The bill amends subsection 7 of section 49-23-01 of the North Dakota Century Code, which defines "excavation" in relation to the one-call excavation notice system. The definition encompasses various operations that involve moving or displacing earth, rock, or other materials, while also specifying certain exclusions. Notably, the bill clarifies that normal maintenance of paved roads and streets is exempt from the definition of excavation as long as it does not extend deeper than the existing pavement and does not involve the road ditch. Additionally, it introduces a new exemption for normal surface maintenance of gravel roads and streets, provided it also does not involve the road ditch.

The amendments include the insertion of the term "paved" to specify the type of roads covered under the maintenance exemption, and it modifies the language regarding the depth of maintenance activities. The previous requirement that maintenance should not "change the original grade" has been deleted, simplifying the criteria for what constitutes excavation. Overall, these changes aim to clarify the definition of excavation and streamline the regulations surrounding road maintenance activities in North Dakota.

Statutes affected:
INTRODUCED: 49-23-01
Enrollment: 49-23-01