In addition to the notification requirements of § 65-31-106, each person responsible for any excavation or demolition operation designated in § 65-31-104 shall:

(1) Plan the excavation or demolition to avoid damage to and minimize interference with underground utilities in and near the construction area;

Terms Used In Tennessee Code 65-31-110

  • 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
  • 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
  • Mechanized equipment: means equipment operated by means of mechanical power including trenchers, bulldozers, power shovels, augers, backhoes, scrapers, drills, cable and pipe plows and other equipment used for plowing-in or pulling-in cable or pipe. See Tennessee Code 65-31-102
  • Person: means any individual. See Tennessee Code 65-31-102
(2) Maintain a clearance between an underground utility and the cutting edge or point of any mechanized equipment in accordance with § 65-31-108(b) and (d), taking into account the known limit of control of such cutting edge or point, as may be reasonably necessary to avoid damage to such utility;
(3) Provide such support and protection for underground utilities in and near the construction area, including during backfill operations, as may be reasonably necessary for the protection of such utilities; and
(4) Each utility, regardless of the use or material, shall be installed with sufficient clearance to permit the maintenance of existing utilities, and to protect against damage to existing utilities.
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