1. a. If any damage occurs to an underground facility or its protective covering, the excavator shall notify the operator as soon as reasonably possible. When the operator receives a damage notice, the operator shall dispatch, as soon as reasonably possible, personnel to the damage area to investigate. If the damage results in the escape of flammable, toxic, or corrosive gas or liquid, the excavator shall: (1) Call 911 immediately; and (2) Notify the pipeline operator immediately. b. If the damage endangers life, health, or property, the excavator responsible for the work shall take immediate action to protect the public and property and to minimize the hazard until arrival of the operator's personnel or until emergency responders have arrived and taken charge of the damaged area. c. An excavator shall delay backfilling in the immediate area of the damaged underground facilities until the damage has been investigated by the operator, unless the operator authorizes otherwise. The repair of damage must be performed by the operator or by qualified personnel authorized by the operator. d. An excavator is guilty of a class A misdemeanor if the excavator damages an underground facility or its protective covering and knew or reasonably should have known the damage occurred and: (1) The excavator does not notify the operator as soon as reasonably possible ; or (2) The excavator backfills in violation of subdivision c. 2. a. If an excavator fails to comply with this chapter or damages an underground facility, the excavator is liable for all damages caused by the failure to comply with this chapter and for all damages to the facilities and must reimburse the operator for the cost of location, repair and restoration, loss of product, and interruption of service occurring because of the damage or injury to the facilities, together with reasonable costs and expenses of suit, including reasonable attorney's fees. b. Reimbursement to the operator under this subsection is not required if the damage to the underground facility was caused by the sole negligence of the operator or the operator failed to comply with sections 49-23-03 and 49-23-04.
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