ticket Types for details on when to submit a request for different scenarios.

Before Excavation

No person shall engage in excavation of any kind before meeting the notification requirements of the MS Dig Law. This includes but is not limited to, the operations of demolition, blasting, grading, land leveling, trenching, digging, ditching, drilling, augering, directional boring, tunneling, scraping, cable or pipe plowing, driving, jacking, wrecking, razing, rending, dredging and anchoring, moving or removing any structure or other material or mass of material on or below the ground. It refers to any operation that moves or displaces earth, rock, or other material on or below the ground by any means.

When There are Unmarked Utilities

Contact the MS811 Contact Center by dialing 811 or (800)227-6477. When dialing 811 you must be physically inside the state of MS when calling. When dialing 811 you will be directed to the state Call Center for the state that you are physically calling from.

When Markings are Destroyed

Utility markings can be destroyed by weather, grass being mowed, or someone pulling up flags. If this happens and your work is incomplete, stop excavating and contact MS811 to have the utility lines remarked.

When a Utility is Damaged

Anyone responsible for an excavation that damages an underground utility line or facility must:

• Immediately notify MS811 and the operators of the damaged utility.
• Allow the operator reasonable time to make necessary repairs before completing excavation around the damage.
• If hazardous, flammable, toxic, or corrosive gas or liquid is escaping from the damaged line the responsible party must:
  o Immediately call 911
  o Then notify MS811, and the operator
  o Take necessary actions to protect people and property and minimize hazards until the operator’s personnel and emergency responders arrive.

Activities that Do Not Require a Locate Request

The following activities do not require the submission of a locate request notice:

• Tilling soil less than 24 inches deep for agricultural purposes
• Excavating less than 12 inches deep on private property by the owner without using mechanical equipment.
• Excavating less than 12 inches deep on private property by a non-owner without mechanical equipment, except in marked underground areas.
• Routine railroad maintenance within 30 feet of the track structure, drainage ditches, or within the railroad right-of-way by railroad employees or contractors, done carefully to avoid damaging underground facilities.
• Routine railroad maintenance conducted within the track structure, drainage ditches, or within the railroad right-of-way up to 30 feet from the outside rail of the outermost track, by railroad employees or contractors, done carefully to avoid damaging underground facilities.
• Routine cemetery activities after notifying MS811, and all affected operators have confirmed that there are no underground facilities within the cemetery
• Routine maintenance of public roads or rights-of-way, not penetrating more than 12 inches deep, done carefully to protect underground facilities.
• Driving wooden stakes by hand, not deeper than 6 inches.
• Using a hand-powered probe rod to map underground facilities.

Risks of Not Submitting a Locate Request

The following are just a few of the risks associated with not contacting MS811 before digging.

• Destruction or damage to underground facilities.
• Possible death or injury to persons.
• Property damage to public and private property.
• Loss or interruption of essential utility services to the public.
• Costly repairs of underground facilities.

What To Expect When Submitting a Locate Request

When you call the MS811 Contact Center, you will be directed to a brief recorded message that will relay important information to you. If an MS811 agent is available, you will be transferred immediately. If all agents are busy, you will be placed in a holding queue until someone becomes available. Hold times may be longer during peak periods. You can select our Call Back feature or submit your request online via the MS811 Web Portal to avoid waiting.

Provide the Required Locate Request Information

You will be required to provide the following information when submitting a request.

• Name, address, and phone number for:
  o The person(s) filing the notice and
  o The person responsible for the excavation (site contact)
• Project start date
• Anticipated duration
• Type of excavation work to be performed
• Driving directions (from the nearest intersection)
• A description of the location of the proposed excavation which must be:
  o Limited to an area that the excavator reasonably believes may be completed within 14 calendar days, and
  o Cannot include any area in which excavation work has already been completed.
• Whether or not explosives are to be used.

Pre-Marking the Excavation Site

• Before submitting a locate request, you must mark the proposed excavation area in white, unless the area can be clearly defined in the request using a street address, lot and block number, distance from a driveway or street intersection, or other specific geographical descriptions.
• When pre-marking with a single stake or other single-point indicator, the excavation area cannot exceed 50 feet in any direction of the pre-mark.

Locate Request Confirmation

The person giving notice of the intent to excavate to MS811, shall be furnished an individual locate request number for each notification and, upon request, shall be furnished the names of the operators to whom the notification will be transmitted.

Ticket #
Once your information has been verified and saved, you will be issued a 14-digit ticket number. The ticket number is valid for 14 calendar days from the date/time the ticket is entered into the MS811 system. You will need to keep this number handy until your excavation is complete.

