WA 2016 State Damage Prevention Program

Overview

Main Objective

Under this grant agreement, the recipient will: Use the funding awarded under this grant for an education and outreach program to reinforce the importance of the Call Before You Dig message. The state has an enforcement program with maximum penalty amounts up to $5,000 for non-pipeline, and $10,000 for pipelines, being levied against excavators who fail to request a One Call utility locate. The last large outreach campaign was in 2014. With the lack of funding to continue, the recipient has witnessed a slow but steady increase in the number of damages without locates. This trend is of concern, and the recipient wants to stem the tide of the increase before more serious impacts to property and human safety occur. To achieve this the recipient intends to take a three-pronged approach:

1. Placement of Call Before You Dig signage on large billboards along well-traveled roads throughout the state.
2. Sponsorship advertising with the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA). These events are held throughout the year and reach families, students, coaches, teachers, and community members.
3. Purchase of radio advertising spots in areas where more damages are occurring. The final piece will be a data analysis of the impact these efforts have on the number of damages reported. The final piece will be a data analysis of the impact these efforts have on the number of damages reported.

Public Abstract

Under the terms of this grant agreement, the Recipient will address the following applicable elements listed in the approved application, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. §60134 (a),(b).

• Element 5 (Public Education): A process for fostering and ensuring active participation by all stakeholders in public education for damage prevention activities.

Relevant Files & Links