Illinois. Department of Mines and Minerals

The Department of Mines and Minerals was created by Civil Administrative Code of 1917 and included several existing agencies. Among these were State Mining Board, charged with evaluation and certification of mine inspectors, managers, examiners and hoisting engineers; Miners' Examination Commission, charged with examination and certification of miners; and Mine Fire Fighting and Rescue Station Commission, responsible for establishing regional rescue stations for mine disasters.

The Department also studied nature and prevention of mine accidents; distributed information on improved mining methods and equipment; studied economic conditions affecting mining, quarrying, metallurgical, clay, oil and other mineral industries; and cooperated with University of Illinois in promoting technical efficiency of mining operations. Department added Division of Oil and Gas in 1941 to regulate oil, gas and water wells; and Division of Land Reclamation in 1962 following passage of surface mining law to ensure surface mine closure and reclamation (l. 1961, p. 3113).

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