Confirmation Email
If you provided a valid email address when submitting your request, a ticket confirmation will be sent to the
address provided. This confirmation includes all the details of your request.

What To Do After Submitting a Locate Request

You must allow the notified facility owners/operators the required time (based on the ticket type) to mark their utilities and submit a response to the Positive Response Information System (PRIS).

Check the Status of the Locate Request in PRIS

Excavators should check the status of their locate request in PRIS before visiting the excavation site. See Positive Response Information System (PRIS) for instructions on how to do so.

Check the Excavation Site Markings

When visiting the excavation site, you should see paint and/or flags for each utility notified on your locate request. See APWA Color Code & Tolerance Zone to determine what utility each color used represents.

Begin Excavation

If all utilities listed on the locate request are either marked or confirmed as not in conflict through PRIS, the person planning to perform excavation or blasting may begin work immediately, provided all other requirements are met, without waiting the full time required. However, you should respect the markings and proceed to dig with care.

Keep the Locate Request Updated

The markings and locate request number are only valid for 14 calendar days from the date/time the locate request ticket is entered into the MS811 system. The person responsible for the excavation project must renew the request at least 3 and not more than 4 working days prior to the ticket expiration and shall continue to renew the notice throughout the duration of the excavation. Renewal notices are also valid for 14 calendar days.

See the “Update From” and “Update To” fields on your ticket confirmation to determine the exact window of time in which you must update your request. Refer to the “Expires” field to see when the ticket will expire. The proposed excavation location on a renewal request cannot include any area where excavation work has been completed.

Note: 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!

Excavation Safety

Cross Bores

Trenchless installation techniques are widely used. These methods provide minimal disruption to the surface, minimal disruption to traffic, and often potential economic efficiencies. However, the use of plowing, percussive moles, and horizontal directional drills do not provide visual confirmation of the location of the new utility. Cross bores, the unintended intersections of utilities, are a threat to the safety of industry workers and the general public. In the case of gas lines intersecting sanitary or storm sewers, explosions, injury, and death have resulted. Energized utilities, such as natural gas and electric distribution lines, have potential immediate and long-term danger. Communication lines are essential for contacting emergency services. To learn more about preventing cross-bores and the dangers associated with them, please go to www.crossboresafety.org.

Trenchless Excavation

The excavator must avoid using power-driven equipment for trenchless excavation near marked underground utility lines unless they expose the path using noninvasive methods (e.g., hand digging, potholing, soft digging, vacuum methods, pressurized air or water, pneumatic hand tools). The excavator must then carefully monitor the equipment’s location to visually observe it crossing the marked area. When boring parallel to these lines, the excavator should also use noninvasive methods to identify the utility’s actual location at prudent intervals.

Facility/Utility Owners

Facility/Utility Owner Requirements

Operators who have underground utility or facility (utility) lines within the State of Mississippi are required to:

• Install all utilities in a manner that ensures that they can be located using standard electronic methods.
• Be a member of MS811.
• Provide MS811 with the following information:
  o A list of counties, cities, and towns in which they have underground utility lines.
  o A digital map, paper map, or geospatial information showing the location of their underground
  utility lines or for other reasons that they wish to receive notification of proposed excavation.
  o An update of the location of their underground utility lines in the State of Mississippi on an
  annual basis. However, we recommend submitting an update as soon as possible when a new
  line is put in the ground, or an existing line is sold or abandoned
• Upon receiving a locate request notice shall:
  • Report through the Positive Response Information System (PRIS) the status of the work
    performed, by the required locate by date/time.
  • Determine the approximate location of its underground utility lines or underground facilities in
    the proposed excavation area, and shall either:
    • Mark the approximate location of their underground utility lines and notify the excavator
      through PRIS that the facilities have been marked;
    •  Advise through the PRIS that they do not have underground utility lines in the excavation
      area; or
    • Advise through the PRIS that they can only locate their underground utility lines by
      excavation. The operator is allowed additional time, not to exceed 4 working days from
      the day the original notice was provided, to locate their lines by excavation.
      Note: Locate Request Ticket Types to determine the deadlines for notifying utilities and
      submitting response information to PRIS.
  • Locate utilities/facilities using the American Public Works Association (APWA) Color Code standards
  • Instead of marking, the operator may request to be present at the site upon the commencement of excavation, as long as the operator complies within 3 working days.

• If an operator fails to comply with the law, they are responsible for any costs or expenses the excavator
  incurs due to that failure.

MS811 Membership

Operators who have underground utility/facility lines within the State of Mississippi are required to be a member of MS811.

