Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 12, March 22, 2024
a) Pre-mining information. The application
shall contain a statement of the condition, capability, and productivity of the
land within the proposed permit area, including:
1) A map and supporting narrative of the uses
of the land existing at the time of the filing of the application. If the
pre-mining use of the land was changed within five (5) years before the
anticipated date of beginning the proposed operations, the historic use of the
land shall also be described. In the case of previously mined land, the use of
the land prior to any mining shall also be described to the extent such
information is available.
2) A
narrative of land capability and productivity, which analyzes the land use
description under subsection (a) above, in conjunction with other environmental
resources information required under this Part. The narrative shall provide
analyses of:
A) The capability of the land
before any mining to support a variety of uses, giving consideration to soil
and foundation characteristics, topography, vegetative cover and the hydrology
of the proposed permit area; and
B)
The productivity of the proposed permit area before mining, expressed as
average yield of food, fiber, forage or wood products from such lands obtained
under high levels of management. The productivity shall be determined by yield
data or estimates for similar sites based on current data from the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, State agricultural universities or appropriate State
natural resource or agricultural agencies.
3) An intensive soils map prepared to the
specifications of the Natural Resources Conservation Service or a contoured
aerial photo with a scale of not smaller than 1"=400' and contour interval of
not greater than ten (10) feet.
b) Post-mining information. Each plan shall
contain a detailed description of the proposed use, following reclamation, of
the land within the proposed permit area, including a discussion of the utility
and capacity of the reclaimed land to support a variety of alternative uses,
and the relationship of the proposed use to existing land use policies and
plans. This description shall explain:
1) How
the proposed post-mining land use is to be achieved and the necessary support
activities which may be needed to achieve the proposed land use;
2) Where a land use different from the
pre-mining land use is proposed, all materials needed for approval of the
alternative use under 62 Ill. Adm. Code
1816.133;
and
3) The consideration which has
been given to making all of the proposed surface mining activities consistent
with surface owner plans and applicable State and local land use plans and
programs.
c) The
description shall be accompanied by a copy of the comments concerning the
proposed use by the legal or equitable owner of record of the surface of the
proposed permit area and the State and local government agencies which would
have to initiate, implement, approve or authorize the proposed use of the land
following reclamation.
