220 ILCS 20/ Illinois Gas Pipeline Safety Act.
(220 ILCS 20/1) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 551) Sec. 1. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the Illinois Gas Pipeline Safety Act. (Source: P. A. 76‑1588.) |
(220 ILCS 20/2) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 552) Sec. 2. As used in this Act, unless the context, otherwise requires, the terms specified in Sections 2.01 through 2.07 have the meanings ascribed to them in those Sections. (Source: P. A. 76‑1588.) |
(220 ILCS 20/2.01) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 552.1) Sec. 2.01. "Person" means any individual, firm, joint venture, partnership, corporation, association, municipality, cooperative association, or joint stock association, and includes any trustee, receiver, assignee or personal representative thereof. (Source: P. A. 76‑1588.) |
(220 ILCS 20/2.02) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 552.2) Sec. 2.02. "Gas" means natural gas, flammable gas or gas which is toxic or corrosive. (Source: P. A. 76‑1588.) |
(220 ILCS 20/2.02.5) Sec. 2.02.5. "Primary fuel line" means that portion of the customer‑owned piping that connects the outlet of the gas meter to the outside wall of residential premises, excluding any customer‑owned branch lines that may be connected thereto. (Source: P.A. 88‑314.) |
(220 ILCS 20/2.03) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 552.3) Sec. 2.03. "Transportation of gas" means the gathering, transmission, or distribution of gas by pipeline or its storage, within this State and not subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission under the Natural Gas Act, except that it includes the transmission of gas through pipeline facilities within this State that transport gas from an interstate gas pipeline to a direct sales customer within this State purchasing gas for its own consumption. "Transportation of gas" also includes the conveyance of gas from a gas main through the primary fuel line to the outside wall of residential premises. If the gas meter is placed within 3 feet of the structure, the utility's responsibility shall end at the outlet side of the meter. (Source: P.A. 87‑1092; 88‑314.) |
(220 ILCS 20/2.04) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 552.4) Sec. 2.04. "Pipeline facilities" includes new and existing pipe rights‑of‑way and any equipment, facility, or building used in the transportation of gas or the treatment of gas during the course of transportation and includes facilities within this State that transport gas from an interstate gas pipeline to a direct sales customer within this State purchasing gas for its own consumption, but "rights‑of‑way" as used in this Act does not authorize the Commission to prescribe, under this Act, the location or routing of any pipeline facility. "Pipeline facilities" also includes new and existing pipes and lines and any other equipment, facility, or structure, except customer‑owned branch lines connected to the primary fuel lines, used to convey gas from a gas main to the outside wall of residential premises, and any person who provides gas service directly to its residential customer through these facilities shall be deemed to operate such pipeline facilities for purposes of this Act irrespective of the ownership of the facilities or the location of the facilities with respect to the meter, except that a person who provides gas service to a "master meter system", as that term is defined at 49 C.F.R. Section 191.3, shall not be deemed to operate any facilities downstream of the master meter. (Source: P.A. 87‑1092; 88‑314.) |
(220 ILCS 20/2.05) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 552.5) Sec. 2.05. "Commission" means the Illinois Commerce Commission. (Source: P. A. 76‑1588.) |
(220 ILCS 20/2.06) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 552.6) Sec. 2.06. "Public Utilities Act" means "An Act concerning public utilities", approved June 29, 1921, as amended. (Source: P. A. 76‑1588.) |
(220 ILCS 20/2.07) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 552.7) Sec. 2.07. "Federal Act" means the "Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968". (Source: P.A. 76‑1588.) |
(220 ILCS 20/3) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 553) Sec. 3. (a) As soon as practicable, but not later than 3 months after the effective date of this Act, the Commission shall adopt rules establishing minimum safety standards for the transportation of gas and for pipeline facilities. Such rules shall be at least as inclusive, as stringent, and compatible with, the minimum safety standards adopted by the Secretary of Transportation under the Federal Act. Thereafter, the Commission shall maintain such rules so that the rules are at least as inclusive, as stringent, and compatible with, the minimum standards from time to time in effect under the Federal Act. (b) Standards established under this Act may apply to the design, installation, inspection, testing, construction, extension, operation, replacement, and maintenance of pipeline facilities. Standards affecting the design, installation, construction, initial inspection and initial testing are not applicable to pipeline facilities in existence on the date such standards are adopted. Whenever the Commission finds a particular facility to be hazardous to life or property, it may require the person operating such facility to take the steps necessary to remove the hazard. (c) Standards established by the Commission under this Act shall, subject to paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 3, be practicable and designed to meet the need for pipeline safety. In prescribing such standards, the Commission shall consider: similar standards established in other states; relevant available pipeline safety data; whether such standards are appropriate for the particular type of pipeline transportation; the reasonableness of any proposed standards; and the extent to which such standards will contribute to public safety. Rules adopted under this Act are subject to "The Illinois Administrative Procedure Act", approved September 22, 1975, as amended. (Source: P.A. 83‑333.) |
(220 ILCS 20/4) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 554) Sec. 4. Subject to Section 3, paragraph (e) of the Federal Act, the Commission may, upon application by any person engaged in the transportation of gas or the operation of pipeline facilities, waive in whole or in part, compliance with any standard established under this Act, if it determines that such a waiver is not inconsistent with gas pipeline safety. (Source: P. A. 76‑1588.) |
