The City of Fountain Inn Hosts Public Awareness Event on South Carolina Excavating Guidelines

Fountain Inn Natural Gas (FING), in partnership with South Carolina 811 (SC811), recently hosted a public awareness event to educate the local emergency responders and the utility community on safe excavation practices and state requirements. The event, held at the Fountain Inn Activities Center on July 29, brought together utility companies from across Laurens and Greenville Counties for a breakfast and training session led by Kareem Boykin, SC811 Public Awareness Liaison.

The session focused on South Carolina’s essential excavating guidelines, aimed at promoting safety, preventing damage to underground utilities, and ensuring compliance with state law for both homeowners and professional excavators. Topics included:

“Our goal is to ensure that everyone in our community understands the importance of safe digging practices,” said Eduardo Noriega, Director of Fountain Inn Natural Gas. “Whether you’replanting a tree in your backyard or managing a major construction project, a simple phone call to 811 can be the difference between a safe project and a dangerous accident. This event is a crucial step in preventing incidents and protecting our community’s vital infrastructure.”

SC811 plays a vital role in safeguarding communities by acting as a central contact point for underground utility location requests. By fostering collaboration across utility providers, events like this help ensure that all parties—locators, excavators, and operators—are working together to protect public safety and keep essential services running smoothly.

The South Carolina Underground Facility Damage Prevention Act (S.C. Code Ann. § 58-36-10 et seq.) outlines these requirements, including civil penalties for violations. More information on excavation guidelines can be found at sc811.com/enforcement.

For specific Fountain Inn Natural Gas inquiries, contact 864-862-0042.