Section 240.1880  Sole Source Aquifer:  Natural Gas Incident Notice to Department

a)         Applicability.  This Section applies to all natural gas incidents from an underground natural gas storage facility that lies on the footprint of a Sole Source Aquifer designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

b)         For all natural gas incidents, the permittee shall immediately notify the District Office in which the underground natural gas storage facility is located and provide public notice in compliance with Section 7.5 of the Illinois Oil and Gas Act.

c)         In addition, all private residents, owners and operators of private water systems, or businesses, including agricultural operations, located within 1.5 miles of the boundaries of the natural gas incident must be notified as soon as practically possible.  Notices to private residents and businesses must be attempted through verbal communication, whether in person or by telephone.  If verbal communication cannot be established, a physical notice must be posted on the premises of the private residence or business in a conspicuous location where it is easily seen by the inhabitants of the private residence or employees at the business.  The physical notice shall carry the following text in at least 18-point font:  "NATURAL GAS INCIDENT NOTICE – READ IMMEDIATELY".  Notices required under this Section shall be provided whether or not the threat of exposure has been eliminated.  Both verbal and physical notices shall include the location of the natural gas incident, the date and time that the natural gas incident was discovered, contact information of the operator of the natural gas storage field, and any applicable safety information.  (Section 7.5 of the Illinois Oil and Gas Act)

d)         The operator of a natural gas storage field has a continuous and ongoing obligation to further notify the affected parties as necessary if it is determined that the boundaries of the natural gas incident have increased, moved, or shifted.  This notice requirement shall be construed as broadly as possible.  (Section 7.5 of the Illinois Oil and Gas Act)

(Source:  Added at 43 Ill. Reg. 11524, effective September 24, 2019)