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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Each year, the nation's underground utility |
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infrastructure is jeopardized by unsafe digging practices, which |
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may also cause service interruption, damage to the environment, and |
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personal injury or death; and |
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WHEREAS, Utility lines are compromised once every three |
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minutes due to digging, and one-third of these incidents are caused |
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by the failure of professional excavators or homeowners to call the |
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national "Call Before You Dig" number, 8-1-1, before beginning |
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their digging project; designated by the Federal Communications |
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Commission in 2005, 8-1-1 connects to a local one-call center that |
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can provide utility line locations at the intended dig site; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to calling 8-1-1, safe digging practices |
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include waiting the required amount of time, respecting the marked |
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lines by maintaining visual definition throughout the course of the |
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excavation, and digging with care around the marks; and |
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WHEREAS, The people of Texas depend on underground |
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infrastructure for energy, clean water, and communication |
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services, and educational outreach is the first step in the effort |
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to prevent damage to this vital network; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby commemorate April 2011 as Safe Digging Month and encourage |
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all Texans to, "Know what's below and call before you dig." |