(220 ILCS 20/5) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 555) Sec. 5. Each person who engages in the transportation of gas or who owns or operates pipeline facilities shall file with the Commission a plan for inspection and maintenance of each pipeline facility owned or operated by such person as well as any changes in such plan, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Commission. The Commission may, by regulation, also require such person to file the plans for approval. If the Commission finds, at any time, that the plan is inadequate to achieve safe operation, the Commission shall, after notice and opportunity for a hearing, require the plan to be revised. The plan required by the Commission under this Section must be practicable and designed to meet the need for pipeline safety. In determining the adequacy of any plan, the Commission shall consider relevant available pipeline safety data; whether the plan is appropriate for the particular type of pipeline transportation; the reasonableness of the plan; and the extent to which the plan will contribute to public safety. (Source: P. A. 76‑1588.) |
(220 ILCS 20/6) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 556) Sec. 6. (a) Each person who engages in the transportation of gas or who owns or operates pipeline facilities shall: (1) at all times after the date any applicable safety standard established under this Act takes effect comply with the requirements of such standard; (2) file and comply with a plan of inspection and maintenance required by Section 5 of this Act; (3) keep records, make reports, provide information, and permit inspection of its books, records and facilities under the Public Utilities Act as the Commission reasonably requires to insure compliance with this Act and the rules and regulations established under this Act; and (4) file with the Commission, under such rules as the Commission prescribes, reports of all accidents, involving pipeline facilities or the transportation of gas. No such accident report filed with the Commission is admissible into evidence in any action for damages based on or arising out of the loss of life, or injury to person or property, occasioned by any accident. (b) Any accident report made by an officer, employee or agent of the Commission is available for use in any civil, criminal, or other judicial proceeding arising out of such accident. (Source: P. A. 76‑1588.) |
(220 ILCS 20/7) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 557) Sec. 7. Penalties; action for penalties. (a) Any person violating paragraph (a) of Section 6 of this Act or any rule or order issued under this Act is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed the maximum penalties established by Section 60122(a)(1) of Title 49 of the United States Code for each day the violation persists. Such civil penalties do not apply to a violation with respect to a pipeline facility in existence on the effective date of this Act unless such violation persists one year from the effective date. (b) Any civil penalty may be compromised by the Commission. In determining the amount of the penalty, or the amount agreed upon in compromise, the Commission shall consider the appropriateness of the penalty to the size of the business of the person charged, the gravity of the violation, and the good faith of the person charged in attempting to achieve compliance, after notification of a violation. The amount of the penalty when finally determined, or the amount agreed upon in compromise, may be deducted from any sums owing by the State of Illinois to the person charged or may be recovered in a civil action in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section 7. (c) Actions to recover penalties under this Act shall be brought in the name of the People of the State of Illinois in the circuit court in and for the county in which the cause or some part thereof, arose or in which the corporation complained of, if any, has its principal place of business or in which the person, if any, complained of, resides. All penalties recovered by the State in any action shall be paid into the general fund of the State Treasury. The action shall be commenced and prosecuted to final judgment by the Attorney General on behalf of the Commission. In all such actions, the procedure and rules of evidence shall conform with the Civil Practice Law and other rules of court governing civil trials. (d) In addition the Commission may proceed under Section 4‑202 of the Public Utilities Act, either by mandamus or injunction, to secure compliance with its rules, regulations and orders issued under this Act. (e) Any person penalized under this Section is not subject, for the same cause, to any other penalty provided in the Public Utilities Act. (Source: P.A. 91‑814, eff. 6‑13‑00.) |
(220 ILCS 20/8) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 558) Sec. 8. Except as otherwise provided in this Act, the Public Utilities Act applies to pipeline facilities and to persons engaged in the transportation of gas or operating pipeline facilities. (Source: P. A. 76‑1588.) |
(220 ILCS 20/9) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 559) Sec. 9. The Commission shall prepare and file with the Secretary of Transportation the initial and annual certification and report required by Section 5, paragraph (a) of the Federal Act. (Source: P. A. 76‑1588.) |
(220 ILCS 20/10) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 560) Sec. 10. The Commission may apply for, accept, receive and receipt for Federal monies, for the State, given by the Federal government under the Federal Act for any purpose within the authority of the Commission. The Commission may also act as an agent for any agency or officer of the Federal government for any purpose which is otherwise within the authority of the Commission, and the Commission may enter into agreements for such purpose with any such agency or officer. (Source: P. A. 76‑1588.) |
(220 ILCS 20/11) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 561) Sec. 11. Nothing contained in this Act is intended, nor shall it be construed, to limit or diminish the authority of the Commission under "An Act concerning public utilities", approved June 29, 1921, as amended. (Source: P. A. 76‑1588.) |
(220 ILCS 20/12) (from Ch. 111 2/3, par. 562) Sec. 12. If any provision, clause or phrase of this Act or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or application of this Act which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application and to this end provisions of this Act are declared to be separable. (Source: P. A. 76‑1588.) |