Atlanta to pay $100,000 in civil penalties for excavations

Georgia’s Public Service Commission has approved an agreement with the city of Atlanta to resolve 67 alleged violations of a Georgia law that requires anyone digging with mechanized equipment to call 811 so underground utilities can be located and properly marked. Under the agreement, Atlanta will pay a civil penalty of $100,000 — an amount reduced from $585,000 after the city agreed to train its employees and change its excavation procedures. All city employees and subcontractors who are directly or indirectly involved with excavations will attend Commission-approved training on how to prevent damage to natural gas and other underground lines.