Abandoned    Mine Lands   Land    Reclamation   Mine Safety & Training/      Blasting & Explosives   Oil & Gas

The Abandoned Mined Land Division addresses serious safety and environmental hazards as a result of abandoned mining operations prior to August 1977, throughout the state of Illinois. Sites may include:

• open or improperly sealed mine shafts and slope entrances
• gas leaks from mining operations
• underground fires and coal refuse pile fires
• dilapidated mine buildings and equipment
• barren or eroding mine spoils and refuse piles
• hazardous highwalls left from mining operations
• acid mine drainage
• subsidence pits and sags
• structures in danger of collapse due to mine subsidence

The division also addresses issues which result from insufficient bond forfeitures, bonding company insolvency where reclamation operations remain, and operations from hazardous non-coal mining sites, such as lead, zinc, fluorspar and silica mines.

Reclamation projects for the division are prioritized based on the potential threat to public health and safety, and environmental degradation. Sites which pose a threat to public health or safety have a higher priority than those which are less threatening to the public or environment.

If you know of or wish to report a site that may fall within the categories above, please complete the AML Project Application form and submit it to the Abandoned Mined Land Reclamation Division.

In the event of an emergency, the AML has two offices for which to report the emergency. Additionally, if the emergency occurs outside of normal business hours (8:00 am - 5:00pm M-F) the Illinois Emergency Management Agency should be contacted at 1-800-782-7860.