Gas Company Digging Up My Yard

North Carolina

I have a 50' easement through my front yard that has a gas pipeline running underground. Today, someone with the gas company was out digging up part of it to look at the pipes. The area in which they were digging is very oddly shaped, and it's very difficult looking at the survey for me to know where the easement and non-easement property is. I suspect that they went over non-easement property to get to the pipes. In doing so, they rutted up the yard and have not fixed the damage.

My question is, are they obligated to repair the damage in the easement? If they aren't obligated, I find easements very confusing. Why do I own and maintain this land if they can come in and do whatever they want, including damage it and detract from its appearance? Could I try to sell it to them so I don't have to worry about it anymore?

Thank you

[HomeGuru]

Read your easement document.
The co. has a right to dig but they must also restore to oringingal condition.
So call them up and give them gas.