As used in this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:
"Commission" means the Illinois Commerce Commission.
"Contaminant" means gas, salt water, or any other deleterious substance released from an underground natural gas storage facility.
"Department" means the Department of Natural Resources.
"Director" means the Director of Natural Resources.
"Downhole" means the portion of the underground natural gas storage facility from the first flange attaching the wellhead to the pipeline equipment and continuing down the well casing to and including the storage reservoir.
"Federal Act" has the meaning given to that term in the Illinois Gas Pipeline Safety Act.
"Gas" means natural gas.
"Notice of probable violation" means a written notice, satisfying the criteria set forth in Section 35, given by the underground natural gas storage safety manager to a person who operates an underground natural gas storage facility that identifies a failure of such person to comply with the provisions of this Act or the provisions of 49 U.S.C. Chapter 601 concerning underground natural gas storage facilities, or any Department order or rule issued under this Act, and may include recommendations for a penalty in connection therewith, subject to the terms of this Act.
"Person" means an individual, firm, joint venture, partnership, corporation, company, limited liability company, firm, association, municipality, cooperative association, or joint stock association. "Person" includes a trustee, receiver, assignee, or personal representative thereof.
"Underground natural gas storage facility" means a gas pipeline facility that stores natural gas in an underground facility, including a depleted hydrocarbon reservoir, an aquifer reservoir, and a solution-mined salt cavern reservoir.
"Underground natural gas storage safety manager" means the manager of the Department's Underground Natural Gas Storage Safety Program or other staff of the Department assigned to underground natural gas storage safety issues.
"Verified facility release" means a suspected or known natural gas or contaminant release that: (i) is regulated by the Department; (ii) originates from a natural gas storage facility; and (iii) is confirmed by chemical analysis to have occurred or be occurring within the perimeter of the underground natural gas storage facility or within one-quarter mile of that perimeter.
415 ILCS 160/5