Illinois Administrative Code
Title 62 - MINING
Part 2501 - ABANDONED MINED LANDS RECLAMATION
Section 2501.7 - Objectives and Priorities
Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 12, March 22, 2024
a) It is the policy of this State to provide for the conservation and reclamation of lands and water affected by mining which have been abandoned, in order to restore these abandoned lands and waters to such productive use, in accordance with this State's conservation and land reclamation policies, as will aid in maintaining or improving the property tax base, protect the health, safety and general welfare of the people, promote the natural beauty and aesthetic values of this State and enhance the environment, and correct and prevent soil erosion, stream pollution, water, air and land pollution, and other injurious effects to persons, property, wildlife and natural resources. [20 ILCS 1920/1.02 ] The goal of the State reclamation program described in this Part is to alleviate adverse environmental effects of abandoned mines and, whenever possible, to improve those abandoned lands to support a suitable land use.
b) It is the expressed intent of the General Assembly that the Department, in implementing these policies, administer the reclamation program in a way which satisfies the requirements of the Federal Act. Accordingly, the provisions of this Part shall be construed, if possible, in a manner which is consistent with the requirements of the Federal Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
c) Expenditures of money on abandoned coal mined lands for the purposes of the reclamation program shall reflect the following priorities in the order stated:
d) Generally, projects lower than a priority 2 should not be undertaken until all known higher priority coal projects either have been accomplished, are in the process of being reclaimed, or have been approved for funding by OSM, except in those instances where such lower priority projects may be undertaken in conjunction with a priority 1 or 2 site in accordance with OSM's "Final Guidelines for Reclamation Programs and Projects" (61 FR 68777-68785, December 30, 1996).
e) When the Department finds in writing that the adverse effects of coal mining practices have an adverse economic impact upon a community, a project shall be designated as a priority 1 or 2 threat to the general welfare, regardless of the nature of the problem conditions.
f) The Department may make expenditures on lands mined for substances other than coal for the protection of the public health and safety; provided, however, that annual expenditures for non-coal reclamation shall not exceed 2% of the Department's annual budget for mined land reclamation.