225 ILCS 720/ Surface Coal Mining Land Conservation and Reclamation Act.

(225 ILCS 720/Art. I heading) ARTICLE I: GENERAL PROVISIONS

(225 ILCS 720/1.01) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7901.01)

Sec. 1.01. Short Title. This Act may be cited as the Surface Coal Mining Land Conservation and Reclamation Act.

(Source: P.A. 86-1475.)

(225 ILCS 720/1.02) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7901.02)

Sec. 1.02. Legislative Declaration. (a) It is declared to be the policy of this State to provide for conservation and reclamation of lands affected by surface and underground coal mining in order to restore them to optimum future productive use and to provide for their return to productive use including but not limited to: the planting of forests; the seeding of grasses and legumes for grazing purposes; the planting of crops for harvest; the enhancement of wildlife and aquatic resources; the establishment of recreational, residential and industrial sites; the establishment of new bodies of water for recreational, agricultural, and wildlife conservation purposes; and for the conservation, development, management, and appropriate use of all the natural resources of such areas for compatible multiple purposes, to aid in maintaining or improving the tax base; and protecting the health, safety and general welfare of the people, the natural beauty and aesthetic values, and enhancement of the environment in the affected areas of the State; to prevent erosion, stream pollution, water, air and land pollution and other injurious effects to persons, property, wildlife and natural resources; to assure that the coal supply essential to the Nation's and State's energy requirements, and to their economic well-being is provided; to strike a balance between protection of the environment and agricultural productivity, and the Nation's need for coal as a source of energy; and to assure that land conservation and reclamation plans for all mining operations are available for the prior consideration of the public, and of county governments within whose jurisdiction such lands will be affected by coal mining.

(b) It is the purpose of this Act to implement these policies through methods and standards that fully comply with the requirements established by the United States Congress in the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977.

(c) It is also the purpose of this Act to establish requirements that are no more stringent than those required to meet the Federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (PL 95-87).

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/1.03) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7901.03)

Sec. 1.03. Definitions.

(a) Whenever used or referred to in this Act, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:

(1) "Affected land" means:

(A) in the context of surface mining operations, the areas described in Section 1.03(a)(24)(B), and

(B) in the context of underground mining operations, surface areas on which such operations occur or where such activities disturb the natural land surface.

(2) "Approximate original contour" means that surface configuration achieved by backfilling and grading of the mined area so that the reclaimed area, including any terracing or access roads, closely resembles the general surface configuration of the land prior to mining and blends into and complements the drainage pattern of the surrounding terrain, with all highwalls and spoil piles eliminated.

(3) "Article" means an Article of this Act.

(4) "Department" means the Department of Natural Resources, or such department, bureau, or commission as may lawfully succeed to the powers and duties of such Department.

(5) "Director" means the Director of the Department or such officer, bureau or commission as may lawfully succeed to the powers and duties of such Director.

(6) "Federal Act" means the Federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (Public Law 95-87).

(7) "Imminent danger to the health and safety of the public" means the existence of any condition or practice, or any violation of a permit or other requirement of this Act in a mining and reclamation operation, which condition, practice, or violation could reasonably be expected to cause substantial physical harm to persons outside the permit area before such condition, practice, or violation can be abated. A reasonable expectation of death or serious injury before abatement exists if a rational person, subjected to the same conditions or practices giving rise to the peril, would not expose himself to the danger during the time necessary for abatement.

(8) (Blank).

(9) "Interagency Committee" means the Interagency Committee on Surface Mining Control and Reclamation created by Section 1.05.

(9-a) "Lands eligible for remining" means those lands that would otherwise be eligible for expenditures under the Abandoned Mined Lands and Water Reclamation Act.

(10) "Mining and reclamation operations" means mining operations and all activities necessary and incident to the reclamation of such operations.

(11) "Mining operations" means both surface mining operations and underground mining operations.

(12) "Operator" means any person engaged in coal mining, and includes political subdivisions, units of local government and instrumentalities of the State of Illinois, and public utilities.

(13) "Permit" means a permit or a revised permit to conduct mining operations and reclamation issued by the Department under this Act.

(14) "Permit applicant" or "applicant" means a person applying for a permit.

(15) "Permit application" or "application" means an application for a permit under this Act.

(16) "Permit area" means the land described in the permit.

(17) "Permittee" means a person holding a permit.

(18) "Permit term" means the period during which the permittee may engage in mining operations under a permit.

(19) "Person" means an individual, partnership, copartnership, firm, joint venture, company, corporation, association, joint stock company, trust, estate, political subdivision, or any other public or private legal entity, or their legal representative, agent or assigns.

(20) "Reclamation" means conditioning areas affected by mining operations to achieve the purposes of this Act.

(21) "Reclamation plan" means a plan described in Section 2.03.

(22) "Regulations" means regulations promulgated under the Federal Act.

(23) "Section" means a section of this Act.

(24) "Surface mining operations" means (A) activities conducted on the surface of lands in connection with a surface coal mine or surface operations. Such activities include excavation for the purpose of obtaining coal including such common methods as contour, strip, auger, mountaintop removal, box cut, open pit, and area mining, coal recovery from coal waste disposal areas, the uses of explosives and blasting, and in situ distillation or retorting, leaching or other chemical or physical processing, and the cleaning, concentrating, or other processing or preparation, loading of coal at or near the mine site; and (B) the areas on which such activities occur or where such activities disturb the natural land surface. Such areas include any adjacent land the use of which is incidental to any such activities, all lands affected by the construction of new roads or the improvement or use of existing roads to gain access to the site of such activities and for haulage, and excavations, workings, impoundments, dams, refuse banks, dumps, stockpiles, overburden piles, spoil banks, culm banks, tailings, holes or depressions, repair areas, storage areas, processing areas, shipping areas and other areas upon which are sited structures, facilities, or other property or materials on the surface, resulting from or incident to such activities.

(25) "Toxic conditions" and "toxic materials" mean any conditions and materials that will not support higher forms of plant or animal life in any place in connection with or as a result of the completion of mining operations.

(26) "Underground mining operations" means the underground excavation of coal and (A) surface operations incident to the underground extraction of coal, such as construction, use, maintenance, and reclamation of roads, above-ground repair areas, storage areas, processing areas, shipping areas, areas on which are sited support facilities including hoist and ventilation ducts, areas used for the storage and disposal of waste, and areas on which materials incident to underground mining operations are placed, and (B) underground operations incident to underground excavation of coal, such as underground construction, operation, and reclamation of shafts, adits, underground support facilities, in situ processing, and underground mining, hauling, storage, or blasting.

(27) "Unwarranted failure to comply" means the failure of a permittee to prevent the occurrence of or to abate any violation of his permit or any requirement of this Act due to indifference, lack of diligence, or lack of reasonable care.

(b) The Department shall by rule define other terms used in this Act if necessary or desirable to achieve the purposes of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 97-813, eff. 7-13-12.)

(225 ILCS 720/1.04) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7901.04)

Sec. 1.04. (Repealed).

(Source: P.A. 90-490, eff. 8-17-97. Repealed by P.A. 93-168, eff. 7-10-03.)

(225 ILCS 720/1.05) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7901.05)

Sec. 1.05. Interagency Committee. There is created the Interagency Committee on Surface Mining Control and Reclamation, which shall consist of the Director (or Division Head) of each of the following State agencies: (a) the Department of Agriculture, (b) the Environmental Protection Agency, (c) the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and (d) any other State Agency designated by the Director as having a programmatic role in the review or regulation of mining operations and reclamation whose comments are expected by the Director to be relevant and of material benefit to the process of reviewing permit applications under this Act. The Interagency Committee on Surface Mining Control and Reclamation shall be abolished on June 30, 1997. Beginning July 1, 1997, all programmatic functions formerly performed by the Interagency Committee on Surface Mining Control and Reclamation shall be performed by the Office of Mines and Minerals within the Department of Natural Resources, except as otherwise provided by Section 9.04 of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 94-793, eff. 5-19-06.)

(225 ILCS 720/1.06) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7901.06)

Sec. 1.06. Scope of the Act. This Act shall apply to all mining operations, except:

(a) the private non-commercial extraction of coal by a landowner or lessee where 250 tons or less of coal are removed in any 12 consecutive months;

(b) the extraction of coal incidental to the extraction of other minerals where the coal does not exceed 16 2/3% of the total mineral tonnage mined;

(c) coal exploration on federal lands;

(d) the extraction of coal on federal lands except to the extent provided under a cooperative agreement with the United States in accordance with Section 9.03; and

(e) the extraction of coal as an incidental part of a federal, State, or local government-financed highway or other construction under rules adopted by the Department.

(Source: P.A. 100-936, eff. 8-17-18; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)

(225 ILCS 720/1.07) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7901.07)

Sec. 1.07. Construction. As provided in Section 1.02, this Act shall be construed to fully comply and be consistent with the requirements of the Federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (Public Law 95-87) and the provisions of Rule 1104 under "The Surface-Mined Land Conservation and Reclamation Act," approved September 17, 1971, as amended.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/Art. II heading) ARTICLE II: PERMITS

(225 ILCS 720/2.01) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7902.01)

Sec. 2.01. Necessity of a Permit. It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in mining operations subject to the provisions of this Act without first obtaining from the Department a permit to do so.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/2.02) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7902.02)

Sec. 2.02. Contents of Permit Application.

(a) Each permit application, and each application for revision of a permit, submitted under this Act shall contain all information, maps, surveys, data and other materials which the Department by rule requires, in a form prescribed by the Department by rule. Such rules shall satisfy the requirements for permit applications and for applications for revision of a permit under the Federal Act and Regulations.

(b) If the Department finds that the probable total annual production at all locations of an operation will not exceed 300,000 tons, the Department shall provide assistance under this subsection to that operator to the extent required under the Federal Act. The following shall be performed for such operator by a qualified public or private laboratory designated by the Department to the extent required by the Department by rule to be part of such operator's application, and if such operator requests such assistance in writing:

(1) the determination of probable hydrologic consequences, including the engineering analyses and designs necessary for the determination;

(2) the development of cross-section maps and plans;

(3) the geologic drilling and statement of results of test borings and core samplings;

(4) the collection of archaeological information and any other archaeological and historical information required by the Department, and the preparation of plans necessitated thereby;

(5) pre-blast surveys; and

(6) the collection of site-specific resource information and production of protection and enhancement plans for fish and wildlife habitats and other environmental values required by the Department under this Act.

The cost of the preparation of such determinations, test borings, core samplings and statements for such operator shall be paid by the Department to the extent required under the Federal Act. A coal operator that has received assistance pursuant to this subsection shall reimburse the regulatory authority for the cost of the services rendered if the program administrator finds that the operator's actual and attributed annual production of coal for all locations exceeds 300,000 tons during the 12 months immediately following the date on which the operator is issued the surface coal mining and reclamation permit.

(c) With respect to applications for surface mining operations in cases where the private mineral estate has been severed from the private surface estate, the applicant shall submit to the Department with the application either (1) the written consent of the surface owner to the extraction of coal by surface mining operations, (2) a conveyance that expressly grants or reserves the right to extract the coal by surface mining operations, or (3) if the conveyance does not expressly grant the right to extract coal by surface mining operations, a determination in accordance with State law of the surface-subsurface legal relationship.

(Source: P.A. 88-599, eff. 9-1-94.)

(225 ILCS 720/2.03) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7902.03)

Sec. 2.03. Reclamation Plan. (a) Each permit application shall include a reclamation plan which meets all requirements which the Department by rule prescribes. Such rules shall as a minimum prescribe the applicable requirements for such plans set forth in the Federal Act and Regulations.

(b) Each application for revision of a permit shall include a revised reclamation plan or a statement with supporting evidence that the proposed revision does not require a revision of the reclamation plan.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/2.04) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7902.04)

Sec. 2.04. Notice and Public Review of Applications. (a) At the time of submission of a permit application, the applicant shall (1) place a public notice of the application in a local newspaper of general circulation in the locality of the proposed mining operations to appear at least once a week for four consecutive weeks, and (2) file the application for public inspection at the county seat of each county containing land to be affected under the permit. Information which pertains to coal seams, test borings, core samplings, or soil samples required to be part of a permit application shall be made available to any person with an interest which is or may be adversely affected. Information which pertains only to the analysis of the chemical and physical properties of the coal (excepting information regarding mineral or elemental content which is potentially toxic in the environment) need not be made available for public inspection. On the written request of the applicant, such information shall be kept confidential by the Department and not made a matter of public record.

(b) The contents and other requirements for the public notices and filings required by this Section shall be prescribed by the Department by rule.

(c) When an application is received, the Department shall notify various local governmental bodies, planning agencies, sewage and water treatment authorities, and water companies in the locality in which the proposed mining will take place, of the operator's intention to mine a particularly described tract of land and state the permit application's number and where a copy of the application may be inspected. Written comments on the permit application may be submitted to the Department in the manner and within the time prescribed by the Department by rule. Immediately on receipt of such comments, the Department shall transmit a copy of them to the applicant, and shall file them for public inspection at the same locations at which the application is available for public inspection.

(d) Any person having an interest which is or may be adversely affected or any person who is an officer of any government agency, or the county board of a county to be affected under a proposed permit, may file written objections to a permit application and may request an informal conference with the Department. If no informal conference is requested, or if the issues in question are not resolved by the informal conference, such interested person, officer, or county board may request a public hearing within 80 days after the first newspaper notice required by subsection (a) of this Section. If a hearing is requested, the Department shall hold at least one hearing in the locality affected by the permit, and shall hold a hearing in each county to be affected under the proposed permit in which a county board has requested a hearing. The Department may provide funds to county boards to assist them under this Section, provided funds are specifically appropriated for such purpose.

(e) By rule the Department shall establish hearing dates which provide reasonable time in which to have reviewed the proposed plans, and procedural rules for the calling and conducting of the public hearing. Such procedural rules shall include provisions for reasonable notice to all parties, including the applicant, and reasonable opportunity for all parties to respond by oral or written testimony, or both, to statements and objections made at the public hearing. County boards and the public shall present their recommendations at these hearings.

(f) A complete record of the hearings and all testimony shall be made by the Department and recorded stenographically or electronically. Such record shall be maintained and shall be accessible to the public until final release of the applicant's performance bond.

(g) If all parties requesting a hearing withdraw their requests, the hearing need not be held.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/2.05) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7902.05)

Sec. 2.05. Application Fee. At the time of submission to the Department, a permit application shall be accompanied by a fee based on the number of surface acres of land to be affected by the proposed operation. Such fees shall be established by the Department by rule. An application for renewal of a permit under Section 2.07 may be filed without payment of an additional fee. The Department shall assess, by rule, a permit fee for a permit revision to an existing permit.

(Source: P.A. 97-1136, eff. 1-1-13.)

(225 ILCS 720/2.06) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7902.06)

Sec. 2.06. Duration of Permit. (a) A permit entitles the permittee to engage in the mining operations described in the permit for the period determined by the Department and stated in the permit. Except as provided by subsection (b) of this Section, such period shall not exceed five years from the date the permit is issued.

(b) If the applicant requests a specified permit term longer than five years in an application, and if the applicant demonstrates that such specified permit term is reasonably needed to allow the applicant to obtain necessary financing for equipment and the opening of the proposed mining operation and if the application is in all respects full and complete for such specified longer term, the Department may grant a permit for such longer permit term.

(c) A permit shall terminate if the permittee has not commenced the mining operations covered by the permit within three years after the date on which the permit is issued. The Department may grant reasonable extensions of time to avoid automatic termination at the expiration of three years under this subsection if the applicant shows that such extensions are necessary because commencement of mining operations was precluded by litigation or other conditions beyond the control and without the fault or negligence of the permittee. No such extension shall extend the time for commencement beyond the period of the permit. With respect to coal to be mined for use in a specific synthetic fuel facility or specific major electric generating facility, the permittee shall be deemed to have commenced mining operations for purposes of this subsection at such time as the construction of the synthetic fuel or generating facility is initiated.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/2.07) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7902.07)

Sec. 2.07. Renewals. (a) Any valid permit issued under this Act shall carry with it the right of successive renewal on expiration of the permit term with respect to the areas within the boundaries of the existing permit.

(b) The permittee shall apply for permit renewal on such forms as the Department shall by rule prescribe. Application shall be made not less than 180 days before the permit term expires. A renewal permit shall be issued unless it is established that, and written findings by the Department are made that, (1) the present mining and reclamation operation is not in compliance with the permit and this Act; (2) the renewal requested substantially jeopardizes the operator's continuing responsibility on existing permit areas; (3) the operator has not provided evidence that the performance bond in effect for said operation will continue in full force and effect for the term of the requested renewal; (4) any additional bond the Department might require under Section 6.01 has not been filed; or (5) any additional revised or updated information required by the Department has not been provided.

(c) Prior to the approval of any renewal of a permit, the requirements of Section 2.04 shall be complied with.

(d) With respect to an application for renewal, the burden shall be on the opponents of renewal to establish that the application is not in compliance with all requirements of this Act.

(e) If an application for renewal of a valid permit includes a proposal to extend the mining operation beyond the boundaries authorized in the existing permit, the portion of the application which addresses any new land areas shall be subject to the full standards and procedures applicable to new applications under this Act.

(f) A permit renewal shall be for a term not to exceed the term for an original permit under Section 2.06.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/2.08) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7902.08)

Sec. 2.08. Standards for approval of permits and revisions.

(a) On the basis of a complete application, or a revision thereof, and after completion of the procedures required by Section 2.04, the Department shall grant, require modification of, or deny the application. The applicant shall have the burden of establishing that its application complies with all the requirements of this Act.

(b) No permit or revised permit shall be issued unless the application affirmatively demonstrates, and the Department finds that (1) the application is accurate and complete and that all the requirements of this Act have been complied with; (2) the applicant has demonstrated that reclamation as required by this Act can be accomplished under this reclamation plan and that completion of the reclamation plan will in fact comply with every applicable performance standard of this Act; (3) the assessment of the probable cumulative impact of all anticipated mining in the area on the hydrologic balance specified by the Department by rule has been made by the Department and the proposed mining operation has been designed to prevent material damage to hydrologic balance outside the permit area; and (4) the area proposed to be mined is not included within an area designated unsuitable for surface coal mining under Article VII and is not within an area under study for such designation in an administrative proceeding commenced under Article VII. Except for operations subject to exemption by Section 510(d)(2) of the Federal Act (PL95-87), a permit or revised permit for mining operations on prime farmland may be issued only if the Department also finds in writing that the operator has the technological capability to restore such mined area, within a reasonable time, to equivalent or higher levels of yield as non-mined prime farmland in the surrounding area under equivalent levels of management and can meet the soil reconstruction standards in Section 3.07. Such findings shall be made in accordance with standards and procedures adopted by the Department by rule. The Department shall make the findings required by this subsection in writing on the basis of the information set forth in the application, or from information otherwise available which is described in the Department's findings and made available to the applicant and the public.

(c) A permit or revised permit may be issued only after the Department considers in writing any comments filed by members of the Interagency Committee and County Boards. When a complete application is received by the Department, a copy of it shall be provided to each member of the Interagency Committee. Members of the Interagency Committee shall review and comment on protection of the hydrologic system, water pollution control, the reclamation plan, soil handling techniques, dams and impoundments and postmining land use. Comments on the application shall be in writing and shall be filed with the Department within 45 days. Each member's comments shall be based on factual, legal and technical considerations with respect to which his agency has authority, and which shall be set forth in writing. A member who does not comment within 45 days shall be deemed to have waived his right to comment under this subsection. The Department shall file comments received from Interagency Committee members at the same locations at which the permit application is available for public inspection in accordance with Section 2.04.

(d) If information available to the Department indicates that any mining operation owned or controlled by the applicant is currently in violation of this Act or other laws pertaining to air or water environmental protection, the permit shall not be issued until the applicant submits proof that such violation has been corrected or is in the process of being corrected to the satisfaction of the Department, or of the department or agency which has jurisdiction over such violation. No permit shall be issued to an applicant after a finding by the Department, after opportunity for hearing, that the applicant, or the operator specified in the application, controls or has controlled mining operations with a demonstrated pattern of wilful violations of the Federal Act or this Act of such nature and duration and with such resulting irreparable damage to the environment as to indicate an intent not to comply with the provisions of the Federal Act or this Act.

(e) After the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1997, the prohibition of subsection (d) shall not apply to a permit application due to any violation resulting from an unanticipated event or condition at a surface coal mining operation on lands eligible for remining under a permit held by the person making such application.

As used in this subsection:

(1) "unanticipated event or condition" means an event or condition encountered in a remining operation that was not contemplated in the applicable surface coal mining and reclamation permit; and

(2) "violation" has the same meaning as such term has under subsection (d).

(Source: P.A. 90-490, eff. 8-17-97.)

(225 ILCS 720/2.09) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7902.09)

Sec. 2.09. Permit Revision. (a) During the term of the permit the permittee may submit an application for revision of a permit. The Department shall by rule establish guidelines for a determination of the scale or extent of a revision application for which all permit application requirements and procedures, including notices and public hearings under Section 2.04, shall apply. Revisions which propose significant alterations in the reclamation plan shall be subject to all such requirements and procedures.

(b) An application for revision of a permit shall not be approved unless the Department finds that reclamation as required by this Act can be accomplished under the revised reclamation plan.

(c) Extensions of area covered by a permit, except for incidental boundary revisions as defined by the Department by rule, shall be made by application for another permit.

(d) No transfer, assignment, or sale of the rights granted under any permit shall be made without the written approval of the Department. Such approval shall be given only if the mining operation will comply with all requirements of this Act after the transfer, assignment or sale.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/2.10) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7902.10)

Sec. 2.10. Periodic Review of Permits. The Department shall review outstanding permits and may require reasonable revision or modification of the permit provisions during the term of such permit if necessary to insure that the mining operation will comply with all requirements of this Act. The Department shall make such reviews not later than the middle of the term of the permit. Such revision or modification shall be based on written findings and shall be subject to notice and hearing requirements established by the Department by rule.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/2.11) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7902.11)

Sec. 2.11. Procedures for Approval.

(a) If a hearing has been held under Section 2.04, the Department shall within 60 days after the last such hearing make its decision on the application and shall promptly furnish the applicant, local government officials in the area of the affected land, and persons who are parties to the administrative proceedings, with the written findings of the Department and stating the specific reasons for its decision.

(b) If no hearing has been held under Section 2.04, the Department shall make its decision on the application within 120 days after receipt by the Department of a complete application and shall promptly notify the applicant, local government officials in the area of the affected land, and persons who have submitted written comments on the application of the Department's decision with the written findings of the Department and stating the specific reasons for its decision.

(c) Within 30 days after the applicant is notified of the final decision of the Department on the permit application, the applicant or any person with an interest that is or may be adversely affected may request a hearing on the reasons for the final determination. The Department shall hold a hearing within 30 days after this request and notify all interested parties at the time that the applicant is notified. The notice shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation published in each county in which any part of the area of the affected land is located. The notice shall appear no more than 14 days nor less than 7 days prior to the date of the hearing. The notice shall be no less than one eighth page in size, and the smallest type used shall be twelve point and shall be enclosed in a black border no less than 1/4 inch wide. The notice shall not be placed in that portion of the newspaper where legal notices and classified advertisements appear. The hearing shall be of record and adjudicatory in nature. No person who presided at a hearing under Section 2.04 shall either preside at the hearing or participate in the decision on the hearing. Once a hearing has started, the hearing officer may issue interim orders allowing the Department or the applicant to correct or alter the permit or application. Within 30 days after the hearing, the Department shall issue, and furnish the applicant, local government officials in the area of the affected land, and all persons who participated in the hearing, its written decision granting or denying the permit in whole or in part and stating the reasons for its decision. No party to a formal adjudicatory hearing under this subsection may seek judicial review of the Department's final decision on the permit application until after the issuance of the hearing officer's written decision granting or denying the permit.

(d) If the application is approved under either subsection (a) or (b) of this Section, the permit shall be issued.

(e) If a hearing is requested under subsection (c) of this Section, the Department may, under such conditions as it may prescribe, grant such temporary relief as it deems appropriate pending final determination of the proceedings if all parties to the proceedings have been notified and given an opportunity to be heard on a request for temporary relief, the person requesting such relief shows that there is a substantial likelihood that he will prevail on the merits of the final determination of the proceeding, and such relief will not adversely affect the public health or safety or cause significant imminent environmental harm to land, air, or water resources.

(f) If final action on an application does not occur within the times prescribed in subsections (a) or (b) of this Section, whichever applies, the applicant may deem the application denied, and such denial shall constitute final action. The applicant may waive these time limits.

(g) For the purpose of hearings under this Section, the Department may administer oaths, subpoena witnesses or written or printed materials, compel attendance of the witnesses or production of the materials, and take evidence including but not limited to site inspections of the land to be affected and other mining operations carried on by the applicant in the general vicinity of the proposed operation. A verbatim record of each hearing under this Section shall be made, and a transcript shall be made available on the motion of any party or by order of the Department.

(Source: P.A. 97-934, eff. 8-10-12.)

(225 ILCS 720/Art. III heading) ARTICLE III: PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR SURFACE MINING

(225 ILCS 720/3.01) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7903.01)

Sec. 3.01. General Requirement. Each person conducting surface mining operations shall as a minimum comply with all applicable performance standards set forth in this Article. Each permit issued under this Act to conduct surface mining operations shall require as a minimum that such operations meet all applicable performance standards set forth in this Article.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/3.02) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7903.02)

Sec. 3.02. Coal Utilization. Surface mining operations shall be conducted so as to maximize the utilization and conservation of the solid fuel resource being recovered so that reaffecting the land in the future through surface mining operations can be minimized.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/3.03) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7903.03)

Sec. 3.03. Land Use. Affected land shall be restored to a condition capable of supporting the uses which it was capable of supporting prior to any mining, or higher or better uses of which there is reasonable likelihood, so long as such use or uses do not present any actual or probable hazard to public health or safety or pose an actual or probable threat of water diminution or pollution. The permit applicant's declared proposed land use following reclamation shall not (1) be impractical or unreasonable, (2) be inconsistent with applicable land use policies and plans, (3) involve unreasonable delay in implementation, or (4) violate Federal, State, or local law.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/3.04) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7903.04)

Sec. 3.04. Grading. (a) Affected land shall be backfilled, compacted (where advisable to insure stability or to prevent leaching of toxic materials), and graded in order to restore the approximate original contour of the land. All highwalls, spoil piles, and depressions shall be eliminated (unless small depressions are needed in order to retain moisture, to assist revegetation, or as otherwise authorized under this Act).

(b) In surface mining which is carried out at the same location over a period greater than one year where the operation transects the coal deposit, and the thickness of the coal deposits relative to the volume of the overburden is large and where the operator demonstrates that the overburden and other spoil and waste materials at a particular point in the permit area or otherwise available from the entire permit area are insufficient, giving due consideration to volumetric expansion, to restore the approximate original contour, the operator, at a minimum, shall backfill, grade, and compact (where advisable) using all available overburden and other spoil and mine waste materials to attain the lowest practicable grade, but not more than the angle of repose, to provide adequate drainage and to cover all acid-forming and other toxic materials, in order to achieve an ecologically sound land use compatible with the surrounding region.

(c) Where the operator demonstrates that due to volumetric expansion the amount of overburden and other spoil and waste materials removed in the course of the mining operation is more than sufficient to restore the approximate original contour, the operator shall satisfy the requirements set forth in subsection (a) of this Section, and shall backfill, grade and compact (where advisable) the excess overburden and other spoil and waste materials to attain the lowest grade but not more than the angle of repose, and to cover all acid-forming and other toxic materials, in order to achieve an ecologically sound land use compatible with the surrounding region and such overburden and spoil shall be shaped and graded in such a way as to prevent slides, erosion, and water pollution, and shall be revegetated in accordance with the requirements of this Act.

(d) Water impoundments which were not part of the original contour may be permitted by the Department under Section 3.08.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/3.05) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7903.05)

Sec. 3.05. Stabilization. All surface areas, including spoil piles, affected by the surface mining and reclamation operation shall be stabilized and protected to effectively control erosion and attendant air and water pollution.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/3.06) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7903.06)

Sec. 3.06. Topsoil. (a) The topsoil shall be removed from the land in a separate layer, replaced on the backfill area, or if not used immediately, segregated in a separate pile from other spoil. When the topsoil is not replaced on a backfill area within a time short enough to avoid deterioration of the topsoil, a successful cover shall be maintained by quick-growing plant or other means thereafter so that the topsoil is preserved from wind and water erosion, remains free of any contamination by other acid or toxic material, and is in usable condition for sustaining vegetation when restored during reclamation.

(b) If topsoil is of insufficient quantity or of poor quality for sustaining vegetation, or if other strata or combinations of strata can be shown to be more suitable for vegetation requirements, then the operator shall remove, segregate, and preserve in a like manner such other strata which are best able to support vegetation.

(c) The topsoil, or the best available subsoil or combination of soil which is best able to support vegetation, shall be restored.

(d) The term "topsoil" shall be defined by the Department by rule. Such definition shall consider regional differences in conditions in this State.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/3.07) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7903.07)

Sec. 3.07. Prime Farmlands and High Capability Lands. (a) For all prime farmlands to be mined and reclaimed, the operator shall, as a minimum, (1) segregate the A horizon of the natural soil, except where it can be shown that other available soil materials will create a final soil having a greater productive capacity, and if not used immediately, stockpile this material separately from other spoil, and provide needed protection from wind and water erosion or contamination by other acid or toxic material; (2) segregate the B horizon of the natural soil, or underlying C horizons or other strata, or a combination of such horizons or other strata that are shown to be both texturally and chemically suitable for plant growth and that can be shown to be equally or more favorable for plant growth than the B horizon, in sufficient quantities to create in the regarded final soil a root zone of comparable depth and quality to that which existed in the natural soil, and if not used immediately, stockpile this material separately from other spoil, and provide needed protection from wind and water erosion or contamination by other acid or toxic material; (3) replace and regrade the root zone material described in (2) above with proper compaction and uniform depth over the regraded spoil material; and (4) redistribute and grade in a uniform manner the surface soil horizon described in subparagraph (1) above.

(b) For all high capability lands to be mined and reclaimed, all or part of the darkened surface soil shall be segregated and replaced as a final cover as a last step in the required grading. When available in such depth, at least 18 inches of the darkened surface soil shall be segregated and replaced. In no case under this subsection shall less than the top 8 inches of surface soil, darkened or not, be segregated or replaced. This segregation and replacement requirement may be altered by the Department only if it is determined on the advice of competent soil scientists that other material available in the cast overburden would be suitable in meeting the reclamation requirements. Below the darkened surface soil, the replaced material shall be suitable as an agricultural root medium. The Department shall determine by rule what constitutes a suitable agricultural root medium by composition and depth. This Section does not apply to any land which is subject to a reclamation plan approved under "The Surface-Mined Land Conservation and Reclamation Act", approved September 17, 1971, as amended, as in effect on June 30, 1979, or to high capability lands affected by mining operations prior to July 1, 1975.

(c) The term "prime farmland" has the same meaning it has under the Federal Act. Soil horizons shall be defined by the Department by rule. Such rules shall be consistent with the Federal Act.

(d) The term "high capability land" means land other than prime farmland which the Director determines is (1) capable of being reclaimed for row-crop agricultural purposes and is suitable for row-crop agricultural purposes based on United States Soil Conservation Service soil survey classifications of the affected land prior to mining, and (2) the optimum future use of which is for row-crop agricultural purposes.

(e) The term "darkened surface soil" shall be defined by the Department by rule.

(f) The requirements of this Section are in addition to the other requirements of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/3.08) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7903.08)

Sec. 3.08. Runoff Water. (a) All runoff water from affected areas shall be impounded, drained, or treated so as to reduce soil erosion, damage to unmined lands, and pollution of streams and other waters. The operator shall construct earth dams where lakes may be formed, in accordance with sound engineering practices and standards adopted by the Department by rule, (1) if necessary or desirable to impound water, and (2) if the formation of the lakes or ponds will not interfere with underground or other mining operations or other subsequent uses of the area authorized by the Department, and will not damage adjoining property. Such water impoundments shall be approved by the Department based on the expected ability of the lakes or ponds to support desirable uses such as water for recreation, livestock or wildlife; and if to be used for fish life, shall have minimum depths in accordance with standards for fish stocking in the various areas of the State adopted by the Department by rule.

(b) Permanent impoundments of water shall only be authorized when the applicant adequately demonstrates and the Department finds that:

(1) the size of the impoundment is adequate for the intended use;

(2) the impoundment dam construction will be designed so as to achieve necessary stability with an adequate margin of safety compatible with that of structures constructed under Section 1006 of Title 16 of the United States Code;

(3) the quality of impounded water will be permanently suitable for intended use and will comply with standards established by applicable water quality laws;

(4) the level of the water will remain reasonably stable;

(5) final grading will provide adequate safety and access for future users of the impounded water; and

(6) the impoundments will not result in the diminution of the quality or quantity of water utilized by adjacent or surrounding landowners for agricultural, industrial, recreational or domestic uses.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/3.09) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7903.09)

Sec. 3.09. Augering. Any augering operation associated with surface mining shall be conducted in a manner to maximize recoverability of mineral reserves remaining after mining operations and reclamation are complete. All auger holes shall be sealed with an impervious and noncombustible material in order to prevent drainage except where the Department determines that the resulting impoundment of water in such auger holes may create a hazard to the environment or the public health or safety, provided that augering may be prohibited if necessary to maximize the utilization, recoverability or conservation of the solid fuel resources or to protect against adverse water quality impacts.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/3.10) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7903.10)

Sec. 3.10. Hydrology. (a) Disturbances to the prevailing hydrologic balance at the mine-site and in associated offsite areas and to the quality and quantity of water in surface and ground water systems shall be minimized both during and after surface mining operations and during reclamation.

(b) Acid or other toxic mine drainage shall be avoided by such measures as, but not limited to (1) preventing or removing water from contact with toxic-producing deposits; (2) treating drainage to reduce toxic content which adversely affects downstream water upon being released to water courses; and (3) casing, sealing, or otherwise managing boreholes, shafts, and wells and keeping acid or other toxic drainage from entering ground land surface waters.

(c) Surface mining operations shall be conducted so as to prevent, to the extent possible using the best technology currently available, additional contributions of suspended solids to streamflow, or runoff outside the permit area. In no event shall such contributions be in excess of requirements set by applicable State or Federal law.

(d) Siltation structures may be constructed pursuant to subsection (c) prior to commencement of surface mining operations. Such structures shall be certified by a qualified registered engineer and be constructed as designed and as approved in the permit or reclamation plan.

(e) Unless consistent with the reclamation plan, temporary or large settling ponds or other siltation structures shall be cleaned out and removed from drainways after disturbed areas are revegetated and stabilized. Silt and debris shall be deposited at a site and in a manner approved by the Department.

(f) Recharge capacity of the mined area shall be restored to approximate premining conditions.

(g) Channel deepening or enlargement shall be avoided in operations requiring the discharge of water from mines.

(h) The Department may prescribe other actions to achieve the standards set forth in subsection (a) of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/3.11) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7903.11)

Sec. 3.11. Wastes.