Membership Benefits

Becoming an MS811 member ensures compliance with the Mississippi Dig Law and helps align our state with federal regulations. By joining, you contribute to a collaborative effort among utilities, excavators, and stakeholders to protect communities from service disruptions, safety hazards, and health risks. This partnership fosters a safer and more reliable infrastructure for everyone.

Non-members risk unnecessary damage and disruption to vital services for their customers. Any operator who suffers damages as a result of not being an MS811 member forfeits the right to recover damages from an excavator who has complied with the law.

For most companies, the cost of membership is minimal compared to the average expense of repairing a damaged facility or utility line. This cost does not even account for the inconvenience to customers or the potential safety and health risks involved.

MS811 serves as your first line of defense against utility damage. Damages can be both costly and dangerous. By reducing the number of incidents, you lower your annual repair costs and minimize service disruptions for your customers.

How to Become a Member

Submit a Membership Application
Go to https://www.ms811.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MS811-Membership-Application.pdf, and download the MS811 Membership Application packet. All documents contained in the packet must be completed, signed, and returned to MS811 before membership can be activated. Submit your application to info@ms811.org or by fax (601) 981-9027.

Submit a Service Area Database
Members are required to submit and maintain an accurate service area database with MS811. The service area is a buffered (radius) area or polygon boundary around the geographic locations in which infrastructure exists including lines that run underground or into rivers, lakes, ponds, the gulf, etc. Membership cannot be activated until the service area has been submitted. Please contact us at (601) 362-4322 or (601) 368-1150 should there be any questions about membership.

What to Expect After Becoming a Member

Membership Fees
Annual billing is in November. The billing is based on the total number of locate request tickets delivered to the member from November 1st of the prior year to October 31st of the current year. The rate per locate request ticket is set annually based on MS811 operating budget costs.

Locate Request Tickets and Daily Audit Reports
MS811 will transmit a copy of any locate requests that are in or near the member utilities service area database to the email address, FTP, fax, etc. specified by the member. Locate requests are transmitted as soon as they are processed.

MS811 sends Audit Reports to each member between the hours of midnight and 3:00 am each day. This report lists all the locate request numbers that were sent to the member the day before. The member may request any locate request listed on the audit report not received to be retransmitted.

Service Area Database Updates 
Member utilities are required to update their service area database on an annual basis; however, it is recommended that an update be submitted as soon as possible when a new line is put in the ground, or an existing line is sold or abandoned. See Service Area Editor (SAE) for information on submitting updates.

Responding to Locate Requests

Upon receiving a locate request the member must investigate the excavation site, mark the approximate location of the infrastructure, and report through the Positive Response Information System (PRIS), the status of the work performed, within the time required (based on the ticket type).

Mark the Excavation Site

Utility/Facility owners must mark all underground utilities within the proposed excavation area on the locate request using stakes, paint, or other clearly identifiable materials following the current color code standard of the American Public Works Association (APWA) Color Code.

Submit a Locate Request Status to PRIS

See Positive Response Information System (PRIS) for details on submitting locate request status information to PRIS.

Enforcement

Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Board (UFDPB)

The purpose of the Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Board (UFDPB) is to enforce the Mississippi Dig Law. The UFDPB is made up of 16 members from different stakeholder groups. Violation fees collected by the UFDPB are used for purposes related to buried utility damage prevention, including, but not limited to, public awareness programs, training and education programs for excavators, operators, line locators, and other persons to reduce the number and severity of violations of the law.

Alleged Violation Reporting (AVR)

The enforcement process is complaint driven. The process for filing a complaint against an alleged violator is to submit an Alleged Violation Report (AVR).

The AVR tool can be accessed by going to www.msdamageprevention.com and clicking on “AVR” near the bottom of the page. Read the Disclaimer displayed, then click “I agree”. This will take you to the AVR form. Fill out the form completely including proper documentation, then click “Submit” at the bottom of the form.

An investigation will be made in accordance with the rules of the enforcement board. The executive committee will make a determination based on the findings of the investigation and a citation outlining the penalty will be mailed if appropriate.

Go to www.msdamageprevention.com to learn more about the law and the rules governing the enforcement program.

