Frank Lautenberg: “the Safety Board is right. Following the disaster, the State of New Jersey adopted a comprehensive one-call program that…”

“the Safety Board is right. Following the disaster, the State of New Jersey adopted a comprehensive one-call program that mandates participation throughout the state. It has been a resounding success. Every year since its adoption, accidental hits have decreased. In 1995 --the first year of the program, there were 4,624 hits of underground lines in 1.7 million excavations. In 1996, there were 3,974 hits in 2.1 million excavations. And last year, there were 3,796 hits in 2.5 million excavations--a success rate of 98.8 percent. One call programs work. We in New Jersey have seen the devastation caused by pipeline eruptions. We in New Jersey have seen what a one- call program can do.”