093_HB2819

 
                                     LRB093 10186 EFG 10440 b

 1        AN ACT concerning land conservation.

 2        Be  it  enacted  by  the People of the State of Illinois,
 3    represented in the General Assembly:

 4        Section  5.   The  Surface-Mined  Land  Conservation  and
 5    Reclamation Act is amended by changing Section 2 as follows:

 6        (225 ILCS 715/2) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 4502)
 7        Sec. 2.  Statement of policy. It is declared  to  be  the
 8    policy   of  this  State  to  provide  for  conservation  and
 9    reclamation of lands affected by surface mining in  order  to
10    restore  them to optimum future productive use and to provide
11    for their return to productive use including but not  limited
12    to:  the  planting  of  forests;  the  seeding of grasses and
13    legumes for grazing  purposes;  the  planting  of  crops  for
14    harvest;  the  enhancement of wildlife and aquatic resources;
15    the establishment of recreational, residential and industrial
16    sites; and for the conservation, development, management, and
17    appropriate use of all the natural resources  of  such  areas
18    for  compatible  multiple  purposes, to aid in maintaining or
19    improving the tax base; the protection of and protecting  the
20    health, safety and general welfare of the people, the natural
21    beauty   and   aesthetic   values,  and  enhancement  of  the
22    environment  in  the  affected  areas  of  the   State;   the
23    prevention  of  to  prevent erosion, stream pollution, water,
24    air  and  land  pollution  and  other  injurious  effects  to
25    persons,  property,  wildlife  and  natural  resources;   the
26    assurance  and  to  assure  that conservation and reclamation
27    plans for all surface mining activity are available  for  the
28    prior   consideration  of  county  governments  within  whose
29    jurisdiction such lands will be affected by  surface  mining;
30    and   the   to  permit  participation  and  authorization  of
31    authorize  cooperation  and  coordination  with  the  federal
 
                            -2-      LRB093 10186 EFG 10440 b
 1    government in initial regulatory programs under  the  federal
 2    Surface  Mining  Control  and Reclamation Act of 1977, Public
 3    Law 95-87, Title 30, USC Sec. 1201 et seq.
 4        The issuance of a permit under this Act to engage in  the
 5    surface  mining  of  any resources other than fossil fuels is
 6    not intended to relieve the permittee from its duty to comply
 7    with other applicable state  and  local  law  regulating  the
 8    commencement,   location  and  operation  of  surface  mining
 9    facilities.
10    (Source: P.A. 82-114.)