A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Safe Digging Month.

III 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 191 Supporting the goals and ideals of National Safe Digging Month. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES APRIL 29, 2021 Mr. PETERS (for himself, Mrs. FISCHER, Ms. CANTWELL, and Mr. WICKER) 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, tele- communications, water, sewer, and cable television lines, is jeopardized by unintentional damage caused by those who fail to locate underground utility lines prior to digging; Whereas some utility lines are buried only a few inches un- derground, 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; VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:36 Apr 30, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR191.IS SR191 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 2 •SRES 191 IS 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 Com- mission to establish a 3-digit, nationwide, toll-free num- ber 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 informa- tion on underground utility lines before conducting exca- vation activities; Whereas the 1,700 members of the Common Ground Alli- ance, who are dedicated to ensuring public safety, envi- ronmental protection, and the integrity of services, pro- mote the national ‘‘Call Before You Dig’’ campaign to in- crease public awareness about the importance of home- owners and excavators calling 811 to find out the exact location of underground utility 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 govern- ment agencies and their contractors regarding notifying ‘‘One Call’’ centers before digging; Whereas, according to the Common Ground Alliance’s 2019 Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) Report published in October 2020, there were an estimated 532,000 instances of excavation-related damage to under- ground facilities in the United States during 2019, a 4.5- VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:36 Apr 30, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR191.IS SR191 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 3 •SRES 191 IS percent increase from the Common Ground Alliance’s 2018 estimate; Whereas the Common Ground Alliance conducted a survey in 2020 and found that 50 percent of the more than 1,800 respondents were aware of 811, the highest level since the survey was first conducted in 2008; Whereas the Common Ground Alliance estimated that the so- cietal costs of excavation-related damage to buried utili- ties were $30,000,000,000 in 2019, including costs for facility repair, property damage, medical bills, and costs to the surrounding businesses affected by the resulting utility outages; 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 Be- fore You Dig’’ number: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) supports the goals and ideals of National 2 Safe Digging Month; 3 (2) encourages all homeowners and excavators 4 throughout the United States to call 811 before 5 digging; and 6 (3) encourages all damage prevention stake- 7 holders to help educate homeowners and excavators 8 throughout the United States about the importance 9 of calling 811 before digging. 10 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:36 Apr 30, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR191.IS SR191 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS