[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 71 (Thursday, April 27, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1423-S1424]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 182--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL SAFE 
                             DIGGING MONTH

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

                              S. Res. 182

       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--

[[Page S1424]]

       (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.

                          ____________________