(225 ILCS 715/4) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 4504)
    Sec. 4. Necessity of permit.
    It shall be unlawful for any operator to engage in surface mining in an area where the overburden shall exceed 10 feet in depth or where the operation will affect more than 10 acres during the permit year without first obtaining from the Department a permit so to do, in such form as is hereinafter provided.
(Source: P.A. 77-1568.)