Section 1.02

(225 ILCS 720/1.02) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7901.02) Sec. 1.02. Legislative Declaration. (a) It is declared to be the policy of this State to provide for conservation and reclamation of lands affected by surface and underground coal mining in order to restore them to optimum future productive use and to provide for their return to productive use including but not limited to: the planting of forests; the seeding of grasses and legumes for grazing purposes; the planting of crops for harvest; the enhancement of wildlife and aquatic resources; the establishment of recreational, residential and industrial sites; the establishment of new bodies of water for recreational, agricultural, and wildlife conservation purposes; and for the conservation, development, management, and appropriate use of all the natural resources of such areas for compatible multiple purposes, to aid in maintaining or improving the tax base; and protecting the health, safety and general welfare of the people, the natural beauty and aesthetic values, and enhancement of the environment in the affected areas of the State; to prevent erosion, stream pollution, water, air and land pollution and other injurious effects to persons, property, wildlife and natural resources; to assure that the coal supply essential to the Nation's and State's energy requirements, and to their economic well-being is provided; to strike a balance between protection of the environment and agricultural productivity, and the Nation's need for coal as a source of energy; and to assure that land conservation and reclamation plans for all mining operations are available for the prior consideration of the public, and of county governments within whose jurisdiction such lands will be affected by coal mining. (b) It is the purpose of this Act to implement these policies through methods and standards that fully comply with the requirements established by the United States Congress in the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977. (c) It is also the purpose of this Act to establish requirements that are no more stringent than those required to meet the Federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (PL 95-87). (Source: P.A. 81-1015.)