Illinois Pipeline Safety

The Illinois Commerce Commission has a public utilities section, the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety section. The ICC's Natural Gas Pipeline Safety division inspects pipelines for federal and state safety compliance.

Responsibilities

• The Natural Gas Pipeline Safety section investigates accidents in Illinois.

  In addition to compliance with state and federal pipeline safety laws, the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety section inspects construction, operation and maintenance of pipeline facilities for safety. It investigates accidents involving gas that result in serious injuries, fatalities or at least $50,000 worth of property damage.

Nicor Gas

• Nicor Gas maintains natural gas mains and pipelines that deliver gas to more than 640 communities in Illinois. Nicor Gas's Technical Compliance Department oversees the safety policies, standard safety practices and safety programs for pipelines. If you are a Nicor Gas customer, your pipelines have been inspected by the ICC's Natural Gas Pipeline Safety division.

PHSMA

• Nicor Gas and other providers in Illinois must obey the Code of Federal Regulations, issued by the Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration. The PHMSA is part of the Department of Transportation and administers nationally to assure the safe transportation of gas. In Illinois, gas companies act through the Office of Pipeline Safety to ensure their pipeline systems meet PHMSA regulations.