Violation Penalties

Any person, whether excavator or operator, who violates the Mississippi Dig Law or the rules or regulations
promulgated in the law, shall be subject to a civil penalty as follows:

• 1 st violation, the violator will be required to complete a training course;
• 2 nd violation (occurring within 5 years), the violator must complete a training course or pay a civil penalty in an amount set by the executive committee, not to exceed $ 500. per incident, or both;
• 3 rd or subsequent violation (occurring within 5 years), the violator must pay a civil penalty in an amount, not to exceed $ 2,500. per incident; and
• Notwithstanding, if the violation(s) are deemed to be gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct as determined by the executive committee, the violator will be required to complete a training course and pay a civil penalty in an amount set by the executive committee, not to exceed $ 5,000. per incident.
• Any person required to complete a training course will be responsible for the cost of the training.
• For those instances in which training is ordered, if the person is a firm, partnership, association, corporation, limited liability company, joint venture, department, or subdivision of the state or other governmental entity or any other body or organization, the executive committee may require that at least 1 manager or supervisor thereof attend any such training.
• Any excavator who violates the law may be required to cease work on any excavation, or not start a proposed excavation until the excavator complies with Section 77-13-27 of the law.
  Note: Violations remain on a violator’s record for 5 years.

Enforcement Injunctions

In addition to any other rights and remedies which a person may have, any person has the right to resort to and apply for injunctive relief, both temporary and permanent, in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce compliance with the provisions of the MS Dig Law and to restrain and prevent violations and threatened violations thereof.

Damage Fees

• Submitting a locate request relieves the notifying party of all liability if the utility ignores the notice or provides significantly inaccurate information; however, this does not relieve them from excavating carefully, nor does it relieve them from liability for any injury or damage resulting from their negligence.
• Except where the excavator has fully complied with the law, anyone responsible for excavation that damages an underground utility/facility line (excluding the property owner, unless they are the excavator) is responsible for all costs and expenses incurred by the operator to restore, correct, repair, or replace the damaged line or facility.
• If an operator brings a lawsuit to enforce compliance with the law, the prevailing party will be awarded legal costs, expenses, and reasonable attorney’s fees. If multiple parties are found responsible, these costs will be equitably divided among them.

When Disaster Strikes

Damage Potential

After a devastating storm, residents are often left with the daunting task of rebuilding their lives. Homes and businesses that once stood proud may now be reduced to piles of rubble, and the first crucial step toward recovery is clearing the debris left in the storm’s wake. Amidst the destruction, it’s important to remember that hope remains.

Surviving a major storm is not just about making it through the day after. For the residents of a city or town, full recovery can take months. To speed up the cleanup process, storm debris is often piled near the front of properties, close to streets or roads. But along those same streets and sidewalks lies a resilient infrastructure—underground utility services that have withstood the storm.

While municipalities and utility companies work tirelessly to restore services that were damaged or destroyed, heavy equipment used to remove debris can easily cause further harm. Utilities like water, sewer, and natural gas systems, often buried underground, can survive the storm. Although these services may have been taken for granted before, they now offer a beacon of hope that recovery is within reach.

During the cleanup process, you can help preserve that hope by taking care to avoid damaging these vital services. By doing so, you protect not only yourself but also the lives of those who call this place home, ensuring that recovery efforts proceed as smoothly as possible.

Damage Prevention

After a devastating storm, residents are often left with the daunting task of rebuilding their lives. Homes and businesses that once stood proud may now be reduced to piles of rubble, and the first crucial step toward recovery is clearing the debris left in the storm’s wake. Amidst the destruction, it’s important to remember that hope remains.

Surviving a major storm is not just about making it through the day after. For the residents of a city or town, full recovery can take months. To speed up the cleanup process, storm debris is often piled near the front of properties, close to streets or roads. But along those same streets and sidewalks lies a resilient infrastructure—underground utility services that have withstood the storm.

While municipalities and utility companies work tirelessly to restore services that were damaged or destroyed, heavy equipment used to remove debris can easily cause further harm. Utilities like water, sewer, and natural gas systems, often buried underground, can survive the storm. Although these services may have been taken for granted before, they now offer a beacon of hope that recovery is within reach.

During the cleanup process, you can help preserve that hope by taking care to avoid damaging these vital services. By doing so, you protect not only yourself but also the lives of those who call this place home, ensuring that recovery efforts proceed as smoothly as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What if I am hand-digging, do I have to notify MS811?

A. The following activities do not require the submission of a locate request notice:

• • • • • Tilling soil less than 24 inches deep for agricultural purposes
        • Excavating less than 12 inches deep on private property by the owner without using mechanical equipment.
        • Excavating less than 12 inches deep on private property by a non-owner without mechanical equipment, except in marked underground areas.
        • Routine railroad maintenance within 30 feet of the track structure, drainage ditches, or within the railroad right-of-way by railroad employees or contractors, done carefully to avoid damaging underground facilities.
        • Routine railroad maintenance conducted within the track structure, drainage ditches, or within the railroad right-of-way up to 30 feet from the outside rail of the outermost track, by railroad employees or contractors, done carefully to avoid damaging underground facilities.
        • Routine cemetery activities after notifying MS811, and all affected operators have confirmed that there are no underground facilities within the cemetery
        • Routine maintenance of public roads or rights-of-way, not penetrating more than 12 inches deep, done carefully to protect underground facilities.
        • Driving wooden stakes by hand, not deeper than 6 inches.
        • Using a hand-powered probe rod to map underground facilities.

