SB3548 EngrossedLRB100 20726 SMS 36201 b

1    AN ACT concerning regulation.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Oil and Gas Act is amended by
5adding Section 7.5 as follows:
 
6    (225 ILCS 725/7.5 new)
7    Sec. 7.5. Natural gas storage field; natural gas leak;
8public notice.
9    In addition to the requirements of this Section and any
10applicable State and federal law, an operator of a natural gas
11storage field that lies on the footprint of a Sole Source
12Aquifer designated as such in 2015 by the United States
13Environmental Protection Agency must notify the following
14parties located within 5 miles of the boundaries of a natural
15gas leak into water or onto the surface of land that a natural
16gas leak has occurred:
17        (1) All government entities must be notified
18    immediately.
19        (2) All emergency service agencies serving that area
20    must be notified immediately.
21        (3) All owners and operators of public water supplies,
22    community water supplies, and non-community water supplies
23    must be notified immediately.

 

 

SB3548 Engrossed- 2 -LRB100 20726 SMS 36201 b

1    In addition, all private residents, owners and operators of
2private water systems, or businesses, including agricultural
3operations, located within one and a half miles of the
4boundaries of the natural gas leak must be notified as soon as
5practically possible.
6    Notices to private residents and businesses must be
7attempted through verbal communication, whether in person or by
8telephone. If verbal communication cannot be established, a
9physical notice must be posted. The physical notice shall carry
10the following text in at least 18-point font: "NATURAL GAS LEAK
11NOTICE - READ IMMEDIATELY". Notices required under this Section
12shall be provided whether or not the threat of exposure has
13been eliminated. Both verbal and physical notices shall include
14the location of the natural gas leak, the date and time that
15the natural gas leak was discovered, contact information of the
16operator of the natural gas storage field, and any applicable
17safety information.
18    The operator of a natural gas storage field has a
19continuous and ongoing obligation to further notify the
20affected parties as necessary if it is determined that the
21boundaries of the natural gas leak have increased, moved, or
22shifted. This notice requirement shall be construed as broadly
23as possible.