Purpose

Section 401 Section 401.103  Purpose The purpose of Subtitle D is to prevent pollution of waters of Illinois caused by failure to plan proper environmental safeguards for the location, preparation, operation and abandonment of mining activities, mining and mine refuse operations.  Subtitle D establishes a permit system to control contaminating point and non-point source discharges, visible and hidden, continuous and fluctuating, that are potentially present in mining activities, mining and mine refuse operations.  To ensure that these activities meet environmental standards, Subtitle D establishes water quality and effluent standards to limit discharges from point sources and to protect waters for beneficial uses.  Subtitle D establishes procedural safeguards to ensure the protection of waters.  It is the purpose of Subtitle D to meet the requirements of Section 402 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972 (FWPCA).