Secretary of Transportation Joins with Utility and Excavation Industries to Launch 811 Number

811 is the new national three-digit "Call Before You Dig" telephone number created by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation in partnership with utility and excavation industries. This new national safety resource will help reduce injury, expenses and penalties.

Washington, DC (PRWEB) April 27, 2007 -- U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters, and senior officials from the Associated General Contractors of America, John Deere, the Travelers Companies, Inc., Cox Communications, and the Common Ground Alliance will be announcing the official activation of 811 (http://www.call811.com/), the new national 'Call Before You Dig' (http://www.call811.com/) telephone number.

Official activation of 811 will also match the launch of a public education campaign about "Call Before You Dig" number designated by the FCC to protect American homeowners and professional excavators from the injuries, expenses and penalties caused by the hundreds of thousands of digging related accidents that result in damages to underground utilities each year.

Each year failure to call before digging threatens American lives and underground utility infrastructure -- resulting in nearly 700,000 underground utility damages. This staggering statistic equates to more than one unintentional hit per minute, the consequences of which include injury, penalties, repair costs and expensive and inconvenient service outages.

The launch will take place on the National Mall in Washington, DC on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 at 10:00 a.m.

About The Common Ground Alliance

The Common Ground Alliance (CGA) works to ensure public safety, environmental protection, and the integrity of public services by promoting effective damage prevention practices for all underground facilities in North America. CGA is a member-driven association comprised of more than 1,400 excavators; locators; road builders; electric, oil, and gas companies; telecommunications providers; railroads; One Call Centers; public works; equipment manufacturing and suppliers; state regulators; insurance and engineering/design; and emergency services. www.call811.com

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