(a) With respect to surface disposal of mine wastes, tailings, coal processing wastes, and other wastes in areas other than the mine working or excavations, the operator shall stabilize all waste piles in designated areas through construction in compacted layers, including the use of noncombustible and impervious materials if necessary, and shall assure that the final contour of the waste pile will be compatible with natural surroundings and that the site can and will be stabilized and revegetated according to the provisions of this Act.

(b) The operator shall design, locate, construct, operate, maintain, enlarge, modify, and remove or abandon, in accordance with the standards and criteria developed pursuant to the Federal Act, all existing and new coal mine waste piles consisting of mine wastes, tailings, coal processing wastes, or other liquid and solid wastes, and used either temporarily or permanently as dams or embankments.

(c) All debris, acid-forming materials, toxic materials, or materials constituting a fire hazard shall be treated or buried and compacted or otherwise disposed of in a manner designed to prevent contamination of ground or surface waters. At a minimum, such materials constituting a fire hazard present in the exposed face of the mined mineral seam or seams in the final cut shall, if approved by the Department, be covered at all times with not less than 4 feet of water or other materials which shall be placed with slopes having no more than 30% grade, capable of supporting plant and animal life. Final cuts or other depressed affected areas, no longer in use in mining operations, which accumulate toxic waters will not meet reclamation requirements. Contingency plans shall be developed to prevent sustained combustion.

(d) Slurry shall be confined in depressed or mined areas bounded by levees or dams constructed from materials capable of supporting acceptable vegetation and built in accordance with sound engineering practices. Such areas shall be screened with border plantings of tree species which by their seeding habits will encourage propagation of vegetation on these areas, and levees or dams built to confine slurry shall be adapted to established species of grasses. Gob and slurry not capable of supporting vegetation shall be covered to a minimum depth of 4 feet with soil or other material in accordance with sound soil conservation practices as prescribed by the Department. Such material shall be capable of being vegetated and an acceptable cover shall be established. The reclamation measures set forth in this subsection are minimum performance standards and do not supersede any other requirements of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 90-655, eff. 7-30-98.)

(225 ILCS 720/3.12) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7903.12)

Sec. 3.12. Nearby Mines. Surface mining shall not be permitted within five hundred feet from active and abandoned underground mines except as provided in this Section. The Department may permit an operator to mine near, through or partially through an abandoned underground mine or closer than five hundred feet to an active underground mine if (1) the nature, timing, and sequencing of the approximate coincidence of specific surface mine activities with specific underground mine activities are jointly approved in accordance with law under laws concerned with surface mine regulation and the health and safety of underground miners, and (2) such operations will result in improved resource recovery, abatement of water pollution, or elimination of hazards to the health and safety of the public.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/3.13) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7903.13)

Sec. 3.13. Explosives. (a) Explosives shall be used only in accordance with existing State and Federal law and rules promulgated by the Department. Such rules shall include provisions to-

(1) provide adequate advance written notice to local governments and residents who might be affected by the use of such explosives by publication of the planned blasting schedule in a newspaper of general circulation in the locality and by mailing a copy of the proposed blasting schedule to every resident living within one-half mile of the proposed blasting site and to every other person within or outside such area to whom the Department requires notice to be mailed, and by providing daily notice to such persons prior to any blasting;

(2) maintain for a period of at least three years and make available for public inspection on request a log detailing the location of the blasts, the pattern and depth of the drill holes, the amount of explosives used per hole, and the order and length of delay in the blasts;

(3) limit the type of explosives and detonating equipment, the size, the timing and frequency of blasts based upon the physical conditions of the site so as to prevent (1) injury to persons, (2) damage to public and private property outside the permit area, (3) adverse impacts on any underground mine, and (4) change in the course, channel, or availability of ground or surface water outside the permit area;

(4) require that all blasting operations be conducted by trained and competent persons as certified by the Department; and

(5) provide that on the request to the Department and the applicant or permittee by a resident or owner of a man-made dwelling or structure (1) within one-half mile of any portion of the permitted area or (2) not within such area, but within one mile of the blasting area and within an area determined by the Department to be appropriate in a particular situation on the basis of complaints or other information received by the Department, the applicant or permittee shall conduct a pre-blasting survey of such structures and submit the survey to the Department and a copy to the resident or owner making the request. The areas and contents of the survey shall be determined by the Department and shall include provisions required under the Federal Act.

(b) The Department shall promulgate regulations requiring the training, examination, and certification of persons engaging in or directly responsible for blasting or use of explosives in mining operations.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/3.14) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7903.14)

Sec. 3.14. Roads and Ditches. (a) The construction, maintenance, and postmining conditions of roads into and across the site of mining operations shall control or prevent erosion and siltation, pollution of water, damage to fish or wildlife or their habitat, or public or private property.

(b) Construction of roads or other access ways shall not be permitted up a stream bed or drainage channel or in such proximity to such channel so as to seriously alter the normal flow of water.

(c) All abandoned roads and all mine drainage ditches shall be removed and graded, except where the Department determines that a road or ditch is consistent with and necessary to the reclamation plan.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/3.15) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7903.15)

Sec. 3.15. Vegetation.

(a) A suitable, diverse, effective, and permanent vegetative cover of the same seasonal variety native to the area of affected land shall be established on all regraded areas, and all other land affected. The Department may approve vegetation plans for the purpose of soil building or preparing land for crop production. Vegetative cover must be capable of self-regeneration and plant succession at least equal in extent of cover to the natural vegetation of the area. Vegetative cover will be considered of the same seasonal variety when it consists of a mixture of species of equal or superior utility for the intended land use when compared with the utility of naturally occurring vegetation during each season of the year. Introduced species may be used in the revegetation process where desirable and necessary to achieve the approved post-mining land use plan only if approved by the Department. Introduced species shall not include poisonous or toxic species.

(b) The operator shall assume the responsibility for successful revegetation, as required by this Act, for a period of five full years after the last year of augmented seeding, fertilizing, irrigation, or other work in order to assure compliance with this Act. This does not preclude responsible land management practices on portions of the total area as deemed necessary and approved by the Department.

(c) When the Department determines lands to be high capability lands or approves a long-term intensive agricultural postmining land use, the applicable 5-year period of responsibility for revegetation shall commence at the date of initial planting for such use. The Department may grant exceptions to this requirement to accomplish the purposes of this Act in accordance with rules adopted by the Department.

(d) The Department may not require that high capability lands be revegetated with row crops.

(e) On lands eligible for remining, the operator shall assume the responsibility for successful revegetation for a period of 2 full years after the last year of augmented seeding, fertilizing, irrigation, or other work in order to assure compliance with the applicable standards of the Act. This does not preclude responsible land management practices on portions of the total area as deemed necessary and approved by the Department.

(Source: P.A. 88-599, eff. 9-1-94.)

(225 ILCS 720/3.16) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7903.16)

Sec. 3.16. Offsite Areas. (a) Offsite areas shall be protected from slides or damage occurring during surface mining and reclamation operations.

(b) Surface mining operations that remove and do not replace the lateral support shall not, unless mutually agreed on by the operator and the adjacent property owner, approach property lines or established right-of-way lines of any public roads, streets, or highways closer than a distance equal to 10 feet plus one and one-half times the depth of the excavation except where consolidated material or materials of sufficient hardness or ability to resist weathering and to inhibit erosion or sloughing exist in the highwall, the distance from the property line or any established right-of way line shall not, unless mutually agreed, be closer than a distance equal to 10 feet plus one and one-half times the depth from the natural ground surface to the top of the consolidated material or materials.

(c) No operator shall deposit soil material or locate any part of the surface mining and reclamation operations or waste accumulations outside the permit area.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/3.17) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7903.17)

Sec. 3.17. Excess Spoil. All excess spoil material resulting from surface mining and reclamation activities shall be placed in such a manner that:

(a) spoil is transported and placed in a controlled manner in position for concurrent compaction and in such a way to assure mass stability and to prevent mass movement;

(b) the areas of disposal are within the bonded permit areas and all organic matter is removed immediately prior to spoil placement;

(c) appropriate surface and internal drainage systems and diversion ditches are used so as to prevent spoil erosion and movement;

(d) the disposal area does not contain springs, natural water courses or wet weather seeps unless lateral drains are constructed from the wet areas to the main underdrains in such a manner that filtration of the water into the spoil pile will be prevented;

(e) if placed on a slope, the spoil is placed on the most moderate slope among those on which, in the judgment of the Department, the spoil could be placed in compliance with all the requirements of this Act, and is placed, where possible, on, or above, a natural terrace, bench, or berm, if such placement provides additional stability and prevents mass movement;

(f) where the toe of the spoil rests on a downslope, a rock toe buttress, of sufficient size to prevent mass movement, is constructed;

(g) the final configuration is compatible with the natural drainage pattern and surroundings and suitable for intended uses;

(h) design of the spoil disposal area is certified by a qualified registered professional engineer in conformance with professional standards; and

(i) all other provisions of this Act are met.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/3.18) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7903.18)

Sec. 3.18. Fish, Wildlife, and Related Environmental Values. To the extent possible using the best technology currently available, the operator shall minimize disturbances and adverse impacts of the operation on fish, wildlife, and related environmental values, and achieve enhancement of such resources where practicable.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/3.19) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7903.19)

Sec. 3.19. Natural Barriers. An undisturbed natural barrier shall be provided beginning at the elevation of the lowest coal seam to be mined and extending from the outslope for such distance as the Department determines shall be retained in place as a barrier to slides and erosion.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/3.20) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7903.20)

Sec. 3.20. Illinois Environmental Protection Act. All requirements of the Illinois Environmental Protection Act, and of rules and regulations thereunder, shall be complied with fully at all times during mining, reclamation, and after reclamation.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/3.21) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7903.21)

Sec. 3.21. Signs. Each permittee shall conspicuously maintain at each entrance to the surface mining and reclamation operations a clearly visible sign which sets forth the name, business address, and phone number of the permittee and the permit number of the surface mining and reclamation operations.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/3.22) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7903.22)

Sec. 3.22. Other Criteria. The operator shall meet such other criteria required by the Department for a particular site as are necessary to achieve reclamation in accordance with the purposes of this Act, taking into consideration the physical, climatological, and other characteristics of the site.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/3.23) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7903.23)

Sec. 3.23. Steep-Slope Mining. (a) This Section applies to steep-slope surface mining. A steep slope is a slope greater than 20 degrees. The standards set forth in this Section are in addition to the other performance standards set forth in this Act. This Section does not apply where an operator is mining on flat or gently rolling terrain, on which occasional steep slope is encountered through which the mining operation is to proceed, leaving a plain or predominantly flat area.

(b) When surface mining is performed on steep slopes, no debris, abandoned or disabled equipment, spoil material, or waste mineral matter shall be placed on the downslope below the bench or mining cut. Spoil material in excess of that required for the reconstruction of the approximate original contour under the provisions of Section 3.04 shall be permanently stored in accordance with Section 3.17.

(c) Complete backfilling with spoil material shall be required to cover completely the highwall and return the site to the appropriate original contour, which material will maintain stability following mining and reclamation.

(d) The operator may not disturb land above the top of the highwall unless the Department finds that such disturbance will facilitate compliance with the applicable performance standards of this Act. The land disturbed above the highwall shall be limited to that amount necessary to facilitate said compliance.

(e) The Department may allow variances from one or more of the requirements of this Section provided that (1) the watershed control of the area is improved, and (2) complete backfilling with spoil material covers completely the highwall (which material will maintain stability following mining and reclamation), and (3) the owner of the surface knowingly requests in writing as part of the permit application that such a variance be granted.

(f) Variances under subsection (e) of this Section may be allowed only if the Department finds that:

(1) after consultation with the appropriate land use planning agencies, if any, the potential use of the affected land constitutes an equal or better economic or public use than would occur without the variance;

(2) the potential use is designed and certified by a qualified registered professional engineer in conformance with professional standards established to assure the stability, drainage, and configuration necessary for the intended use of the site; and

(3) after approval of the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency the watershed of the affected land is deemed to be improved.

