(20 ILCS 1920/2.03) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 8002.03)
    Sec. 2.03. Priorities.
    (a) Expenditures of moneys on abandoned lands for the purposes of this Article shall reflect the following priorities in the order stated:
        (1) the protection of public health, safety, general
    
welfare, and property from extreme danger of adverse effects of coal mining practices;
        (2) the protection of public health, safety, and
    
general welfare from adverse effects of coal mining practices;
        (3) the restoration of land and water resources and
    
the environment previously degraded by adverse effects of coal mining practices including measures for the conservation and development of soil, water (excluding channelization), woodland, fish and wildlife, recreation resources, and agricultural productivity;
        (4) research and demonstration projects relating to
    
the development of surface mining reclamation and water quality control program methods and techniques;
        (5) the protection, repair, replacement,
    
construction, or enhancement of public facilities adversely affected by coal mining practices;
        (6) the development of publicly owned land adversely
    
affected by coal mining practices including land acquired as provided in this Act for recreation and historic purposes, conservation, and reclamation purposes and open space benefits.
    (b) The Department may by rule establish additional criteria, including but not limited to:
        (1) the financial ability of the landowners to abate
    
pollution;
        (2) the potential economic value of the land under
    
private ownership subsequent to reclamation;
        (3) the potential value of the land in the public
    
domain for conservation, open space and recreation purposes subsequent to reclamation;
        (4) the proximity of abandoned lands to
    
municipalities, residential areas, and public facilities such as water supplies, parks and recreational areas.
    Such additional criteria shall be applied in a manner consistent with the priorities in subsection (a) of this Section.
(Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)