Summer 2014
| NCRWA.COM
19
feature
N
orth Carolina 811 (NC 811) has been spreading the word throughout
the state about the new legislative changes taking effect on
October 1, 2014. At the invitation of Lowell Gunter, our liaisons
and myself have delivered a presentation to many NCRWA meetings
this year and will continue this through the rest of 2014. These
presentations allow us to explain the provisions of the law, the impact
it will have on stakeholders as well as exemptions.
Many key components of the law are new for North Carolina
including phased in mandatory membership, mandatory positive
response, provisions for extraordinary circumstances and sub-
aqueous facilities and many others. One of the largest new additions
to this law is an enforcement provision. This provision calls for an
Underground Damage Prevention Review Board to be formed to
evaluate complaints made against violators of the statute. NC 811
will serve as the administrator to this Board and is responsible for
receiving and managing complaints.
Below are updates on some of the activities that NC 811 is engaged in
to help stakeholders reach compliance:
1] New Members (Large) –
Our Member Services Department are
working through the language of the agreement with the last two
identified large members. Both cities anticipate being completed in
July. The other three large members are engaged in supplying maps
and contacts but have completed their agreements. DOT Division 6
(Fayetteville office) is now officially receiving tickets as well.
2] Training –
Modules have been created for Gas Distribution, Gas
Transmission, Electric, Communications, NC 811, Locators and Excavators.
The total running time of the modules is 71 minutes. We are working to secure
final approval from each stakeholder to confirm that the information is complete
and accurate. The next stage will be to put these videos into a PPT format for
live PIPES Plus delivery and to create quiz and exam questions for the online
web deliverable (We are using MindFlash for the online training and this is
being subsidized by a PHMSA grant). Our goal is to have all completed by
July 1. The completed training will be also used with enforcement.
3] Enforcement Portal –
We have created a website for uploading of
complaints. This allows both the complainant and the alleged violator
to upload evidence and view what has been submitted. There is also
the ability to remove a complaint if it was submitted and then resolved
by the partied prior to being reviewed by the Enforcement Board. This
will be available for testing in June but will not go live until October. All
complaints will be stored but not shared with the Enforcement Board until
the official administrative rules have been established and approved. This
is protocol required because the Board is named by Governor and is
subject to the Administrative Rule Act. It is possible that the Board will not
be able to actually review any cases until 180 days after the rules have
been supplied for approval. In the meantime NC 811 will house the
complaints and dockets until the Board can take action.
This is an extremely busy time for NC 811 and we look forward to
continuing to provide updates and education to your membership in
the months to come. If there are ever any questions you may have
regarding NC 811 please feel free to email me at
By Louis Panzer, NC811 Executive Director
NC811
New Legislative Changes