(g) If a variance is granted under this Section, only such amount of spoil may be placed off the mine bench as is necessary to (1) achieve the planned postmining land use, (2) insure stability of the spoil retained on the bench, and (3) meet all other requirements of this Act. All spoil placement off the mine bench must comply with Section 3.17.

(h) The Department shall promulgate rules to govern the granting of variances in accord with the provisions of this Section, and may impose in such rules such additional requirements as it deems necessary to accomplish the purposes of this Act.

(i) All variances under this Section shall be reviewed not more than 3 years from the date of issuance of the permit, unless the permittee affirmatively demonstrates that the proposed development is proceeding in accordance with the terms of the reclamation plan.

(Source: P.A. 81-1509.)

(225 ILCS 720/3.24) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7903.24)

Sec. 3.24. Water Rights. (a) Nothing in this Act shall be construed as affecting in any way the right of any person to enforce or protect, under applicable law, his interest in water resources affected by a surface mining operation.

(b) The operator of a surface mine shall replace the water supply of an owner of an interest in real property who obtains all or part of his supply of water for domestic, agricultural, industrial, or other legitimate use from an underground or surface source where such supply has been affected by contamination, diminution, or interruption proximately resulting from such surface mine operation.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/3.25) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7903.25)

Sec. 3.25. Timing of Reclamation. (a) Reclamation efforts on all land that is disturbed by surface mining operations shall proceed in an environmentally sound manner and as contemporaneously as practicable with the surface mining operations. The Department shall by rule establish time schedules for reclamation, which rules shall be no less stringent than the Regulations.

(b) When extension of the reclamation period is necessary to allow continued mining operations and to accomplish acceptable reclamation, such extension shall be made until a date certain at the discretion of the Department. The Department shall not deny a reasonable extension when the operator shows that acts of God, strikes, inability to receive ordered equipment or extended periods of unreasonable and unexpected weather have made completion within the time limits impossible.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/3.26) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7903.26)

Sec. 3.26. Variances for Joint Surface and Underground Mining. (a) Where the applicant proposes to combine surface mining operations with underground mining operations to assure maximum practical recovery of the mineral resources, the Department may grant a variance for specific areas within the reclamation plan from the requirement that reclamation efforts proceed as contemporaneously as practicable to permit underground mining operations prior to reclamation if the Department finds in writing that:

(1) the applicant has presented, as part of the permit application, specific, feasible plans for the proposed underground mining operations;

(2) the proposed underground mining operations are necessary or desirable to assure maximum practical recovery of the mineral resource and will avoid multiple disturbance of the surface;

(3) the applicant has satisfactorily demonstrated that the plan for the underground mining operations conforms to requirements for underground mining in the State and that all permits necessary for the underground mining operations have been issued;

(4) the areas proposed for the variance have been shown by the applicant to be necessary for the implementing of the proposed underground mining operations;

(5) no substantial adverse environmental damage, either onsite or offsite, will result from the delay in completion of reclamation as required by this Act; and

(6) provisions for the offsite storage of spoil will comply with Section 3.17.

(b) Such operations shall comply with any additional requirements promulgated under this Act. Variances granted under this Section shall be reviewed by the Department not more than 3 years after the issuance of the permit. Liability under the bond filed by the applicant with the Department under Section 6.01 shall be for the duration of the underground mining operations and until the requirements of this Section and Section 6.08 have been fully complied with.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/Art. IV heading) ARTICLE IV: PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR UNDERGROUND MINING

(225 ILCS 720/4.01) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7904.01)

Sec. 4.01. General Requirement. Each person conducting underground mining operations shall as a minimum comply with all applicable performance standards set forth in this Article. Each permit issued under this Act to conduct underground mining operations shall require as a minimum that such operations meet all applicable requirements set forth in this Article.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/4.02) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7904.02)

Sec. 4.02. Subsidence. Each operator shall adopt measures consistent with known technology in order to prevent subsidence causing material damage to the extent technologically and economically feasible, maximize mine stability, and maintain the value and reasonably foreseeable use of surface lands, except in those instances where the mining technology used requires planned subsidence in a predictable and controlled manner. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to prohibit the standard method of room and pillar mining.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/4.03) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7904.03)

Sec. 4.03. Sealing Openings. All portals, entryways, drifts, shafts, or other openings between the surface and underground mine working shall be sealed when no longer needed for the conduct of the underground mining operations.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/4.04) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7904.04)

Sec. 4.04. Exploratory Holes. All exploratory holes no longer necessary for underground mining shall be filled or sealed, maximizing to the extent technologically and economically feasible return of mine and processing waste, tailings, and any other waste incident to the underground mining operation, to the mine workings or excavations.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/4.05) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7904.05)

Sec. 4.05. Wastes. (a) With respect to surface disposal of mine wastes, tailings, coal processing wastes, and other wastes in areas other than the mine workings or excavations, all waste piles created by the permittee from current underground mining operations shall be stabilized through construction in compacted layers including the use of noncombustible and impervious materials if necessary. The operator shall assure that the leachate will not degrade surface or ground waters below water quality standards established pursuant to applicable Federal and State law, that the final contour of the waste accumulation will be compatible with natural surroundings, and that the site is stabilized and revegetated according to the provisions of this Article.

(b) The operator shall design, locate, construct, operate, maintain, enlarge, modify, and remove, or abandon, in accordance with the standards and criteria developed under this Act, all existing and new coal mine waste piles consisting of mine wastes, tailings, coal processing wastes, or other liquid and solid wastes and used either temporarily or permanently as dams or embankments.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/4.06) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7904.06)

Sec. 4.06. Vegetation. On regraded areas and all other lands affected, there shall be established a diverse and permanent vegetative cover capable of self-regeneration and plant succession and at least equal in extent of cover to the natural vegetation of the area.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/4.07) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7904.07)

Sec. 4.07. Offsite Areas. Offsite areas shall be protected from damages which may result from underground mining operations.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/4.08) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7904.08)

Sec. 4.08. Hazards. Fire hazards and other conditions which constitute a hazard to health and safety of the public shall be eliminated.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/4.09) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7904.09)

Sec. 4.09. Hydrology. The operator shall minimize the disturbances of the prevailing hydrologic balance at the minesite and in associated offsite areas and to the quantity of water in surface and ground water systems both during and after underground coal mining operations and during reclamation by-

(a) avoiding acid or other toxic mine drainage by such measures as, but not limited to-

(1) preventing or removing water from contact with toxic-producing deposits;

(2) treating drainage to reduce toxic content which adversely affects downstream water on being released to water courses;

(3) casing, sealing, or otherwise managing boreholes, shafts, and wells to keep acid or other toxic drainage from entering ground and surface waters; and

(b) conducting underground mining operations so as to prevent, to the extent possible using the best technology currently available, additional contributions of suspended solids to streamflow or runoff outside the permit area (but in no event shall such contributions be in excess of requirements set by applicable State or Federal law), and avoiding channel deepening or enlargement in operations requiring the discharge of water from mines.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/4.10) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7904.10)

Sec. 4.10. Suspension of Operations in Urbanized Areas. In order to protect the stability of the land, the Department shall suspend underground coal mining operations under urbanized areas, cities, towns, and communities and adjacent to industrial or commercial buildings, major impoundments, or permanent streams if it finds imminent danger to inhabitants of such areas.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/4.11) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7904.11)

Sec. 4.11. Other Impacts. (a) With respect to other surface impacts of underground mining operations not specified in this Article, including but not limited to the construction of new roads or the improvement or use of existing roads to gain access to the site of such activities, and for haulage, repair areas, storage areas, processing areas, shipping areas, and other areas on which are sited structures, facilities, or other property or materials on the surface, resulting from or incident to such activities, the standards set forth in and established under Article III shall be complied with. The Department shall by rule make such modifications in the requirements imposed by this Section as are necessary to accommodate the distinct difference between surface and underground coal mining operations. Such rules shall compensate for regional differences and shall be consistent with and no more stringent than rules adopted under the Federal Act.

(b) To the extent possible using the best technology currently available, the operator shall minimize disturbances and adverse impacts of the underground mining operation on fish, wildlife, and related environmental values, and achieve enhancement of such resources where practicable.

(c) Openings for all new drift mines working acid-producing or iron-producing coal seams shall be located in such a manner as to prevent a gravity discharge of water from the mine.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/Art. V heading) ARTICLE V: COAL EXPLORATION

(225 ILCS 720/5.01) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7905.01)

Sec. 5.01. Exploration Rules. This Article applies to coal exploration operations which substantially disturb the natural land surface. Such operations shall be conducted in accordance with exploration rules adopted by the Department.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/5.02) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7905.02)

Sec. 5.02. Notice. The Department's coal exploration rules shall provide that prior to conducting coal exploration operations a notice of intention to explore shall be filed with the Department. Such notice shall include a description of the exploration area and the period of proposed exploration.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/5.03) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7905.03)

Sec. 5.03. Approval. The Department's coal exploration rules shall provide that prior to conducting any coal exploration in which at least 250 tons of coal will be removed, prior approval of such exploration shall be obtained from the Department.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/5.04) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7905.04)

Sec. 5.04. Performance Standards. The Department's coal exploration rules shall require reclamation in accordance with the performance standards in Article III and IV of all lands disturbed in coal exploration, including excavations, roads, drill holes, and the removal of necessary facilities and equipment.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/5.05) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7905.05)

Sec. 5.05. Confidential Information. Information submitted to the Department under this Article as confidential concerning trade secrets or privileged commercial or financial information which relates to the competitive rights of the person or entity intended to explore the described area shall not be available for public examination.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/5.06) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7905.06)

Sec. 5.06. Penalties. Any person who conducts any coal exploration activities which substantially disturb the natural land surface in violation of this Article shall be subject to the provisions of Section 8.04.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/Art. VI heading) ARTICLE VI: PERFORMANCE BONDS

(225 ILCS 720/6.01) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7906.01)

Sec. 6.01. Requirement of a Bond.

(a) After a mining and reclamation permit application has been approved but before a permit is issued, the applicant shall file with the Department, on a form prescribed and furnished by the Department, a performance bond payable to the People of the State of Illinois, and conditional on the faithful performance of, and compliance with, all requirements of the permit and this Act. The bond shall cover that area of land within the permit area on which the operator will initiate and conduct mining and reclamation operations within the term of the permit. Such bond shall be signed by the operator as principal, and by a good and sufficient corporate surety, licensed to do business in Illinois, as surety.

(b) The Department may accept the bond of the applicant, without separate surety, when the applicant demonstrates to the Department's satisfaction the existence of a suitable agent to receive service of process, a history of financial solvency and continuous operation, and a current financial soundness sufficient for authorization to self-insure or bond the required amount.

(Source: P.A. 88-185.)

(225 ILCS 720/6.02) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7906.02)

Sec. 6.02. Amount of Bond. The amount of the bond shall be determined by the Department. It shall be sufficient to assure the completion of the reclamation plan specified in the approved permit if the work has to be performed by the Department in the event of forfeiture. The Department shall by rule prescribe standards for determination of the amount of bonds. Such standards shall include the probable difficulty of reclamation, topography, geology, hydrology, revegetation potential, and other standards related to the purposes of this Act. In no case shall the bond for the entire area under one permit be less than the greater of $600 per acre or $10,000.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/6.03) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7906.03)

Sec. 6.03. Duration of Bond. (a) Liability under the bond shall be for the duration of the mining operations and reclamation, and for a period coincident with the operator's responsibility for revegetation requirements under the permit, this Act and rules under this Act.

