HB 5371

Abstract

Amends the Department of Natural Resources (Mines and Minerals) Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Requires the Department of Natural Resources to maintain a 24-hour-a-day statewide emergency telephone number for the reporting of, and issuance of prompt response to the site of, accidents occurring in or about any mine regulated by the Department or the machinery connected therewith. Amends the Coal Mining Act. Requires persons having charge of a mine to report to the State Mine Inspector of the district, through the statewide emergency reporting telephone number, any accident that occurs in or about any coal mine or the machinery connected with any coal mine, within 15 minutes of ascertaining the occurrence of an accident (now, any loss of life or personal injury in or about a coal mine must be reported, without delay, by persons having charge of the mine to the State Mine Inspector). Provides that the Department shall impose an administrative fine of $100,000 upon the operator of a mine, if it is determined that the operator or the mine manager in charge of the mine failed to give the requisite notice, but allows the Director of Natural Resources to waive imposition of the fine upon a finding that the failure to give immediate notice was caused by circumstances wholly outside of the operator's control. Defines "accident". Requires the operator of a mine to provide self-contained self-rescue devices throughout the mine and wireless emergency communication devices and wireless tracking devices that must be worn by each person underground. Sets forth criminal penalties for any person who, without the authorization of the operator or the Department, knowingly removes or attempts to remove or tampers or attempts to tamper with a self-contained self-rescue device, wireless emergency communication device, or wireless tracking device.