Maryland Public Utility Companies Section 12-101

      (a)      In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

      (b)      (1)      "Contractor" means a person that performs excavations or demolitions.

            (2)      "Contractor" includes a person that performs excavations or demolitions under a contract or subcontract.

      (c)      "Demolition" means an operation in which a structure or mass of material is wrecked, razed, rended, moved, or removed using any tool, equipment, or explosive.

      (d)      (1)      "Excavation" means an operation in which earth, rock, or other material in or on the ground is moved, removed, or otherwise displaced by using any tool, equipment, or explosive.

            (2)      "Excavation" includes grading, trenching, digging, ditching, drilling, augering, tunnelling, scraping, cable or pipe plowing and driving a mass of material.

      (e)      "One-call system" means a communications network in the State that:

            (1)      allows a person to telephone a one-number utility protection system;

            (2)      provides a toll-free number for persons to call and notify owner-members of planned excavation or demolition; and

            (3)      maintains an owner-contractor information exchange system.

      (f)      (1)      "Owner" means a person that:

                  (i)      owns or operates an underground facility; and

                  (ii)      has the right to bury an underground facility.

            (2)      "Owner" includes:

                  (i)      a public utility;

                  (ii)      a telecommunications corporation;

                  (iii)      a cable television corporation;

                  (iv)      a political subdivision;

                  (v)      a municipal corporation;

                  (vi)      a steam heating company; and

                  (vii)      an authority.

      (g)      "Owner-contractor information exchange system" means an automated voice response unit maintained as a part of a one-call system.

      (h)      "Owner-member" means an owner that participates as a member in a one-call system.

      (i)      (1)      "Person" has the meaning stated in § 1-101 of this article.

            (2)      "Person" includes:

                  (i)      a municipal corporation; and

                  (ii)      a governmental unit, department, or agency.

      (j)      (1)      "Underground facility" means personal property that is to be buried or submerged for:

                  (i)      use in connection with the storage or conveyance of water, sewage, oil, gas, or other substances; or

                  (ii)      transmission or conveyance of electronic, telephonic, or telegraphic communications or electricity.

            (2)      "Underground facility" includes pipes, sewers, conduits, cables, valves, lines, wires, manholes, attachments, and those portions of poles below ground.

            (3)      "Underground facility" does not include a stormwater drain.