[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 49 (Friday, March 26, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S2164]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 472--IN RECOGNITION AND SUPPORT OF NATIONAL SAFE 
                             DIGGING MONTH

  Mr. LAUTENBERG (for himself, Mr. Thune, and Mr. Rockefeller) 
submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 472

       Whereas each year the Nation's underground utility 
     infrastructure--including pipelines and electric, gas, 
     telecommunications, water, sewer, and cable television 
     lines--is jeopardized by unintentional damage due to those 
     who fail to have underground lines located prior to digging;
       Whereas some lines are buried only a few inches 
     underground, making them easy to strike even during shallow 
     digging projects;
       Whereas such digging often has unintended consequences such 
     as service interruption, environmental damage, personal 
     injury, and even death;
       Whereas April is the beginning of the peak of excavation 
     projects around the Nation;
       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;
       Whereas in 2005 the Federal Communications Commission 
     designated ``811'' as the nationwide ``One Call'' number for 
     homeowners and all excavators to call before conducting 
     excavation activities;
       Whereas the ``One-Call'' system has helped reduce the 
     number of digging damages caused by failure to call before 
     digging from 57 percent in 2004 to 37.5 percent in 2009;
       Whereas the 1,400 members of the Common Ground Alliance, 
     who are dedicated to ensuring public safety, environmental 
     protection, and the integrity of services, promote the 
     national ``Call Before You Dig'' campaign to increase public 
     awareness about the importance, for homeowners and 
     excavators, of calling 811 to find out the exact location of 
     underground lines;
       Whereas the Common Ground Alliance has designated April as 
     National Safe Digging Month in order to increase awareness of 
     safe digging practices across the country and to celebrate 
     the anniversary of 811, the national ``Call Before You Dig'' 
     number: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate supports the goals of National 
     Safe Digging Month and encourages homeowners and all 
     excavators throughout the country to call 811 before digging.

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