WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia encourages all residents, businesses, and excavators to contact Virginia 811 to locate underground utility lines prior to digging; and

WHEREAS, each year, Virginia’s underground utility infrastructure is jeopardized by unintentional damage caused by individuals who fail to contact 811 before digging, resulting in service interruptions, environmental harm, property damage, personal injury, and even death; and

WHEREAS, by calling 811 to request utility line location services, individuals throughout the Commonwealth can help reduce damages, prevent costly incidents, and improve the safety and efficiency of our communities’ essential infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, Virginia 811 performs a valuable public service by offering free assistance to all businesses and residents in Virginia through education on safe digging practices and by providing a convenient means of communication between excavators and member utilities; and

WHEREAS, excavators and private individuals can save time and money by contacting 811 in advance of any project, waiting the required amount of time, respecting marked lines, maintaining visual definition of marks throughout the course of excavation, and digging with care; and

WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia joins Virginia 811 in encouraging all individuals to “Know What’s Below” and to contact 811 before every dig to help create safer and stronger communities across the state;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Abigail D. Spanberger, do hereby recognize April 2026, as SAFE DIGGING MONTH in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.