[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 656 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 656

    Supporting the goals and ideals of National Safe Digging Month.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 18, 2024

   Mr. Peters (for himself and Ms. Cantwell) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
                           and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                               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 (referred to in this preamble as the ```One Call'/
        811 program'');
Whereas the nearly 4,200 damage prevention professionals who are members of the 
        Common Ground Alliance, States, the ``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 2022 Damage Information Reporting Tool Report 
        published by the Common Ground Alliance in September 2023--

    (1) ``No notification to the 811 center'' remains the number 1 top root 
cause of damage;

    (2) failure to notify 811 prior to digging contributed to 25 percent of 
damages; and

    (3) landscaping, fencing, water, sewer, and construction are the top 
types of work performed when professionals cause no-notification damages; 
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 the designation of 
        811 as 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.
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