(225 ILCS 720/3.04) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7903.04)
Sec. 3.04.
Grading.
(a) Affected land shall be backfilled, compacted
(where advisable to insure stability or to prevent leaching of toxic materials),
and graded in order to restore the approximate original contour of the land.
All highwalls, spoil piles, and depressions shall be eliminated (unless
small depressions are needed in order to retain moisture, to assist revegetation,
or as otherwise authorized under this Act).
(b) In surface mining which is carried out at the same location over a
period greater than one year where the operation transects the coal deposit,
and the thickness of the coal deposits relative to the volume of the overburden
is large and where the operator demonstrates that the overburden and other
spoil and waste materials at a particular point in the permit area or otherwise
available from the entire permit area are insufficient, giving due consideration
to volumetric expansion, to restore the approximate original contour, the
operator, at a minimum, shall backfill, grade, and compact (where advisable)
using all available overburden and other spoil and mine waste materials to attain
the lowest practicable grade, but not more than the angle of repose, to
provide adequate drainage and to cover all acid-forming and other toxic materials,
in order to achieve an ecologically sound land use compatible with the surrounding
region.
(c) Where the operator demonstrates that due to volumetric expansion the
amount of overburden and other spoil and waste materials removed in the
course of the mining operation is more than sufficient to restore the approximate
original
contour, the operator shall satisfy the requirements set forth in subsection
(a) of this Section, and shall backfill, grade and compact (where advisable)
the excess overburden and other spoil and waste materials to attain the
lowest grade but not more than the angle of repose, and to cover all acid-forming
and other toxic materials, in order to achieve an ecologically sound land
use compatible with the surrounding region and such overburden and spoil
shall be shaped and graded in such a way as to prevent slides, erosion,
and water pollution, and shall be revegetated in accordance with the requirements
of this Act.
(d) Water impoundments which were not part of the original contour may
be permitted by the Department under Section 3.08.
(Source: P.A. 81-1015.)
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