Damage Prevention is a Shared Responsibility

The Common Ground Alliance (CGA) is a member-driven association dedicated to ensuring public safety, environmental protection, and the integrity of services by promoting effective damage prevention practices.    In recent years, the association has established itself as the leading organization in an effort to reduce damages to all underground facilities in North America through shared responsibility among all stakeholders.

In promoting a spirit of shared responsibility, the CGA welcomes all stakeholders who would like to be a part of the identification and promotion of best practices that lead to a reduction in damage. Any “best practices,” endorsed by the CGA come with consensus support from experts representing the following stakeholder groups:   Excavators, Locators, Road Builders, Electric, Telecommunications, Oil, Gas, Railroad, Water, One Call, Public Works, Equipment Manufacturing, State Regulators, Insurance, Emergency Services and Engineering/Design. 

Since inception, the CGA has grown to over 1,300 individual members, 165 member organizations, and 40 sponsors. 

Officially formed in 2000, the CGA represents a continuation of the damage prevention efforts embodied by the Common Ground Study.  Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation and completed in 1999, this Study represents the collaborative work of 160 industry professionals who identified best practices relating to damage prevention.

The CGA provides today’s optimal forum where stakeholders can share information and perspectives and work together on all aspects of damage prevention issues. This allows the achievement of results that would otherwise be impossible. The CGA is working with industry stakeholders and regulators to produce stronger, more effective results through partnership, collaboration, and the pursuit of common goals in damage prevention.

Purpose

The Purpose of the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) is to prevent damage to underground infrastructure by:

• Fostering a sense of shared responsibility for the protection of underground facilities;
• Supporting research;
• Developing and conducting public awareness and education programs;
• Identifying and disseminating the stakeholder best practices such as those embodied in the Common Ground Study; and,
• Serving as a clearinghouse for damage data collection, analysis, and dissemination.

Structure

The business and activities of the CGA are managed by the Board of Directors. Each stakeholder group within the CGA is represented by a Director on the CGA Board.  There are currently 15 Board members.  In addition to its Board of Directors, the CGA is comprised of 6 working committees:

1. Best Practices
2. Research & Development
3. Data Reporting & Evaluation
4. Educational Programs
5. Marketing, Membership & Communications
6. One-Call Systems International

Each committee’s work supports the CGA mission in a unique, yet critical manner. Committee members are generally employees of a stakeholder organization.  CGA committee's hold approximately 35 meetings each year.  For a complete list of CGA meetings, visit the CGA Meetings & Events page.