Chapter 271 Overview

Arkansas Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Act

Be sure to view the information regarding Act 41 as it contains amendments and repeals to sections of the Arkansas Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Act. Click here for more information.

The Arkansas Underground Facilities Damage Prevention Act covers the laws pertaining to excavating in Arkansas. Below are the topics that are asked about most frequently.

White Striping - 14-271-111 (b)

Unless otherwise agreed by all affected operators, persons engaged in excavation or demolition shall mark the proposed area of work with stakes, flags, posts, or painted or chalked lines that are white in color and are clearly visible.

What is an Emergency? - 14-271-109 (b)

(1) Compliance with notice requirements of §14-271-112 is not required of persons responsible for repair or restoration of service, or to ameliorate an imminent danger to life, health, property, or public safety.

(2) However, those persons shall give, as soon as practicable, oral notice of the emergency excavation or demolition to either the One Call Center or to each operator having underground facilities located in the area where the excavation or demolition is to be performed and request emergency assistance from each operator so identified in locating and providing immediate protection to its underground facilities. However, if such notice is given to an operator of an underground pipeline facility, the person giving the notification shall also notify the One Call Center as soon as is reasonably possible.

(3) An imminent danger to life, health, property or public safety exists whenever there is a substantial likelihood that loss of life, health, or property will result before the procedures under and §14-271-112 can be fully complied with.

What's a Tolerance/Safety Zone - 14-271-102 (1)

Approximate location of underground facilities means a strip of land at least three feet (3"0 wide but not wider than the width of the facility plus one and one-half feet (1 1/2') on either side of the facility

What's a Valid Ticket - 14-271-112

(a) Except as provided in §14-271-109, no person may engage in excavation or demolition activities without having first notified the One Call Center in accordance with the provisions listed in this section.

(b)(1) Each person responsible for any excavation or demolition operation shall serve written or telephonic notice of intent to excavate or demolish at least two (2), but not more than ten (10), full working days before commencing this activity.

(2) The notice of intent shall be delivered to the One Call Center.

(3)(A) The notice given by this section shall be effective for a period of twenty (20) working days from the date that the notice was given.

(B) If the work to be performed is not completed within this period, or if the locations markings have been removed or are no longer visible, the person engaging in the demolition or excavation activity shall re-initiate the notice procedure set forth in this section.

(c) The written or telephonic notice of intent required by subsection (b) of this section shall contain the name of the person notifying the operator or the One Call Center, the name, address, and telephone number of the person responsible for the excavation or demolition to be conducted, the starting date, anticipated duration and type of excavation or demolition operation to be conducted, the specific location of the proposed excavation or demolition, and whether or not explosives are anticipated to be used.