dig safe

[EddieWalker]

Not knowing Vermont, but having worked in California and Texas, I can tell you that most people have no idea what's under their soil. Many utilities cross people property to shortcut to their neighbors property. Allot of the times that property was part of a larger property when the work was done, but sometimes it's done when a neighborhood is created. I've come across phone lines, gas lines and water and sewer mains in homeowners yards. Both front and back. On one house that I do allot of work on, there is a gas line that runs under eveyrones driveway and through the middle of their front yards. On this house, it 'T's off and goes down the side of her house to the homes behind hers.

Is it really worth having to pay for the fines and repair charges to get the job done right away when it's already been so long that you've had to deal with it?

I've heard of some repair bills going into six figures. I've also heard of people who have cut fiber optic lines after a locate was done and they missed it. The guy who cut it was totally free of responsibility. If not, he figured it was a $100,000 repair and fine.

I'd wait.

Eddie

 

[TonyS]

I would wait, but even after they mark it I would be very careful. I had them mark utilities in a property of mine, dug in a clear area to install a water valve and -- uncovered an unmarked gas line about 2 feet down. Luckily I was in the hole with trowel scraping the dirt and not digging hard with the BH.

I reported it to NM DOT Safety Dept and they said "Oh yeah, we get a lot of that"!!

I would wait

 

[Kendrick]

do wait and make sure you have your markers or a photo/lot plan marked with where your digging. we have a 1500' drive that appairently the telephone line goes under the left side. when we had dig safe come out they marked from the house to just past the parking lot ie 80' the curve from going under the lot to down the drive is 10' from a telephone box that was in the bushes. no marks to or from that. I can garontee you they missed somthing. since we didnt have a good marking of where we were digging they just did 20' around the house. they will be coming back in a fiew weeks or so to re mark the whole property now that im going to put food plots in we have to know where the electric is run... 200-300' buried line and it will be close if not in the food plot area

digsafe is not going to like me they will be marking probably 3 to 4 ac of land by the time they get here

 

[NHbotanut]

I was supposed to dig a 400' trench for an automatic gate opener on Saturday. Was told by "everyone" at the club that there is nothing their in the parking lot. I insisted that Dig Safe comes in to check it out or I won't volunteer to do the job. Dig safe will be out on Monday, I'll start on Tuesday

 

[LBrown59]

Here in Pa they are starting to fine you if you hit anything and you have not called or waited the 3 days I have heard the fine starts at $5000 not sure and don't intend to find out that is over and above the costs to repair the lines!

I don't see how they would have the authority to fine you as this is a civil matter not a legal one.

 

[LBrown59]

Whis is this dig safe thing a 1 way street?
You have to call them to dig on your own property but nobody calls you when they want to dig on your place!

 

[ampsucker]

my BIL works for the electic company and runs fiber. he has many times had to splice or rerun cables when a back hoe operator digs them up. he says, the worst in when the dig right INTO the space that is marked! he has had to watch these poor guys sit there while 5-10 guys in different trucks show up to fix all the different utilities. these guys, a lot of them are independent operators, are like, who's paying for all this? the answer, you are! figure about $100 per hour for every guy that shows up. a lot of times, they will give the operator the option of digging up the rest of the line so they can fix it. otherwise, they will have to pay bring in yet another contractor to dig it up. that saves them a little money.

other posters are right - they don't care if if you dig up your own stuff, that's on you. if it's "downstream" of the meter, it's yours. upstream, you better be sure you know where it is or call digsafe to cover your arse. even if they can't find it (common with plastic or poly gas lines with no tracer wire), you are covered contractually if you make the call and have a case id number. in kansas, it is good for 15 calendar days and they have three days to get to you. they always show up the next day for me. if you don't finish your digging by the time it expires, call them again to renew. even if nothing has changed, the contract expires and you are open to liability.

amp

 

[LBrown59]

other posters are right - they don't care if if you dig up your own stuff, that's on you. if it's "downstream" of the meter, it's yours.
amp

That's not what I'm talking about.
What I said is a utility can come onto your place and do what they want without saying a thing to you before hand.
I have buried drains water lines and electric lines that cross or are on utility and government right of ways.
They can come here & do their thing without ever asking me if it might damage something of mine.
Like i said why is it one sided?

 

[Airic]

All or most properties are provided with setback for the purpose of utility easements or access. You cannot install any structures or underground items within this setback. Utilities have to right to remove and abandon. If they are installing on your property outside of this easement for public services they are breaking the law and you do have rights to have it removed but you cannot cut and disrupt services. Some existing service are grand fathered but can still be relocated sometimes at your cost My property was sub divided years before my purchase and I have phone and cable that comes off of a pedestal on my property, smack middle of my 6 acres. I had requested for a relocate and separation of services and all was done at no charge. You sometime have to go to court but, it can be done. I still have cables in the ground but all has been abandoned. This is sort of a blend of old school meeting new school rules and regulations.

 

[LBrown59]

All or most properties are provided with setback for the purpose of utility easements or access. You cannot install any structures or underground items within this setback.

This won't work at my place .
I have 3 drainage lines that have to cross the state highway and the water compaines rightaways to reach the roadside ditch that they drain into.
I also installed a 110' long by 15'' culvert in the roadside ditch which means the entire culvert is on the states right a way.
The telephone companies line crosses under the culvert.
I can't believe any of them have the right to come on to my property and tear this stuff up without any obligation to me.