(a) It is the duty of any person discovering any leak in any pipeline for the transportation of natural gas, or in any machinery, apparatus, or device used in the regulation, distribution, or transportation thereof immediately to notify the owner of the pipeline or other appliance and also to notify the gas inspector of the leak.
(b) It is the duty of the owner of the pipeline or other apparatus from which gas is escaping to immediately repair it.
(c) It is the duty of the gas inspector on receiving reliable information of the leak or on personal knowledge thereof immediately to notify the owner of the pipeline or appliance of the leak and to immediately repair it.
(d) Should the owner of the pipeline, apparatus, appliance, or device fail to at once repair the leak or use the utmost diligence to do so, he or she shall be subject to the penalty set out in § 15-72-202 (b).