Extraordinary Circumstances
Georgia 811 is committed to providing the state’s safe digging partners valuable resources and information in the midst of the national COVID-19 crisis.

During this time, members may find themselves unable to locate their underground lines in a timely fashion due to health and safety precautions/protocols being implemented at their company, and may need to invoke the use of the Extraordinary Circumstances response as described in the Georgia Utility Facility Protection Act. GA 811 procedures refer to this as Code 3J (see below).

To view a list of members who have declared Extraordinary Circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic, click here.

To view frequently asked questions about Extraordinary Circumstances, click here.

Extraordinary Circumstances Defined:

• 25-9-3. Definitions14 “Extraordinary Circumstances” means circumstances other than normal operating conditions which exist and make it impractical or impossible for a facility owner or operator to comply with the provisions of this chapter. Such extraordinary circumstances may include, but shall not be limited to, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, ice and snow, and acts of God. 

Positive Response Code 3J Defined:
 
3J: Unmarked Extraordinary Circumstances exist, contact the utility owner/operator directly for details.
 
The Extraordinary Circumstances Process is as follows:

1. Members can declare Extraordinary Circumstances by filling out the form on the Georgia 811 website here.
2. Members must then respond to all incoming tickets with a 3J response code.
3. Once the Extraordinary Circumstance has passed, the member must go back to each ticket in which Extraordinary Circumstances was declared and update all instances of 3J responses to the appropriate response code.
4. Members should be aware that the statute has provisions for an emergency excavation even in instances where there has been an Extraordinary Circumstance response from a given facility owner to a given dig notice. Excavators choosing to proceed must do so in compliance with these emergency statutory provisions. If you have further questions please contact the Georgia Public Service Commission.