Illinois Statutes Chapter 225. Professions,Occupations and Business Operations § 720/7.03. Procedure for designation

(a) Any person having an interest which is or may be adversely affected shall have the right to petition the Department to have an area designated as unsuitable for all or certain types of mining operations, or to have such a designation terminated. Such a petition shall contain allegations of facts with supporting evidence which would tend to establish the allegations.

(b) Immediately after a petition under this Section is received, the Department shall prepare a land report in accordance with Section 7.04, unless the petition is rejected by the Department as incomplete, frivolous, or submitted by a person lacking an interest which is or may be adversely affected by surface coal mining operations.

(c) Within 10 months after receipt of the petition, the Department shall hold a public hearing in the locality of the affected area, after appropriate notice and publication of the date, time, and location of such hearing. Such notice and publication shall state that a Land Report is available for public inspection and the locations at which it may be inspected. Such a hearing shall be held not less than 30 days after the Land Report has been prepared by the Department in accordance with Section 7.04. After petition is filed under this Section and before the hearing, any person may intervene by filing allegations of facts with supporting evidence which would tend to establish the allegations.

(d) Within 60 days after such hearing, the Department shall issue and furnish to the petitioner and all other parties to the hearing, a written decision regarding the petition, and the reasons therefor.

(e) In the event that all the petitioners stipulate agreement prior to the requested hearing, and withdraw their request, such hearing need not be held.

(f) The Department may by rule adopt additional procedures for designation of lands under this Article. The Department shall adopt rules to prevent the filing of repetitive or frivolous petitions with respect to particular lands, and prescribing procedures for expediting decisions on repetitive or frivolous petitions.