§ 4-615 — Training for carbon dioxide emergencies

(a) Prior to any pipeline for the transportation of carbon dioxide becoming operational, the Illinois Fire Service Institute, in coordination with the Office of the State Fire Marshal, an EMS System, the Department of Public Health, and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security, shall develop and offer at least one course for first responders who respond when carbon dioxide is released from a pipeline or a sequestration facility. At a minimum, the course shall cover: (1) how to identify a carbon dioxide release; (2) communications procedures to quickly share information about a carbon dioxide release, including alarms, sirens, text message alerts, and other means of alerting the public; (3) procedures for locating residents and others in the affected area and, when necessary, transporting residents and others in the affected area out of the area to health care facilities; and (4) signs and symptoms of exposure to a carbon dioxide release. (b) Each year thereafter, the Illinois Fire Service Institute, in coordination with the Office of the State Fire Marshal, an EMS System and the Department of Public Health, shall offer a training session at the Illinois Fire Service Institute's Regions for Training Delivery on emergency response procedures during carbon dioxide releases. These trainings shall be available to first responders in the State with priority participation given to counties in which carbon dioxide is proposed to be or is transported or sequestered. (c) Prior to a carbon dioxide pipeline becoming operational, the owner or operator of the pipeline shall develop, in coordination with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security and Department of Public Health, emergency preparedness materials for residents and local businesses in the counties within 2 miles of where the owner or operator is transporting or sequestering carbon dioxide. At a minimum, these materials shall include: (1) what to do in the event of a carbon dioxide release; (2) symptoms of exposure to a carbon dioxide release; and (3) recommendations for items residents and local businesses may want to acquire, including, but not limited to, carbon dioxide monitors and air supply respirators. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security and the Department of Public Health shall publish this information on their websites and provide these materials to local emergency management agencies and local public health departments in relevant counties. (d) For each carbon dioxide pipeline, the owner or operator of the pipeline shall use modeling that can handle non-flat terrain; obstacles, such as vegetation and buildings; time or spatial variations in wind, including direction and speed; ambient weather conditions, such as temperature and humidity; variations to the direction of release of CO 2 ; and concentrations and durations of CO 2 , in addition to the specifics related to the pipeline design, including, but not limited to, diameter, thickness, and shutoff valves, to develop a risk-based assessment and a chemical safety contingency plan. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security shall publish this information on its website and provide these materials to local emergency management agencies in relevant counties. (e) Each year, the owner or operator of a pipeline, in coordination with Department of Public Health and local emergency response personnel, shall offer at least 2 public training sessions for residents and local businesses in every county in which carbon dioxide is transported or sequestered. These trainings shall be offered in person and virtually. Each training shall be recorded and provided to Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security and the Department of Public Health to maintain a copy on their websites, as appropriate, with the emergency preparedness materials identified in subsection (c). (f) Each year, the owner or operator of the pipeline shall develop, in coordination with the Department of Public Health, and offer a training session for medical personnel in each county along the pipeline route, including staff in hospitals and emergency rooms, health clinics, and other health care facilities. These trainings shall be offered in person and virtually and be approved by the Department of Public Health. Each training shall be recorded and provided to the Department of Public Health to maintain a copy on its website, as appropriate, and distribute to staff in hospitals and emergency rooms, health clinics, and other health care facilities. (g) At least every 5 years, the Illinois Fire Service Institute shall review and, if appropriate, revise or add trainings developed under this Section to incorporate new best practices, technologies, developments, or information that improves emergency response and treatment for carbon dioxide releases. (h) At least every 5 years, the owner or operator, in coordination with local emergency response personnel, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security, and the Department of Public Health, shall review and, if appropriate, update emergency preparedness materials and trainings for residents and local businesses identified in subsections (c) and (d) to incorporate new best practices, technologies, developments, or information that may assist local residents and businesses to be prepared if a carbon dioxide release occurs.

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 103-651, eff. 7-18-24.)