82R20760 CBE-D
By: Keffer H.C.R. No. 136
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Each year, the nation's underground utility
infrastructure is jeopardized by unsafe digging practices, which
may also cause service interruption, damage to the environment, and
personal injury or death; and
WHEREAS, Utility lines are compromised once every three
minutes due to digging, and one-third of these incidents are caused
by the failure of professional excavators or homeowners to call the
national "Call Before You Dig" number, 8-1-1, before beginning
their digging project; designated by the Federal Communications
Commission in 2005, 8-1-1 connects to a local one-call center that
can provide utility line locations at the intended dig site; and
WHEREAS, In addition to calling 8-1-1, safe digging practices
include waiting the required amount of time, respecting the marked
lines by maintaining visual definition throughout the course of the
excavation, and digging with care around the marks; and
WHEREAS, The people of Texas depend on underground
infrastructure for energy, clean water, and communication
services, and educational outreach is the first step in the effort
to prevent damage to this vital network; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby commemorate April 2011 as Safe Digging Month and encourage
all Texans to, "Know what's below and call before you dig."