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For Immediate Release: 08/10/17
John B. Rhodes, Chair
Contact: James Denn | James.Denn@dps.ny.gov | (518) 474-7080
17061
August 10, 2017
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PSC Joins Effort to Raise Awareness for National 811 Dig Safely DayProtecting Underground Infrastructure Key to Ensuring Safe, Reliable Utility Service |
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ALBANY — The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission), to encourage residents and excavators to dig safely, joined a nationwide effort that recognizes August 11 as National ‘811 Day’ to remind New York State residents to always dial 811 to request that underground utility lines be marked before any digging.
“The Commission continually works to ensure safety and reliability of gas and electric services,” said Commission Chair John B. Rhodes. “We remind New Yorkers to always call 811 before any digging project to have underground utility lines marked. Dig safely!" Every digging project, no matter how large or small, warrants contacting 811. When digging, people run the risk of hitting an underground utility, even if only digging a few inches. Striking a pipeline, wire or cable can result in costly repairs, fines or utility service outages. Even worse, a line strike can cause serious personal injury or even death. According to the US Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, in 2016, New York had 91,191 miles of natural gas distribution, transmission and gathering pipelines and 1,147 miles of hazardous liquid pipelines. In addition to participating in the national 811 Dig Safely Day and Safe Digging Month program, the Commission’s staff works diligently to enforce its gas safety regulations, which are among the most stringent in the nation, to ensure that utility companies adhered to them regarding the safe operation of the utility’s gas distribution system. To continue to improve gas safety, the Commission routinely monitors the utilities’ gas emergency plans to make sure that they are up to date, to identify improvement areas, and to ensure that the plans are in compliance with the Commission’s gas safety requirements. Regional Events to Promote Dig Safely Day:
Central New York: The Utility Coordinating Committee Damage Prevention Council (DPC) will be hosting ‘811 Night with the Redwings’. The event will be held Friday, August 11, 2017 from 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm. At Frontier Field, 1 Morrie Silver Way, Rochester, NY 14608.
Hudson Valley: The Hudson Valley DPC will be attending the Rockland Boulders Game at Palisades Credit Union http://www.rocklandboulders.com/. The game is on Friday August 11, 225 tickets have been purchased and all adults are required to wear yellow 811 shirts for the night. The DPC will be located at the entrance giving out information about Call 811 before you dig. Children will be able to take the field during the National Anthem with a ball player. Dig Safely New York announcements will be read, Dig Safely New York "Day in the Dark commercial" will be played throughout the night and at 8:11 pm. T-shirts will be tossed into the spectators randomly.
New York City and Long Island: New York 811 will be in and around New York City and Long Island spreading the important 811 safe digging message. They will also be engaging excavators in the field at various projects passing out New York 811 merchandise and highlighting the importance of calling 811 before you dig. New York 811 is also once again teaming up with the New York Mets & the New York Yankees and their broadcast partners SNY and Yankees Broadcast Network as well as WFAN radio to provide coverage of the games on August 11, 2017, to help spread the word about making the 811 call. Look and listen for 811 messaging during the NY Mets vs. Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Yankees vs. the Boston Sox broadcasts on SNY, WFAN, and Yankees Broadcast Radio.
For more information about events going on around the State for 811 day visit: https://www.digsafelynewyork.com/news/811-day-august-11-2017-activities. For information about Dig Safely New York, go to http://www.digsafelynewyork.com/ or call 315-437-7394. For information about New York 811, visit http://newyork-811.com/ or call 1-800-272-4480. For more information on 811, visit http://call811.com/.
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