(a) Subject to the requirements of subsection (b), operators may form and operate a one-call service providing for mutual receipt of notifications of excavation or demolition operations, pursuant to § 65-31-106, in a defined geographical area. Any operator that suffers damage as a result of not participating in a one-call service providing for receipt of the notification of excavation or demolition operations in a defined geographic area, pursuant to § 65-31-106, waives the right to recover damages to the operator’s underground utilities from the excavator; provided, that the provisions of this chapter were met by the excavator.
Damage: includes the substantial weakening of structural or lateral support of an underground utility, penetration or destruction of any protective coating, housing or other protective device of an underground utility, the partial or complete severance of an underground utility and rendering any underground utility inaccessible. See Tennessee Code 65-31-102
Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
demolition: means any operation by which a structure or mass of material is wrecked, razed, rendered, moved or removed by means of any tools, equipment, or discharge of explosives. See Tennessee Code 65-31-102
Excavator: means any person who engages in activities described in subdivisions (A) and (B) in the definition of "excavate" contained in this section. See Tennessee Code 65-31-102
State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(b)(1) All operators are required to join the one-call service and utilize the services of the notification center as follows:
(A) Operators that are members of the existing one-call service on May 20, 2015, shall remain members;(B) Operators with more than fifty thousand (50,000) customers served underground or one thousand (1,000) miles of facilities underground, who are not members, shall join the one-call service no later than January 1, 2016;(C) Operators with more than twenty-five thousand (25,000) customers served underground or five hundred (500) miles of facilities underground, who are not members, shall join the one-call service no later than January 1, 2017;(D) All operators that do not meet the thresholds described in subdivision (b)(1)(A), (b)(1)(B), or (b)(1)(C) shall join the one-call service no later than January 1, 2018; and(E) Failure of an operator as described in this subdivision (b)(1) to join the one-call service and utilize the services of the notification center in accordance with this section is a violation of this chapter and subjects the operator to the penalties described in § 65-31-112.(2) This subsection (b) shall not apply to operators whose total amount of underground facilities constitutes less than twenty percent (20%) of their total utility plant in service.(c) There shall be only one (1) one-call service for this state.(d) The one-call service shall provide for a proportional method of apportioning the cost of operating the notification center among its members.(e) The one-call service shall provide training for those who have violated this chapter, unless otherwise determined by the board.