(b) Liability under the bond for areas used for the disposal of slurry and gob shall continue for the longer of the period specified in subsection (a) or while such areas are in active use.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/6.04) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7906.04)

Sec. 6.04. Cancellation. A bond with separate surety filed in accordance with this Article shall not be cancelled by the surety except after not less than 90 days notice to the Department. A surety shall not at any time cancel any portion of a bond covering land already affected. If the license to do business in Illinois of any surety on a bond filed with the Department pursuant to this Act shall be suspended or revoked, the operator, within 30 days after receiving notice thereof from the Department, shall substitute for such surety a good and sufficient corporate surety licensed to do business in Illinois. On failure of the operator to make substitution of surety as herein provided, the Department may suspend the permit of the operator until such substitution has been made.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/6.05) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7906.05)

Sec. 6.05. Alternatives to a Bond. In lieu of a performance bond, the operator may deposit as security cash, negotiable government securities, or negotiable certificates of deposit of any bank organized or transacting business in the United States, or any combination thereof, with the Department in an amount equal to or greater than the amount of the surety bond required by Section 6.02. Such deposits shall be made, held and disposed of as provided in this Act and by the Department by rule.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/6.06) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7906.06)

Sec. 6.06. Changes in Amount of Bond. The amount of the bond or cash and securities shall be increased or reduced from time to time as the land affected by mining operations changes, and as the cost of future reclamation changes whether as a result of cost inflation or deflation, changes in costs, new information, or other cause. The Department shall by rule provide standards and procedures for such adjustments of a bond.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/6.07) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7906.07)

Sec. 6.07. Forfeiture.

(a) The Attorney General, on request of the Department, shall institute proceedings to have the bond of the operator forfeited for violation by the operator of any of the provisions of this Act or for noncompliance with any lawful rule or regulation promulgated by the Department thereunder. Before making such request of the Attorney General, the Department shall notify the operator in writing of the alleged violation or non-compliance and shall afford the operator the right to appear before the Department at a hearing to be held not less than 30 days after the receipt of such notice by the operator. At the hearing the operator may present for the consideration of the Department statements, documents and other information with respect to the alleged violation. After the conclusion of the hearing, the Department shall either withdraw the notice of violation or shall request the Attorney General to institute proceedings to have the bond of the operator forfeited as to the land involved.

(b) The Department shall prescribe by rule the events and conditions on the basis of which it may request the Attorney General to institute bond forfeiture proceedings. Such rules shall be no less stringent than the Regulations.

(c) In the event that the Department requests the Attorney General to institute proceedings to have the bond forfeited, the Department shall send written notification to the permittee and, if applicable, the surety on the bond, stating the reasons for its decision and the amount to be forfeited.

(d) The amount of forfeiture shall be based on the actual cost of the necessary work by a third party to remedy the violation, except that the amount shall not exceed the amount of the bond or deposit for the area in which the violation occurred.

(e) Any operator against whom forfeiture proceedings have been required shall not be issued a permit for further mining in Illinois unless he provides additional assurances satisfactory to the Department that such proceedings will not again become necessary.

(f) In the event the bond or deposit for a surface coal mining operation on lands eligible for remining is forfeited, funds appropriated for expenditure under the Abandoned Mined Lands and Water Reclamation Act may be used if the amount of the bond or deposit is not sufficient to provide for adequate reclamation or abatement.

(Source: P.A. 90-490, eff. 8-17-97.)

(225 ILCS 720/6.08) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7906.08)

Sec. 6.08. Release of bonds.

(a) A permittee may file a request with the Department for the release of all or part of a performance bond or deposit. Within 30 days after an application for such release has been filed with the Department, the operator shall submit a copy of a public notice placed at least once a week for 4 successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the locality of the mining operation. Such public notice shall be considered part of the bond release application and shall contain a notification of the precise location of the land affected, the number of acres, the permit and the date it was approved, the amount of the bond filed and the portion sought to be released, the type and approximate dates of reclamation work performed, and a description of the results achieved as they relate to the operator's approved reclamation. In addition, as part of any bond release application, the applicant shall submit copies of letters which he has sent to adjoining property owners, local governmental bodies, county boards, planning agencies, and sewage and water treatment authorities, or water companies in the locality in which the mining and reclamation operations took place, notifying them of his intention to seek release from the bond.

(b) Within 30 days after receipt of the notification and request, the Department shall conduct an inspection and evaluation of the reclamation work involved. Such evaluation shall consider, among other things, the degree of difficulty to complete any remaining reclamation, whether pollution of surface and subsurface water is occurring, the probability of continuance or future occurrence of such pollution, and the estimated cost of abating such pollution.

(c) Any person with a valid legal interest which might be adversely affected by release of the bond or deposit, or the responsible officer or head of any Federal, State, or local governmental agency which has jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to any environmental, social, or economic impact involved in the operation, or is authorized to develop and enforce environmental standards with respect to such operations, may file written objections to the proposed release with the Department within 30 days after the last publication of the notice provided in subsection (a) of this Section. If written objections are filed, and a hearing is requested, the Department shall inform all interested parties of the time and place of the hearing, and shall hold a public hearing in the locality of the mining operation proposed for bond or deposit release within 30 days after the request for such hearing. At the option of an objector, hearings shall be held at the State capital. The Department shall advertise the date, time and location of such public hearings in a newspaper of general circulation in the locality for 2 consecutive weeks.

(d) The Department may release in whole or in part said bond or deposit if the Department is satisfied the reclamation covered by the bond or deposit or portion thereof has been accomplished as required by this Act according to the following schedule:

(1) When the operator completes the backfilling, regrading, and drainage control of a bonded area in accordance with an approved reclamation plan, a maximum of 60 per cent of the bond or collateral for the applicable permit area may be released.

(2) After revegetation has been established on the regraded mined lands in accordance with the approved reclamation plan, an additional amount of the bond or deposit may be released. When determining the amount of bond or deposit to be released after successful revegetation has been established, the Department shall retain that amount of bond or deposit for the revegetated area which would be sufficient for a third party to pay the cost of reestablishing revegetation and for the period specified for operator responsibility. No part of the bond or deposit shall be released under this paragraph so long as the lands to which the release would be applicable are contributing suspended solids to streamflow or runoff outside the permit area in excess of the requirements set by this Act or until soil productivity for prime farmlands has returned to equivalent levels of yield as nonmined land of the same soil type in the surrounding area under equivalent management practices.

(3) When the operator has successfully completed all mining and reclamation activities, the remaining portion of the bond may be released, but not before the expiration of the period specified for operator responsibility.

(4) No bond shall be fully released until all reclamation requirements of the permit and this Act are fully met.

(e) The Department shall notify the permittee in writing of its decision to release or not to release all or part of the performance bond or deposit (1) within 60 days after the filing of the request, if no public hearing is held under subsection (c) of this Section, or (2) if a public hearing has been held under subsection (c) of this Section, within 30 days thereafter.

(f) If the Department disapproves the application for release of the bond or deposit or portion thereof, the Department shall state in writing the reasons for disapproval and shall recommend corrective actions necessary to secure said release. An opportunity for a public hearing shall be provided.

(g) If the Department approves the application, it shall notify the municipality and county in which the mining operation is located by certified mail at least 30 days prior to the release of all or a portion of the bond or deposit.

(h) The Department may by rule provide procedures for the administration of this Section, including procedures for hearings and informal conferences.

(i) Surface coal mining operations on lands eligible for remining shall not affect the eligibility of those lands for reclamation and restoration under the Abandoned Mined Lands and Water Reclamation Act after the release of the bond or deposit for any such operation under this Section.

(Source: P.A. 90-490, eff. 8-17-97.)

(225 ILCS 720/Art. VII heading) ARTICLE VII: PROHIBITION OF CERTAIN MINING

(225 ILCS 720/7.01) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7907.01)

Sec. 7.01. Prohibited Mining. (a) No person shall cause or allow any mining operations which will adversely affect any publicly owned park or places included in the National Register of Historic Sites unless approved by both the Department, in accordance with procedures of Article III of this Act, and the Federal, State, or local agency with jurisdiction over the park or the historic site.

(b) No person shall cause or allow any surface mining operations or any surface impact of underground mining operations within 100 horizontal feet of the outside right-of-way line of any public road, except where mine access roads or haulage roads join such right-of-way line. The Department may permit such roads to be relocated, or the area affected to lie within 100 horizontal feet of such road, if after public notice and opportunity for public hearing in the locality a written finding is made that the interests of the public and the landowners affected thereby will be protected.

(c) No person shall cause or allow any surface mining operations or any surface impact of underground mining operations within 300 horizontal feet from any occupied dwelling, unless waived by the owner thereof, nor within 300 horizontal feet of any public building, school, church, community, or institutional building, public park, or within 100 horizontal feet of a cemetery.

(d) No person shall cause or allow any mining operations on any land included within an area designated unsuitable for mining operations under this Article.

(e) The prohibitions of this Section do not apply to mining operations which existed on August 3, 1977.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/7.02) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7907.02)

Sec. 7.02. Criteria for Designating Lands Unsuitable for Mining Operations. (a) An area shall be designated as unsuitable for all or certain types of mining operations if the Department determines that reclamation in accordance with the requirements of this Act is not technologically and economically feasible.

(b) An area may be designated unsuitable for all or certain types of mining operations if such operations would:

(1) be incompatible with existing state or local land use plans; or

(2) affect fragile or historic lands on which such operations could result in significant damage to important historic, cultural, scientific, and esthetic values and natural systems; or

(3) affect renewable resource lands in which such operations could result in a substantial loss or reduction of long-range productivity of water supply or of food or fiber products; or

(4) affect natural hazard lands in which such operations could substantially endanger life and property, such lands to include areas subject to frequent flooding and areas of unstable geology.

(c) Designation of any area as unsuitable for all or certain types of mining operations does not of itself prohibit mineral exploration of such area. Exploration on lands designated unsuitable for mining must be approved by the Department to ensure that exploration does not interfere with any value for which the area has been designated unsuitable for mining operations. The Department shall by rule prescribe procedures for such determinations.

(d) The Department shall adopt rules which define terms used in this Section, which establish criteria for the designation of lands under this Section to accomplish the purposes of this Act, and which provide for determinations under this Section to be integrated as closely as possible with present and future governmental land use planning and regulation processes.

(e) The requirements of this Section, and of Sections 7.03 and 7.04, do not apply to lands on which mining operations were being conducted on August 3, 1977, or under a permit issued pursuant to this Act, or where substantial legal and financial commitments in such operation were in existence prior to January 4, 1977.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/7.03) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7907.03)

Sec. 7.03. Procedure for designation.

(a) Any person having an interest which is or may be adversely affected shall have the right to petition the Department to have an area designated as unsuitable for all or certain types of mining operations, or to have such a designation terminated. Such a petition shall contain allegations of facts with supporting evidence which would tend to establish the allegations.

(b) Immediately after a petition under this Section is received, the Department shall prepare a land report in accordance with Section 7.04, unless the petition is rejected by the Department as incomplete, frivolous, or submitted by a person lacking an interest which is or may be adversely affected by surface coal mining operations.

(c) Within 10 months after receipt of the petition, the Department shall hold a public hearing in the locality of the affected area, after appropriate notice and publication of the date, time, and location of such hearing. Such notice and publication shall state that a Land Report is available for public inspection and the locations at which it may be inspected. Such a hearing shall be held not less than 30 days after the Land Report has been prepared by the Department in accordance with Section 7.04. After petition is filed under this Section and before the hearing, any person may intervene by filing allegations of facts with supporting evidence which would tend to establish the allegations.

(d) Within 60 days after such hearing, the Department shall issue and furnish to the petitioner and all other parties to the hearing, a written decision regarding the petition, and the reasons therefor.

(e) In the event that all the petitioners stipulate agreement prior to the requested hearing, and withdraw their request, such hearing need not be held.

(f) The Department may by rule adopt additional procedures for designation of lands under this Article. The Department shall adopt rules to prevent the filing of repetitive or frivolous petitions with respect to particular lands, and prescribing procedures for expediting decisions on repetitive or frivolous petitions.

(Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96; 90-490, eff. 8-17-97.)

(225 ILCS 720/7.04) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7907.04)

Sec. 7.04. Land Report.

(a) The Department shall prepare a Land Report with respect to each petition filed with the Department under Section 7.03. Each Land Report shall evaluate whether mining operations on the land which is the subject of the petition would have any or all of the effects described in subsection (b) of Section 7.02. Each Land Report shall also contain a detailed statement on (1) the potential coal resources of the area, (2) the demand for coal resources, and (3) the impact of a designation of such lands as unsuitable for mining on the environment, the economy, and the supply of coal. The Land Report shall state objectively the information which the Department has, but shall not contain a recommendation with respect to whether the petition should be granted or denied. Each Land Report shall be completed not later than eight months after receipt of the petition filed under Section 7.03.

(b) Each Land Report shall be made available to the public by the Department at least 30 days before the Department holds a public hearing under Section 7.03.

(Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96; 90-490, eff. 8-17-97.)

(225 ILCS 720/7.05) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7907.05)

Sec. 7.05. Construction. The provisions of this Article, including the provisions of subsection (e) of Section 7.01 and subsection (e) of Section 7.02, shall be construed in a manner consistent with the provisions of Section 522 of the Federal Act, as amended.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/Art. VIII heading) ARTICLE VIII: ENFORCEMENT

(225 ILCS 720/8.01) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7908.01)

Sec. 8.01. Inspection. (a) The Department, including its authorized representatives, without advance notice and on presentation of appropriate credentials (1) may enter any mining and reclamation operations or any premises in which any records required to be maintained under this Act or under a permit issued under this Act are located, and (2) may at reasonable times, and without delay, have access to and copy any records, and inspect any monitoring equipment or method of operation required under this Act or any permit issued under this Act.

(b) The inspections by the Department shall (1) occur on an irregular basis averaging not less than one partial inspection per month and one complete inspection per calendar quarter for the mining and reclamation operation covered by each permit; (2) occur without prior notice to the permittee or his agents or employees except for necessary onsite meetings with the permittee; and (3) include the filing of inspection reports adequate to enforce the requirements of and to carry out the terms and purposes of this Act.

(c) Copies of any records, reports, inspection materials, or information obtained by the Department under this Section shall be made immediately available to the public at central and sufficient locations in the area of mining so that they are conveniently available to residents in the areas of mining.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/8.02) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7908.02)

Sec. 8.02. Records. (a) In accordance with rules adopted by the Department, each permittee shall (1) establish and maintain appropriate records, (2) make monthly reports to the Department, (3) install, use, and maintain any necessary monitoring equipment or methods, (4) evaluate results in accordance with such methods, at such locations, intervals, and in such manner as the Department prescribes, and (5) provide such other information relative to mining and reclamation operations as the Department deems reasonable and necessary to accomplish the purposes of this Act.

(b) For those mining and reclamation operations which remove or disturb strata that serve as aquifers which significantly insure the hydrologic balance of water use either on or off the mining site, the Department shall specify (1) monitoring sites to record the quantity and quality of surface drainage above and below the minesite as well as in the potential zone of influence; (2) monitoring sites to record level, amount, and samples of ground water and aquifers potentially affected by the mining and also directly below the lowermost (deepest) coal seam to be mined; (3) records of well logs and borehole data to be maintained; and (4) monitoring sites to record precipitation.

(c) The monitoring data collection and analysis required by this Section shall be conducted according to standards and procedures set forth by the Department in order to assure their reliability and validity.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/8.03) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7908.03)

Sec. 8.03. Violation Reports. Each inspector, on detection of each violation of any requirement of this Act or a permit, shall forthwith inform the operator in writing, and shall report in writing any such violation to the Department.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/8.04) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7908.04)

Sec. 8.04. Civil and Criminal Penalties. (a) Any permittee who violates any permit condition or who violates any provision of this Act or rules adopted under this Act, may be assessed a civil penalty by the Department for the purpose of aiding in the administration of this Act. If a cessation order is issued under Section 8.06 with respect to a violation, a civil penalty shall be assessed. Such penalty shall not exceed $5,000 for each violation. Each day of continuing violation may be deemed a separate violation for purposes of penalty assessments. In determining the amount of the penalty, consideration shall be given to the permittee's history of previous violations at the particular mining operation; the seriousness of the violation, including any irreparable harm to the environment and any hazard to the health or safety of the public; whether the permittee was negligent; and the demonstrated good faith of the permittee charged in attempting to achieve rapid compliance after notification of the violation.

(b) A civil penalty may be assessed only after the person charged with a violation has been given an opportunity for a public hearing. Such hearings may be consolidated with proceedings under Section 8.06, and shall be of record. If such a hearing is held, the Department shall make findings of fact, and shall issue a written decision as to the occurrence of the violation and the amount of the penalty which is warranted, incorporating, when appropriate, an order requiring that the penalty be paid. If no public hearing is held, a civil penalty shall be assessed after the Department has determined that a violation occurred, and the amount of the penalty which is warranted, and has issued an order requiring that the penalty be paid.

(c) Within 30 days after issuance of a notice or order charging that a violation has occurred, the Department shall inform the operator of the proposed amount of the penalty. The person charged with the penalty shall then have 30 days to pay the proposed penalty in full, or, if the person wishes to contest either the amount of the penalty or the fact of the violation, forward the proposed amount to the Department for placement in an escrow account. If through administrative or judicial review of the proposed penalty, it is determined that no violation occurred, or that the amount of the penalty should be reduced, the Department shall within 30 days remit the appropriate amount to the person, with interest at the rate of 6 percent, or at the prevailing United States Department of the Treasury rate, whichever is greater. Failure to forward the money to the Department within 30 days shall result in a waiver of all legal rights to contest the violation or the amount of the penalty.

(d) Civil penalties owed under this Section may be recovered in a civil action.

(e) Any person who willfully and knowingly violates a condition of a permit or fails or refuses to comply with any order issued under Section 8.06, or any order incorporated in a final decision issued by the Department under this Act, except an order incorporated in a decision issued under subsection (b) of this Section, shall, on conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than $10,000, or by imprisonment for not more than one year or both.

(f) Whenever a corporate permittee violates a condition of a permit or fails or refuses to comply with any order issued under Section 8.06, or any order incorporated in a final decision issued by the Department under this Act except an order incorporated in a decision issued under subsection (b) of this Section, any director, officer, or agent of such corporation who willfully and knowingly authorized, ordered, or carried out such violation, failure, or refusal shall be subject to the same civil penalties, fines, and imprisonment that may be imposed on a person under subsections (a) and (e) of this Section.

(g) Whoever knowingly makes any false statement, representation, or certification, or knowingly fails to make any statement, representation, or certification in any application, record, report, plan, or other document filed or required to be maintained under this Act or by any order or decision issued by the Department under this Act, shall, on conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than $10,000, or by imprisonment for not more than one year or both.

(h) Any operator who fails to correct a violation for which a citation has been issued under Section 8.06 within the period allowed for its correction shall be assessed a civil penalty of not less than $750 for each day during which such failure or violation continues. For purposes of this subsection the period allowed for correction shall not end (1) until the entry of a final order by the Department in the case of any review proceedings under Section 8.07 initiated by the operator wherein the Department orders, after an expedited hearing, the suspension of the abatement requirements of the citation after determining that the operator will suffer irreparable loss or damage from the application of those requirements, or (2) until the entry of an order of the court, in the case of any review proceedings under Section 8.10 initiated by the operator wherein the court orders the suspension of the abatement requirements of the citation.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/8.05) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7908.05)

Sec. 8.05. Civil Actions.

(a) Any person having an interest which is or may be adversely affected may commence a civil action on his own behalf to compel compliance with this Act against any governmental instrumentality or agency which is alleged to be in violation of the provisions of this Act or of any rule, order or permit issued under this Act, or against any other person who is alleged to be in violation of this Act or of any rule, order or permit issued under this Act. No action may be commenced under this subsection (1) prior to 60 days after the plaintiff has given notice in writing of the alleged violation to the Department and to any alleged violator, or (2) if the State has commenced and is diligently prosecuting a civil action to require compliance with the provisions of this Act, or any rule, order or permit issued under this Act.

(b) Any person having an interest which is or may be adversely affected may commence a civil action against the Department on his own behalf to compel compliance with this Act where there is alleged a failure of the Department to perform any act or duty under this Act which is not discretionary with the Department. No action may be commenced under this subsection prior to 60 days after the plaintiff has given notice in writing of such action to the Department, except that such action may be brought immediately after such notification in the case where the violation or order complained of constitutes an imminent threat to the health or safety of the plaintiff or would immediately affect a legal interest of the plaintiff.

(c) The court, in issuing any final order in any action brought under this Section, may award costs of litigation (including attorney and expert witness fees) to any party, on the basis of the importance of the proceeding and the participation of the parties to the efficient and effective enforcement of this Act. The court may, if a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction is sought, require the filing of a bond or equivalent security in accordance with Part 1 of Article XI of the Code of Civil Procedure.

(d) Any person who is injured in his person or property through the violation by any operator of any rule, order, or permit issued pursuant to this Act may bring an action for damages (including reasonable attorney and expert witness fees). Nothing in this subsection shall affect any of the rights established by or limits imposed under the Workers' Compensation Act.

(e) Any action brought under this Section may be brought only in the county in which the mining operation complained of is located.

(f) In any action under this Section, the Department shall have an unconditional right to intervene.

(g) No existing civil or criminal remedy for any wrongful action shall be excluded or impaired by this Act.

(h) Nothing in this Section shall restrict any right which any person (or class of persons) may have under any statute or common law to seek enforcement of any of the provisions of this Act and the rules adopted under this Act, or to seek any other relief (and including relief against the United States or the Department).

(Source: P.A. 82-783.)

(225 ILCS 720/8.06) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7908.06)

Sec. 8.06. Enforcement Procedures. (a) Whenever, on the basis of any information available to it, including receipt of information from any person, the Department has reason to believe that any person is in violation of any requirement of this Act or any permit condition required by this Act, the Department shall immediately order inspection of the mining operation at which the alleged violation is occurring unless the information available to the Department is a result of a previous inspection of such mining operation. When the inspection results from information provided by any person, the Department shall notify such person when the inspection is proposed to be carried out and such person shall be allowed to accompany the inspector during the inspection.

(b) When, on the basis of any inspection, the Department determines that any condition or practice exists, or that any permittee is in violation of any requirement of this Act or any permit condition required by this Act, which condition, practice, or violation also creates an imminent danger to the health or safety of the public, or is causing, or can reasonably be expected to cause significant, imminent environmental harm to land, air, or water resources, the Department or its authorized representative shall immediately order a cessation of mining and reclamation operations or the portion thereof relevant to the condition, practice, or violation. Such cessation order shall remain in effect until the Department determines that the condition, practice, or violation has been abated, or until modified, vacated, or terminated by the Department pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section. When the Department finds that the ordered cessation of mining and reclamation operations, or any portion thereof, will not completely abate the imminent danger to health or safety of the public or the significant imminent environmental harm to land, air, or water resources, the Department shall, in addition to the cessation order, require the operator to take whatever affirmative steps the Department deems necessary to abate the imminent danger or the significant environmental harm. The operator or permittee may seek immediate injunctive relief from any order issued under this subsection.

