[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 182 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 182

    Supporting the goals and ideals of National Safe Digging Month.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 27, 2023

    Mr. Peters (for himself, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Cruz, and Mr. Young) 
 submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Supporting the goals and ideals of National Safe Digging Month.

Whereas, each year, the underground utility infrastructure of the United States, 
        including pipelines, electric, gas, telecommunications, fiber, water, 
        sewer, and cable television lines, is jeopardized by unintentional 
        damage caused by those who fail to have underground utility lines 
        located prior to digging;
Whereas some utility lines are buried only a few inches underground, making the 
        lines easy to strike, even during shallow digging projects;
Whereas digging prior to having underground utility lines located often results 
        in unintended consequences, such as service interruption, environmental 
        damage, personal injury, and even death;
Whereas the month of April marks the beginning of the peak period during which 
        excavation projects are carried out around the United States;
Whereas, in 2002, Congress required the Department of Transportation and the 
        Federal Communications Commission to establish a 3-digit, nationwide, 
        toll-free number to be used by State ``One Call'' systems to provide 
        information on underground utility lines;
Whereas, in 2005, the Federal Communications Commission designated ``811'' as 
        the nationwide ``One Call'' number for homeowners and excavators to use 
        to obtain information on underground utility lines before conducting 
        excavation activities (hereinafter referred to as the ```One Call'/811 
        program'');
Whereas the nearly 2,000 members of the Common Ground Alliance, States, ``One 
        Call''/811 program, and other stakeholders who are dedicated to ensuring 
        public safety, environmental protection, and the integrity of services, 
        promote the national ``Contact 811 Before You Dig'' campaign to increase 
        public awareness about the importance of homeowners and excavators 
        contacting 811 to find out the location of underground utility lines 
        before digging;
Whereas the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011 
        (Public Law 112-90; 125 Stat. 1904) affirmed and expanded the ``One 
        Call''/811 program by eliminating exemptions given to local and State 
        government agencies and their contractors regarding notifying ``One 
        Call''/811 centers before digging;
Whereas, according to the 2021 Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) Report 
        published by the Common Ground Alliance in October 2022--

    (1) estimated annual instances of excavation-related damages to 
underground facilities were on-pace or higher than the approximately 
486,000 damages from the prior year; and

    (2) failing to contact 811 in advance of a digging project caused 26 
percent of these damages;

Whereas, in 2021, the Common Ground Alliance conducted a survey of active 
        diggers who have completed a project during the prior year and found 
        that 74 percent of the more than 1,800 respondents were aware of the 
        ``One Call''/811 program; and
Whereas the Common Ground Alliance has designated April as ``National Safe 
        Digging Month'' to increase awareness of safe digging practices across 
        the United States and to celebrate the anniversary of 811, the national 
        ``Contact Before You Dig'' number: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Safe Digging 
        Month;
            (2) encourages all homeowners and excavators throughout the 
        United States to contact 811 by phone or online before digging; 
        and
            (3) encourages all damage prevention stakeholders to help 
        educate homeowners and excavators throughout the United States 
        about the importance of contacting 811 to have the approximate 
        location of buried utilities marked with paint or flags before 
        digging.
                                 <all>