Bill
HB 2867
DNR must launch a free, public online portal by July 1, 2026 to access underground mine workings maps filed with the department, searchable by address.
Status and reference
- Jurisdiction: Illinois General Assembly
- Amends: Fluorspar Mines Act — Section 22 (225 ILCS 710/22)
- Sponsor: Rep. Amy Elik
- Introduced: February 6, 2025; referred to Rules Committee
Purpose
- Require the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to create and maintain a publicly accessible, no‑fee online portal that provides access to underground mine workings maps filed with the Department. The portal is intended to improve public access to mine maps and make it easier to locate subsurface mine workings affecting properties and infrastructure.
Key provisions
- Adds a new subsection requiring DNR, no later than July 1, 2026, to create and maintain an online underground mine workings portal.
- Portal accessibility:
- Must be available to the general public without charging a fee.
- Must provide access to all underground mine maps that have been filed with DNR under Section 22.
- Must allow users to locate underground mine workings maps by searching for a street address.
- Leaves in place existing operator obligations in Section 22 that require mine operators to prepare clear, accurate maps (showing excavations, abandoned areas and all underground workings), file them with DNR, and update them at one‑year intervals.
Who is affected
- Department of Natural Resources: responsible for building, hosting and maintaining the portal and ensuring maps filed with the Department are available online.
- Mine operators: continue to be required to prepare, file, and annually update detailed mine maps—those filings are the content of the portal.
- General public and property owners: gain free, searchable access to underground mine map information.
- Local governments, planners, real estate professionals, emergency responders, utilities and developers: can use the portal to assess subsurface mine hazards and plan accordingly.
Implementation timeline and mechanics
- Deadline: DNR must have the portal created and operational by July 1, 2026.
- Ongoing: DNR must maintain the portal so that maps filed under existing law remain accessible.
- The bill text does not specify funding, technical standards, data formats, privacy or security requirements, or exemptions for sensitive information.
Potential impacts and considerations
- Benefits: increased transparency and easier public access to mine‑related subsurface information; improved public safety, land‑use planning and risk assessment for development and infrastructure projects.
- Considerations: implementation costs and technical workload for DNR; data standardization and updating processes; potential security or privacy concerns if detailed subsurface maps reveal vulnerabilities or private information — the bill does not address redaction or restricted access for sensitive content.
- Regulatory interaction: the requirement supplements existing statutory map‑filing obligations rather than replacing them.
For further tracking
- Watch for committee reports, appropriations or follow‑on language that address funding, portal technical standards, or limitations on public disclosure of map details.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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