Illinois Administrative Code › Title 62 - MINING › Part 1772 - REQUIREMENTS FOR COAL EXPLORATION › Section 1772.12 - Permit Requirements for Exploration Removing More Than 250 Tons of Coal

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 28, July 12, 2024
a) Any person
			 who intends to conduct coal exploration outside a permit area during which more
			 than 250 tons of coal will be removed or which will take place on lands
			 designated as unsuitable for surface mining under 62 Ill. Adm. Code 1761
			 through 1764 shall before conducting the exploration submit an application and
			 obtain written approval from the Department in an exploration permit.
b) Each application for an exploration permit
			 shall contain, at a minimum, the following information:
1) The name, address, and telephone number of
			 the applicant;
2) The name,
			 address, and telephone number of the applicant's representative who will be
			 present at, and be responsible for, conducting the exploration;
3) A narrative and map describing the
			 proposed exploration area;
4) A
			 narrative description of the methods and equipment to be used to conduct the
			 exploration and reclamation;
5) An
			 estimated time table for conducting and completing each phase of the
			 exploration and reclamation;
6) The
			 estimated amount of coal to be removed and a description of the methods to be
			 used to determine the amounts;
7) A
			 statement of why extraction of more than 250 tons of coal is necessary for
			 exploration;
8) A description of:
A) Cultural or historical resources listed on
			 the National Register of Historic Places,
B) Cultural or historical resources known to
			 be eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places,
C) Known archeological resources located
			 within the proposed exploration area, and
D) Any other information which the Department
			 may require regarding known or unknown historic or archeological resources,
			 based upon consultation with the Illinois State Historic Preservation
			 Agency;
9) A description
			 of any endangered or threatened species listed pursuant to the Endangered
			 Species Act of 1973 (
			 16
			 USC 1531 et seq.) identified within the
			 proposed exploration area;
10) A
			 description of the measures to be used to comply with the applicable
			 requirements of 62 Ill. Adm. Code 1815;
11) The name and address of the owner of
			 record of the surface land and of the subsurface mineral estate of the area to
			 be explored;
12) A map or maps at a
			 scale of 1:24,000 or larger, showing the areas of the proposed exploration and
			 reclamation. The map shall specifically show existing roads, occupied
			 dwellings, topographic and drainage features, bodies of surface water, and
			 pipelines; proposed location of trenches, roads, and other access routes and
			 structures to be constructed; the location of proposed land excavations; the
			 location of exploration holes or other drill holes or underground openings;
			 location of excavated earth or waste-material disposal areas; and the location
			 of critical habitats of any endangered or threatened species listed pursuant to
			 the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (
			 16
			 USC 1531 et seq.);
13) If the surface is owned by a person other
			 than the applicant, a description of the basis upon which the applicant claims
			 the right to enter that land for the purpose of conducting exploration and
			 reclamation; and
14) For any lands
			 listed in 62 Ill. Adm. Code
			 1761.11,
			 a demonstration that, to the extent technologically and economically feasible,
			 the proposed exploration activities have been designed to minimize interference
			 with the values for which those lands were designated as unsuitable for surface
			 coal mining operations. The application must include documentation of
			 consultation with the owner of the feature causing the land to come under the
			 protection of 62 Ill. Adm. Code 1761.11, and, when applicable, with the agency
			 with primary jurisdiction over the feature with respect to the values that
			 caused the land to come under the protection of 62 Ill. Adm. Code
			 1761.11.