Section 1780.23  Reclamation Plan:  Pre-Mining and Post-Mining Information

a)         Pre-mining information.  The application shall contain a statement of the condition, capability, and productivity of the land within the proposed permit area, including:

1)         A map and supporting narrative of the uses of the land existing at the time of the filing of the application.  If the pre-mining use of the land was changed within five (5) years before the anticipated date of beginning the proposed operations, the historic use of the land shall also be described.  In the case of previously mined land, the use of the land prior to any mining shall also be described to the extent such information is available.

2)         A narrative of land capability and productivity, which analyzes the land use description under subsection (a) above, in conjunction with other environmental resources information required under this Part.  The narrative shall provide analyses of:

A)        The capability of the land before any mining to support a variety of uses, giving consideration to soil and foundation characteristics, topography, vegetative cover and the hydrology of the proposed permit area; and

B)        The productivity of the proposed permit area before mining, expressed as average yield of food, fiber, forage or wood products from such lands obtained under high levels of management.  The productivity shall be determined by yield data or estimates for similar sites based on current data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, State agricultural universities or appropriate State natural resource or agricultural agencies.

3)         An intensive soils map prepared to the specifications of the Natural Resources Conservation Service or a contoured aerial photo with a scale of not smaller than 1"=400' and contour interval of not greater than ten (10) feet.

b)         Post-mining information.  Each plan shall contain a detailed description of the proposed use, following reclamation, of the land within the proposed permit area, including a discussion of the utility and capacity of the reclaimed land to support a variety of alternative uses, and the relationship of the proposed use to existing land use policies and plans.  This description shall explain:

1)         How the proposed post-mining land use is to be achieved and the necessary support activities which may be needed to achieve the proposed land use;

2)         Where a land use different from the pre-mining land use is proposed, all materials needed for approval of the alternative use under 62 Ill. Adm. Code 1816.133; and

3)         The consideration which has been given to making all of the proposed surface mining activities consistent with surface owner plans and applicable State and local land use plans and programs.

c)         The description shall be accompanied by a copy of the comments concerning the proposed use by the legal or equitable owner of record of the surface of the proposed permit area and the State and local government agencies which would have to initiate, implement, approve or authorize the proposed use of the land following reclamation.

(Source:  Amended at 20 Ill. Reg. 2141, effective January 19, 1996)