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.