HB 1190

Abstract

Amends the Illinois Underground Natural Gas Storage Safety Act. Provides that, in the case of a verified facility release, the owner and operator of the underground natural gas storage facility is responsible for specified actions. Defines "verified facility release". Effective immediately. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Underground Natural Gas Storage Safety Act. Provides that the owner or operator of an underground natural gas storage facility shall create procedures for a suspected natural gas leak or suspected unintentional release from an underground natural gas storage facility that is identified by either the Department of Natural Resources or the operator or owner. Requires collecting and testing to be performed by an independent contractor at the expense of the owner or operator. Allows the owner or operator to acknowledge that the leak or unintentional release is from the underground natural gas storage facility and treat it as a verified facility release in substitution of performing collection and testing. Requires the owner or operator to have procedures to be used if the gas is identified or conceded to be a verified facility release. Requires the owner or operator to perform sampling at a frequency as determined by the owner or operator for natural gas in private drinking water wells in the areas determined by the owner or operator impacted by the leak or unintentional release. Requires the owner or operator to maintain routine monitoring of the areas impacted by the leak or unintentional release as determined by the owner's or operator's procedures. Provides that if natural gas is detected at levels posing health or hazard issues, the owner or operator shall offer and maintain gas water separators in affected areas impacting the water supply. Provides that with the property owner's or occupant's consent, the owner or operator shall provide, install, and maintain natural gas detection devices determined to be appropriate by the owner or operator in the affected areas to monitor the presence of natural gas. Requires the owner or operator to maintain routine monitoring of the areas impacted by the leak or unintentional release by method and frequency and create a schedule to be shared with the Department of Natural Resources, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Public Health. Defines "verified facility release". House Floor Amendment No. 2 In the definition of "verified facility release", removes language requiring that the chemical analysis confirming the suspected or known natural gas or contaminant release be conducted in accordance with Board rules.