Consolidation Coal Co. v. Department of Mines & Minerals

Defendant, Illinois Department of Mines and Minerals, appeals from a judgment entered by the circuit court of Perry County which, on administrative review, reversed defendant’s finding that plaintiff, Consolidation Coal Company, violated the Surface Coal Mining Land Conservation and Reclamation Act. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 96½, par. 7901.01 et seq.) The facts are as follows.

After Congress enacted the Federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. sec. 1201 et seq. (1982)), Illinois enacted the Surface Coal Mining Land Conservation and Reclamation Act. (Ill. Rev.…