[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 68 (Thursday, April 18, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S2892]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 656--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL SAFE 
                             DIGGING MONTH

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

                              S. Res. 656

       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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