093_HB2012 LRB093 06137 BDD 06242 b 1 AN ACT concerning land conservation. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The Surface-Mined Land Conservation and 5 Reclamation Act is amended by changing Section 2 as follows: 6 (225 ILCS 715/2) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 4502) 7 Sec. 2. Statement of policy. It is declared to be the 8 policy of this State to provide for conservation and 9 reclamation of lands affected by surface mining in order to 10 restore them to optimum future productive use and to provide 11 for their return to productive use including but not limited 12 to: the planting of forests; the seeding of grasses and 13 legumes for grazing purposes; the planting of crops for 14 harvest; the enhancement of wildlife and aquatic resources; 15 the establishment of recreational, residential and industrial 16 sites;and forthe conservation, development, management, and 17 appropriate use of all the natural resources of such areas 18 for compatible multiple purposes, to aid in maintaining or 19 improving the tax base; the protection ofand protectingthe 20 health, safety and general welfare of the people, the natural 21 beauty and aesthetic values, and enhancement of the 22 environment in the affected areas of the State; the 23 prevention ofto preventerosion, stream pollution, water, 24 air and land pollution and other injurious effects to 25 persons, property, wildlife and natural resources; the 26 assuranceand to assurethat conservation and reclamation 27 plans for all surface mining activity are available for the 28 prior consideration of county governments within whose 29 jurisdiction such lands will be affected by surface mining; 30 and theto permitparticipation and authorization of 31authorizecooperation and coordination with the federal -2- LRB093 06137 BDD 06242 b 1 government in initial regulatory programs under the federal 2 Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, Public 3 Law 95-87, Title 30, USC Sec. 1201 et seq. 4 The issuance of a permit under this Act to engage in the 5 surface mining of any resources other than fossil fuels is 6 not intended to relieve the permittee from its duty to comply 7 with other applicable state and local law regulating the 8 commencement, location and operation of surface mining 9 facilities. 10 (Source: P.A. 82-114.)