Section 1784.13  Reclamation Plan: General Requirements

a)         Each application shall contain a plan for the reclamation of the lands within the proposed permit area, showing how the applicant will comply with Sections 3.01 through 4.11 of the State Act, 62 Ill. Adm. Code 1810 through 1828, and the environmental protection performance standards of the regulatory program.  The plan shall include, at a minimum, all information required under Sections 1784.13 through 1784.26 provided that the Department considers Section 516(d) of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 1266(d)) (Federal Act), and thereby acknowledges that long-term reclamation activities cannot be planned in the same detail as reclamation activities which will take place in the near future.

b)         Each plan shall contain the following information for the proposed permit area:

1)         A detailed timetable for the completion of each major step in the reclamation plan;

2)         A detailed estimate of the cost of the reclamation of the proposed operations required to be covered by a performance bond under 62 Ill. Adm. Code 1800 with supporting calculations for the estimates;

3)         A plan for backfilling, soil stabilization, compacting, and grading with contour maps or cross-sections that show the anticipated final surface configuration of the proposed permit area, in accordance with 62 Ill. Adm. Code 1817.102 through 1817.107;

4)         A plan for removal, storage, and redistribution of topsoil, subsoil, and other material to meet the requirements of 62 Ill. Adm. Code 1817.22.  A demonstration of the suitability of topsoil substitutes or supplements under 62 Ill. Adm. Code 1817.22(b) shall be based upon analysis of the thickness of soil horizons, total depth, texture, percent of coarse fragments, pH, and areal extent of the different kinds of soils;

5)         A plan for revegetation as required in 62 Ill. Adm. Code 1817.111 through 1817.117, including, but not limited to, descriptions of the:

A)        Schedule of revegetation;

B)        Species and amounts per acre of seeds and seedlings to be used;

C)        Methods to be used in planting and seeding;

D)        Mulching techniques;

E)        Irrigation, if appropriate, and pest and disease control measures, if any;

F)         Measures proposed to be used to determine the success of revegetation as required in 62 Ill. Adm. Code 1817.116; and

G)        A soil testing plan for evaluation of the results of topsoil handling and reclamation procedures related to revegetation;

6)         A description of the measures to be used to maximize the use and conservation of the coal resource as required in 62 Ill. Adm. Code 1817.59;

7)         A description of measures to be employed to ensure that all debris, acid-forming and toxic-forming materials, and materials constituting a fire hazard are disposed of in accordance with 62 Ill. Adm. Code 1817.89 and 1817.102 and a description of the contigency plans which have been developed to preclude sustained combustion of such materials;

8)         A description, including appropriate cross-sections and maps, of the measures to be used to seal or manage mine openings, and to plug, case or manage exploration holes, other bore holes, wells and other openings within the proposed permit area, in accordance with 62 Ill. Adm. Code 1817.13 through 1817.15; and

9)         A description of steps to be taken to comply with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.), the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.), and other applicable air and water quality laws and regulations and health and safety standards.

(Source:  Amended at 11 Ill. Reg. 8652, effective July 1, 1987)