98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
SB3328

 

Introduced 2/14/2014, by Sen. Ira I. Silverstein

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
225 ILCS 732/1-137 new

    Amends the Hydraulic Fracturing Regulatory Act. Provides that the Department of Natural Resources shall, immediately upon passage of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly, suspend acceptance or approval of any and all new permits for high volume horizontal fracturing operations or horizontal drilling with fracturing operations in any and all of the geographic areas in the 9-county area situated over or located above the Mahomet aquifer in this State. Provides that the Department shall work with the Illinois State Geological Survey and the Mahomet Aquifer Consortium to determine exact map locations of all areas in this State that are situated over or located above the Mahomet aquifer. Creates the Mahomet Aquifer Task Force to investigate any and all adverse effects of high volume hydraulic fracturing operations or horizontal drilling with fracturing operations. Requires the Task Force to report to the General Assembly and the Governor on its findings.


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A BILL FOR

 

SB3328LRB098 19587 MGM 54779 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 Hydraulic Fracturing Regulatory Act is
5amended by adding Section 1-137 as follows:
 
6    (225 ILCS 732/1-137 new)
7    Sec. 1-137. Mahomet Aquifer Task Force.
8    (a) The Department shall, on the effective date of this
9amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly, suspend acceptance
10or approval of any and all new permits for high volume
11horizontal fracturing operations or horizontal drilling with
12fracturing operations in any and all of the geographic areas in
13the 9-county area situated over or located above the Mahomet
14aquifer in this State.
15    (b) The Department shall work with the Illinois State
16Geological Survey and the Mahomet Aquifer Consortium to
17determine the exact map locations of all areas in this State
18that are situated over or located above the Mahomet aquifer.
19    (c) There is hereby created a Mahomet Aquifer Task Force.
20The Mahomet Aquifer Task Force shall consist of the following
21members:
22        (1) one member appointed by the Director of the
23    Illinois State Water Survey;

 

 

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1        (2) one member appointed by the Director of Natural
2    Resources;
3        (3) one member appointed by the Director of the
4    Groundwater Advisory Council established under the
5    Illinois Groundwater Protection Act;
6        (4) one member appointed by the Director of the
7    Illinois Environmental Protection Agency;
8        (5) one member appointed by the Illinois Groundwater
9    Association;
10        (6) one member appointed by the East Central Illinois
11    Regional Water Supply Planning Committee; and
12        (7) three members appointed by the Mahomet Aquifer
13    Consortium.
14    The chairperson of the Mahomet Aquifer Task Force shall be
15the member appointed by the Illinois State Water Survey.
16    (d) The Task Force shall:
17        (1) meet once a month, either in person or through
18    video conferencing or other technology via the Internet;
19        (2) operate without pay, but with all expenses paid for
20    the functioning of the Task Force to be allocated by the
21    Illinois State Water Survey;
22        (3) provide a fully researched report, based on a
23    review of published literature on effects of high volume
24    horizontal fracturing operations or horizontal drilling
25    with fracturing operations on other aquifers as described
26    in subsection (f) of this Section; and

 

 

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1        (4) fully investigate any and all adverse effects of
2    high volume hydraulic fracturing operations or horizontal
3    drilling with fracturing operations with regard to:
4            (A) oil and natural gas wells, Class II injection
5        wells, industry infrastructure and pipelines, and the
6        potential risks to the Mahomet aquifer;
7            (B) the environmental and public health effects on
8        the Mahomet aquifer of spillage, leakage, fires, or
9        blowouts of oil and natural gas, its containment,
10        processing infrastructure, and transportation
11        infrastructure;
12            (C) the environmental and public health effects on
13        the Mahomet aquifer of spillage or leakage from open
14        fracturing waste pits;
15            (D) the environmental damage and public health
16        effects on the Mahomet aquifer of spillage, leakage,
17        fires, or blowouts of hydraulic fracturing or
18        fracturing fluids, chemicals, proppants, and
19        byproducts, its containment, processing
20        infrastructure, and transportation infrastructure; and
21            (E) the environmental damage and effects to water
22        availability when drilling operators take water from
23        the aquifer during a drought and during dry periods, as
24        well as the overall removal of water on a continuous
25        basis from the aquifer.
26    (e) The Mahomet Aquifer Task Force shall write a report to

 

 

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1be submitted to the General Assembly, the Governor, the
2Hydraulic Fracturing Task Force, the Illinois Emergency
3Management Agency, the Department of Natural Resources, the
4Groundwater Advisory Council established under the Illinois
5Groundwater Protection Act, the Illinois Environment
6Protection Agency, the Illinois Groundwater Association, the
7East Central Illinois Regional Water Supply Planning
8Committee, the Mahomet Aquifer Consortium, the Department of
9Public Health, and to the public via the website of the
10Illinois State Water Survey and the website of the Department
11of Natural Resources, outlining its findings on the effects of
12high volume hydraulic fracturing operations or horizontal
13drilling with fracturing operations on the water resources
14drawn from and supplied by the Mahomet Aquifer, which shall
15include recommendations and conclusions about:
16        (1) the risks of drilling and extracting oil and
17    natural gas in aquifer region;
18        (2) the risks of drilling and operating Class II
19    injection wells in the aquifer region;
20        (3) the use of fracturing waste or wastewater open pits
21    in the aquifer region;
22        (4) the risks of spillage and leakage resulting in
23    water contamination from oil and natural gas wells in the
24    aquifer region;
25        (5) bonding requirements for oil and natural gas
26    operations and infrastructure in the aquifer region;

 

 

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1        (6) insurance requirements for oil and natural gas
2    operations and infrastructure in aquifer region;
3        (7) best practices for the oil and natural gas industry
4    in the aquifer region; and
5        (8) any and all recommendations related to maintaining
6    the viability of the aquifer and the ability of the aquifer
7    to supply a safe water supply as related to the oil and
8    natural gas industry and their operations.
9    (f) The report shall include recommendations to the General
10Assembly and the Governor for legislation to protect the
11Mahomet aquifer from any adverse effects of blowouts, spillage,
12leakage, and damages associated with oil and natural gas wells,
13drilling, Class II injection wells, waste and wastewater
14containment, pipelines, infrastructure, chemicals, proppants,
15and byproducts.
16    (g) The Mahomet Aquifer Task Force shall submit its report
17on or before January 1, 2016. The Mahomet Aquifer Task Force
18will be disbanded on July 1, 2016.