Q. I’m not going to dig very deep, should I contact MS811?

A. Contacting MS811 is a free service that provides valuable information to help you complete your project safely and efficiently. Don’t take on the liability of damaging an unmarked underground line or risk causing serious injury or death by neglecting to notify MS811.

Q. Who is required to give notice to MS811?

A. Anyone engaging in excavation of any kind must notify MS811. This includes but is not limited to, the operations of demolition, blasting, grading, land leveling, trenching, digging, ditching, drilling, augering, directional boring, tunneling, scraping, cable or pipe plowing, driving, jacking, wrecking, razing, rending, dredging and anchoring, moving or removing any structure or other material or mass of material on or below the ground. It refers to any operation that moves or displaces earth, rock, or other material on or below the ground by any means.

Q. If I choose to call, what happens then?

A. When you contact MS811, the agent will ask for details about the location and type of work you plan to undertake. Once all the required information has been gathered, you will receive a locate request reference number and a list of the member utilities that MS811 will notify.

Q. What is the ticket number for?

A. The number serves as verification that you have complied with the MS Dig Law by notifying.

Q. Why is the ticket number so long?

A. Each locate request number is unique, and is generated based on the date, time, and the sequential number of tickets processed on that specific day.

Q. Why does it matter how long it will take to do the excavating?

A. Locate request tickets are only valid for 14 calendar days from the date and time the request is entered into the MS811 system. The person responsible for the excavation project must renew the request at least 3 and not more than 4 working days prior to the ticket expiration and shall continue to renew the notice throughout the duration of the excavation. Renewal notices are also valid for 14 calendar days.

Q. Does MS811 have a list of utilities that are not members?

A. Although all operators with underground utility lines or facilities within the State of Mississippi are required to be members of MS811, we do not have a list of companies that are not members.

Q. Do I have to notify anyone else?

A. You should notify any companies you are aware of that are not compliant with the Dig Law and encourage them to become members of MS811.

Q. Why do you need my email address?

A. MS811 will email you a copy of your locate request as well as response status information.

Q. Why can’t you find the property with the address given?

A. We do not currently have address information for the entire state of MS. Properly marking the excavation site on our map ensures that the correct utilities are notified. Providing accurate driving directions to the excavation site helps our agents determine how to mark the map. You can also provide GPS readings for the excavation site to help pinpoint the location; however, please be aware that the reading is only as good as the device used and may not be completely accurate.

Q. Why do you need my mailing address?

A. The MS Dig Law requires that a mailing address be provided.

Q. When should an “Emergency” or “Short Notice” locate request be located?

A. The MS Dig Law does not address a different response time for “Emergency” locate requests, so the utilities have the standard 3 working days to locate their utilities. However, many utilities have internal policies to locate emergency requests within a few hours. It is certainly in the best interest of the operator and the excavator for the lines to be marked before further damage, injury or even death occurs from striking an unmarked line.

A “Short Notice” request is not addressed in the MS Dig Law. This is merely a request submitted on behalf of the excavator requesting an expedited the request. Most operators will try to honor such a request if their backlog of pending locate requests will allow them to do so. By law, they still have 3 working days to locate their lines.

Q. Why can’t you place more than 1 mile on each ticket?

A. This limit is an MS811 Board-approved policy.

Q. What is the charge for submitting a locate request?

A. Submitting a locate request to MS811 is a free service.

Q. What color code represents each utility?

A. Refer to the “APWA Color Code & Tolerance Zone” section of this guide.

Q. Will I be notified when the utility lines are marked?

A. If you provided a valid email address when submitting the locate request, you will receive a status notice as soon as all utilities have responded to PRIS or at the end of the required 3 working days, whichever occurs first. You can also check the status of the request online through our Web Portal. See the Positive Response Information System (PRIS) section of this guide for additional information.

Q. Why can’t I notify MS811 for my contractor?

A. The Dig Law requires the one who’s doing the digging to request the locate.

Q. Why do utility companies only mark up to their meter?

A. Most utility lines on private property are owned by the property owner, who is responsible for locating and marking those lines. Typically, utility companies will only mark lines from the street to the meter, or if there is no meter, up to the property line.

Q. Why do I have to give driving directions? Why can’t the locators just meet me on site so I can show them where to mark?

A. The agent can add a note to your locate request to indicate that you would like the utilities to contact you 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.