Trent Lott: “The Safety Board issued another recommendation. It also determined, as a result of the study, that our nation's…”

“The Safety Board issued another recommendation. It also determined, as a result of the study, that our nation's railroads should involve themselves in statewide excavation damage prevention programs. The recommendations state that the associations should urge their members "to fully participate in statewide excavation damage prevention programs, including one-call notification centers." The recommendations were issued to the Association of American Railroads (AAR) and the American Short Line Railroad Association. Why has the Safety Board taken such a position? Perhaps it is because some railroads apparently oppose participating in excavation damage prevention programs, including one-call notification centers. Some one-call notification center participants indicate that the railroads are often no-shows when it comes to underground damage prevention. Currently, railroads are required to participate in state one-call notification systems in ten states. I want to repeat that again, only ten states. Yet AAR opposed the Lott-Daschle one-call notification bill which passed by the Senate by unanimous consent last year because we would not include provisions preempting state laws and exempting railroads from participation in state one-call notification systems in the remaining forty states.”