Illinois Compiled Statutes 525 ILCS 30 — Illinois Natural Areas Preservation Act.

This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Illinois Natural Areas Preservation Act"

This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Illinois Natural Areas Preservation Act". (Source: P.A. 82-445.)

All areas within the State except those that are expressly designated by law for preservation and protection in their natural condition are liable to be altered by human activity

All areas within the State except those that are expressly designated by law for preservation and protection in their natural condition are liable to be altered by human activity. Natural lands and waters together with the plants and animals living thereon in natural communities are a part of the heritage of the people…

Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms defined in Sections 3

Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms defined in Sections 3.01 through 3.16 have the meanings ascribed to them in those Sections. (Source: P.A. 82-445.)

"Abandoned cemetery" means a cemetery (a) in which no interments have been made and no parts of which have been conveyed or transferred (other than by inheritance or operation of law) for at least 30 years, (b) which has been exempt from real estate taxes for at least 30 years and (c) for which there is no cemetery aut…

"Buffer area" means an area of land, any estate, interest or right in which has been dedicated or registered under this Act as a buffer area because it protects, provides access to or otherwise serves as a necessary adjunct to a nature preserve or registered natural area or because in the opinion of the Commission it w…

"Cemetery" means a parcel of land devoted to, or at least a part of which has been used for, the interment of human remains

"Cemetery" means a parcel of land devoted to, or at least a part of which has been used for, the interment of human remains. (Source: P.A. 82-445.)

"Cemetery authority" means a legally authorized owner, operator, manager or other person in control of a cemetery and actively attending to its care and maintenance

"Cemetery authority" means a legally authorized owner, operator, manager or other person in control of a cemetery and actively attending to its care and maintenance. (Source: P.A. 82-445.)

"Commission" means the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission created under this Act

"Commission" means the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission created under this Act. (Source: P.A. 82-445.)

"Dedicate" means to set aside land in perpetuity as a nature preserve or as a buffer area as provided in this Act for the benefit of the public, thereby subjecting the land to a negative easement in favor of the public and precluding the owner from asserting any right of ownership inconsistent with this Act or the dedi…

"Department" means the Department of Natural Resources

"Department" means the Department of Natural Resources. (Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)

"Director" means the Director of the Department, who may be represented by his designated agents

"Director" means the Director of the Department, who may be represented by his designated agents. (Source: P.A. 82-445.)

"Land" means real property and ownership rights applying thereto and includes water and the land thereunder, structures and improvements

"Land" means real property and ownership rights applying thereto and includes water and the land thereunder, structures and improvements. (Source: P.A. 82-445.)

"Natural area" means an area of land in public or private ownership which, in the opinion of the Commission, either retains or has recovered to a substantial degree its original natural or primeval character, though it need not be completely undisturbed, or has floral, faunal, ecological, geological or archaeological f…

"Nature preserve" means a natural area, and land necessary for its protection, any estate, interest or right in which has been dedicated under this Act to be maintained as nearly as possible in its natural condition and to be used in a manner and under limitations consistent with its continued preservation, without imp…

"Plan" means a master plan, developed and approved in accordance with the rules, for the preservation, protection, development, management and use of a nature preserve or a registered area

"Plan" means a master plan, developed and approved in accordance with the rules, for the preservation, protection, development, management and use of a nature preserve or a registered area. (Source: P.A. 82-445.)

"Register" means the official list of registered areas or to place an area on such list

"Register" means the official list of registered areas or to place an area on such list. (Source: P.A. 82-445.)

"Registered area" means a natural area or a buffer area registered by the Department under this Act

"Registered area" means a natural area or a buffer area registered by the Department under this Act. (Source: P.A. 82-445.)

"Rules" means rules adopted by the Commission in conjunction with the Department under this Act

"Rules" means rules adopted by the Commission in conjunction with the Department under this Act. (Source: P.A. 82-445.)

"System" means the State system of nature preserves established under this Act

"System" means the State system of nature preserves established under this Act. (Source: P.A. 82-445.)

The Illinois Nature Preserves Commission is created

The Illinois Nature Preserves Commission is created. The Commission succeeds and continues the Commission created by "An Act relating to the creation of the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission and defining its powers and duties", approved August 28, 1963, as amended. The Commission consists of 9 members appointed by t…

The Director, the Chief of the Illinois Natural History Survey and the Director of the Illinois State Museum, or their representatives, and representatives of such other agencies, institutions and organizations as the Commission may determine shall serve as advisors to the Commission. The Commission may appoint consult…

To effectuate the purposes of this Act, the Commission has the powers and duties enumerated in Sections 6

To effectuate the purposes of this Act, the Commission has the powers and duties enumerated in Sections 6.01 through 6.09 and elsewhere in this Act. (Source: P.A. 82-445.)

To compile and maintain inventories, registers and records of nature preserves, other natural areas and features, and species of plants and animals and their habitats and establish a fee, by rule, to be collected to recover the actual cost of collecting, storing, managing, compiling, and providing access to such invent…

To seek and approve the dedication of nature preserves as part of the system

To seek and approve the dedication of nature preserves as part of the system. (Source: P.A. 82-445.)

To prepare, or guide and participate in the preparation of, master plans for nature preserves, to keep watch over the protection, management and use of nature preserves, and to approve or disapprove the manner of holding and managing any nature preserve. (Source: P.A. 82-445.)