[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 5864]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 137--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL SAFE 
                             DIGGING MONTH

  Mr. THUNE (for himself, Mr. Nelson, Mrs. Fischer, and Mr. Booker) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation:

                              S. Res. 137

       Whereas each year, the underground utility infrastructure 
     of the United States, including pipelines, electric, gas, 
     telecommunications, water, sewer, and cable television lines, 
     is jeopardized by unintentional damage caused by those who 
     fail to have underground 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 locating underground utility lines 
     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;
       Whereas ``One Call'' has helped reduce the number of 
     digging damages caused by failure to call before digging from 
     48 percent in 2004 to 26 percent in 2013;
       Whereas the 1,700 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 of homeowners and excavators 
     calling 811 to find out the exact location of underground 
     lines;
       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'' program by eliminating 
     exemptions given to local and State government agencies and 
     their contractors regarding notifying ``One Call'' centers 
     before digging; 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 ``Call Before You Dig'' 
     number: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Safe Digging 
     Month; and
       (2) encourages all homeowners and excavators throughout the 
     United States to call 811 before digging.

                          ____________________