Policy

Section 401 Section 401.102  Policy A policy of the General Assembly in adopting the Environmental Protection Act [415 ILCS 5] is to restore, maintain and enhance the purity of the water of Illinois to protect health, welfare, property and the quality of life.  It is determined that mining activities including the preparation, operation and abandonment of mines, mine refuse areas and mine related facilities without environmental planning and safeguards and using certain refuse materials can cause, threaten or allow the discharge of contaminants into the waters of Illinois.  Causing, threatening, or allowing these discharges can cause or threaten to cause a nuisance or render these waters harmful or detrimental to public health, safety or welfare or to domestic, commercial, industrial, agricultural, recreational or other legitimate uses including use by livestock, wild animals, birds, fish or other aquatic life and riparian vegetation.