Common Ground Alliance draws praise

The Common Ground Alliance (CGA) drew praise recently from Sen. Trent Lott, who said, "This organization provides the necessary forum for all stakeholders to share valuable information about the best ways to protect underground facilities during excavation.”

CGA, a non-profit group composed of various utilities and other stakeholders, may be best known for its "Dig Safely" public awareness campaign. Among the important practices stressed by CGA are:

- Call before you dig.

- Wait the required amount of time.

- Respect the marks.

- Excavate with care.

- Safety is a shared responsibility.

 CGA's website is www.commongroundalliance.com. You also can visit www.digsafely.com or call 888-258-0808 to obtain local numbers to call for marking of underground lines before excavation.