(c) When, on the basis of any inspection, the Department determines that any permittee is in violation of any requirement of this act or any permit condition required by this Act, but such violation does not create an imminent danger to the health or safety of the public, or cannot be reasonably expected to cause significant, imminent environmental harm to land, air, or water resources, the Department shall issue a notice to the permittee or his agent fixing a reasonable time but not more than 90 days for the abatement of the violation and providing an opportunity for public hearing. Such time may be extended by the Department for good cause shown on the written finding of the Department. If, on expiration of the period of time originally fixed or subsequently extended, the Department finds that the violation has not been abated, it shall immediately order a cessation of mining and reclamation operations or the portion thereof relevant to the violation. Such cessation order shall remain in effect until the Department determines that the violation has been abated, or until modified, vacated, or terminated by this Section. In the order of cessation issued by the Department under this subsection, the Department shall determine the steps necessary to abate the violation in the most expeditious manner possible, and shall include the necessary measures in the order. The operator or permittee may seek immediate injunctive relief from any order issued under this subsection.

(d) When, on the basis of an inspection, the Department determines that a pattern of violations of any requirements of this Act or any permit conditions required by this Act exists or has existed, and if the Department also finds that such violations are caused by the unwarranted failure of the permittee to comply with any requirements of this Act or any permit conditions, or that such violations are willfully caused by the permittee, the Department shall forthwith issue an order to the permittee to show cause as to why the permit should not be suspended or revoked and shall provide opportunity for a public hearing, in accordance with subsection (e) of Section 8.07. The Department shall specify by rule the minimum number of violations that constitute a pattern of violations for purposes of this subsection. If the permittee fails to show cause why the permit should not be suspended or revoked, the Department shall forthwith suspend or revoke the permit.

(e) Notices and orders issued under this Section shall set forth with reasonable specificity the nature of the violation and the remedial action required, the period of time established for abatement, and a reasonable description of the portion of the mining and reclamation operation to which the notice or order applies. Each notice or order issued under this Section shall be given promptly to the permittee or his agent by the Department and each such notice or order shall be signed by the authorized representative of the Department issuing it. Any notice or order issued under this Section may be modified, vacated, or terminated by the Department. Any notice or order issued under this Section which requires cessation of mining by the operator shall expire within 30 days of actual notice to the operator of the notice or order unless a public hearing is held at the site or within such reasonable proximity to the site that any viewings of the site can be conducted during the course of public hearing.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/8.07) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7908.07)

Sec. 8.07. Administrative Review. (a) A permittee issued a notice or order by the Department under Section 8.06, or any person having an interest which is or may be adversely affected by such notice or order or by any modification, vacation, or termination of such notice or order, may apply to the Department for review of the notice or order within 30 days of receipt thereof or within 30 days of its modification, vacation, or termination. On receipt of such application, the Department shall cause such investigation to be made as it deems appropriate. Such investigation shall provide an opportunity for a public hearing, at the request of the applicant to enable the applicant to present information relating to the issuance and continuance of such notice or order or the modification, vacation, or termination thereof. The filing of an application for review under this subsection shall not operate as a stay of any order or notice.

(b) The permittee and other interested persons shall be given written notice of the time and place of the hearing at least five days prior thereto. Any such hearing shall be of record. The presiding officer at such hearing may not (1) consult a person or party on a fact in issue unless on notice and opportunity for all parties to participate, or (2) be responsible to or subject to the supervision or direction of any person engaged in the performance of investigative or prosecuting functions for the Department.

(c) On receiving the report of an investigation under subsection (a) of this Section, the Department shall make findings of fact, and shall issue a written decision, incorporating its findings and an order vacating, affirming, modifying, or terminating the notice or order, or the modification, vacation, or termination of such notice or order complained of. If the application for review concerns an order for cessation of mining and reclamation operations issued under subsections (b) or (c) of Section 8.06, the Department shall issue the written decision within 30 days of the receipt of the application for review, unless temporary relief has been granted by the Department under subsection (d) of this Section or by a court.

(d) Pending completion of the investigation and hearing required by this Section the applicant may file with the Department a written request that the Department grant temporary relief from any notice or order issued under Section 8.06 of this Act, together with a detailed statement giving reasons for granting such relief. The Department shall issue an order or decision granting or denying such relief. If the applicant requests relief from an order for cessation of mining and reclamation operations issued pursuant to subsections (b) or (c) of Section 8.06, the order or decision on such a request shall be issued within five days after its receipt. The Department may grant such relief, under such conditions as it may prescribe, if (1) a hearing has been held in the locality of the permit area on the request for temporary relief in which all parties were given an opportunity to be heard; (2) the applicant shows that there is substantial likelihood that the findings of the Department will be favorable to him; and (3) such relief will not adversely affect the health or safety of the public or cause significant, imminent environmental harm to land, air, or water resources.

(e) Following the issuance of an order to show cause why a permit should not be suspended or revoked under Section 8.06, the Department shall hold a public hearing after giving written notice of the time, place, and date thereof to the permittee, interested persons, and the public. Such hearing shall be of record and shall be subject to subsection (b) of this Section. Within 60 days following the public hearing, the Department shall issue and furnish to the permittee and all other parties to the hearing a written decision, and the reasons therefor, concerning suspension or revocation of the permit. If the Department revokes the permit, the permittee shall immediately cease mining operations on the permit area and shall complete reclamation within a period specified by the Department, or the Department shall declare as forfeited the performance bonds for the operation.

(f) Whenever an order is issued under this Section, or as a result of any administrative proceeding under this Act, at the request of any person, a sum equal to the aggregate amount of all costs and expenses (including attorney fees) as determined by the Department to have been reasonably incurred by such person for or in connection with his participation in such proceedings, including any judicial review of agency actions, may be assessed against either party by the court (resulting from judicial review) or the Department (resulting from administrative proceedings) on the basis of the importance of the proceeding and the participation of the parties to the efficient and effective enforcement of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/8.08) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7908.08)

Sec. 8.08. Judicial Relief. The Department may request the Attorney General to institute a civil action for relief, including a temporary restraining order or a preliminary or permanent injunction, or any other appropriate order in the circuit court in the county in which the mining and reclamation operation is located or in which the permittee thereof has his principal office, whenever such permittee or his agent (a) violates, or fails or refuses to comply with, any order or decision issued by the Department under this Act; or (b) interferes with, hinders, or delays the Department or its authorized representatives in carrying out the provisions of this Act; or (c) refuses to admit the authorized representative of the Department to the mining operations or (d) refuses to permit inspection of the mining operations by such authorized representatives; or (e) refuses to furnish any information or report requested by the Department in furtherance of the provisions of this Act; or (f) refuses to permit access to, and copying of, such records as the Department determines necessary in carrying out the provisions of this Act. Such court shall have jurisdiction to provide such relief as may be appropriate. Temporary restraining orders shall be entered in accordance with law. Any relief granted by the court to enforce an order under clause (a) of this Section shall continue in effect until the completion or final termination of all proceedings for review of such order under this Act, unless, prior thereto, the court granting such relief sets it aside or modifies it.

(Source: P.A. 84-548.)

(225 ILCS 720/8.09) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7908.09)

Sec. 8.09. Hearings. Any party to a hearing conducted under Sections 2.11 (c), 7.03 (c), 8.04, 8.06 or 8.07 may be represented by counsel, make oral or written arguments, offer testimony and cross-examine witnesses, cause the issuance of subpoenas, or take any combination of such actions. All testimony taken in such hearings shall be recorded stenographically, and the rules of evidence used in civil actions shall apply.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/8.10) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7908.10)

Sec. 8.10. Review under Administrative Review Law. All final administrative decisions of the Department under this Act shall be subject to judicial review pursuant to the Administrative Review Law, as amended, and the rules adopted under it, except that the remedies created by this Act are not excluded or impaired by any provision of the Administrative Review Law.

(Source: P.A. 90-655, eff. 7-30-98.)

(225 ILCS 720/Art. IX heading) ARTICLE IX: ADMINISTRATION

(225 ILCS 720/9.01) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7909.01)

Sec. 9.01. Rules.

(a) The Department may propose, adopt and promulgate reasonable rules in conformity with this Act. When it proposes or adopts rules the Department shall consider the terrain, the climate and other conditions of this State. Rules shall reflect the distinct differences between surface mining operations and underground mining operations.

(b) Any person may file a written petition with the Department proposing the adoption, amendment or repeal of any rule under this Act. Within 90 days after a receipt of a petition, the Department shall initiate a rule-making proceeding under this Section with respect to such proposal, or deny such petition, setting forth in writing the reasons for such denial.

(c) No rule adopted shall be retroactive. Any operator shall have the right to proceed with operations under this Act until such rules are adopted and no such rules shall be made applicable to any operations prior to the effective date thereof.

(d) In addition to the provisions of this Section, and to the extent consistent with this Section, the provisions of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act apply to the adoption of rules under this Act.

(Source: P.A. 90-490, eff. 8-17-97.)

(225 ILCS 720/9.02) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7909.02)

Sec. 9.02. General Duties and Powers. In addition to the duties and powers of the Department prescribed by the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the Department shall have full powers and authority to carry out and administer the provisions of this Act. The Department has the power and the duty to act as the regulatory authority for the State of Illinois under the Federal Act, to submit and implement a State program under the Federal Act, and to apply for, accept, receive, receipt for and use for and in behalf of the State such moneys and property as are given or granted under the Federal Act or any other federal law, or from any other lawful public and private source, for the purposes of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/9.03) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7909.03)

Sec. 9.03. Cooperative agreements. The Department may enter into cooperative agreements with the United States Secretary of the Interior under which the State will regulate mining on Federal lands.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/9.04) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7909.04)

Sec. 9.04. Delegation to other agencies. The Department may delegate responsibilities, other than final action on permits, to other State agencies with the authority and technical expertise to carry out such responsibilities, with the consent of such agencies. The Department may contract with any State officer or agency to administer responsibilities under this Act as may be deemed necessary and appropriate to provide for effective administration hereof, without unreasonable or unnecessary cost or duplication of effort, and taking into account the need to deliver fair and effective governmental service to the interested public.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/9.05) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7909.05)

Sec. 9.05. Coordination with other agencies. The Department shall work with other agencies to coordinate, simplify and expedite the procedures required to obtain permits and approvals from the State for mining operations.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/9.06) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7906.06)

Sec. 9.06. Financial Interest. No person employed by the Department performing any function or duty under this Act shall have a direct or indirect financial interest in mining operations in violation of the Federal Act. Whoever knowingly violates the provisions of this Section shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not more than $2,500 or by imprisonment of not more than one year, or by both.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)

(225 ILCS 720/9.07) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7909.07)

Sec. 9.07. Fees and Forfeitures.

(a) All fees and civil penalties collected under this Act shall be deposited into the Coal Mining Regulatory Fund in the State Treasury.

(b) All forfeitures collected under the provisions of this Act shall be deposited in the reclamation fund to be used for the purposes for which the bond was issued under Article VI.

(Source: P.A. 88-599, eff. 9-1-94.)

(225 ILCS 720/9.08) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7909.08)

Sec. 9.08. Transition. The Department shall provide for the orderly transition from "The Surface-Mined Land Conservation and Reclamation Act", approved September 17, 1971, as amended, to this Act. Such rules shall as a minimum provide for temporary permit procedures, filing and application schedules and requirements, and time limits different from those set forth in this Act and which satisfy the requirements of the Federal Act and Regulations, for transition from the initial regulatory program to the permanent program. Such rules shall provide for the continued validity of permits and bonds issued under "The Surface-Mined Land Conservation and Reclamation Act", approved September 17, 1971, as amended, in a manner which satisfies the requirements of the Federal Act and Regulations, and may provide for delay in the applicability of any provisions of this Act to mining and reclamation operations to the extent required if the State program is not approved under the Federal Act.

(b) To the extent consistent with this Act, all bonds, plans, duties and requirements pursuant to "The Open Cut Land Reclamation Act", approved August 10, 1961, as amended, "The Surface-Mined Land Reclamation Act", approved April 6, 1967, as amended, and "The Surface-Mined Land Conservation and Reclamation Act", approved September 17, 1971, as amended, shall remain in full force and effect with respect to mining commenced prior to the effective date of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 81-1509.)

(225 ILCS 720/9.09) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7909.09)

Sec. 9.09. This Act takes effect on June 1, 1980.

(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)