Order

              APPENDIX
TITLE 8: AGRICULTURE AND ANIMALS
CHAPTER I: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
SUBCHAPTER q: SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION
PART 700 FARMLAND PRESERVATION ACT
SECTION 700.APPENDIX J ILLINOIS COMMERCE COMMISSION'S AGRICULTURAL
LAND PRESERVATION POLICY STATEMENT AND COOPERATIVE WORKING
AGREEMENT
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Section 700.APPENDIX J Illinois Commerce Commission's Agricultural Land
Preservation Policy Statement and Cooperative Working Agreement
PREFACE
The On August 19, 1982, Governor James R. Thompson signed into law the Farmland
Preservation Act [505 ILCS 75] requires (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 5, par. 1301 et seq.),
which required the Illinois Commerce Commission to develop an Agricultural Land
Preservation Policy Statement and Cooperative Working Agreement. The following
Policy Statement and Working Agreement are submitted in accordance with the Act.
POLICY
Recognizing that the objectives of the Illinois Commerce Commission must be in accord
with the overall goals of the state and of the requirements of the The Public Utilities Act
[220 ILCS 5] (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 111⅔, par. 8-406 and 8-509) and the Illinois
Commercial Transportation Law (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 95½, par. 18c-8201 and 18c-
8401), it is the policy of the Illinois Commerce Commission, in carrying out its regulatory
responsibilities, to preserve Illinois farmlands to the extent practicable and feasible,
giving appropriate consideration to the state's social, economic, conservation, aesthetic,
environmental and energy goals, all subject to court review for compliance with the Act.
BACKGROUND AND PERSPECTIVE
Under Section 8-406 and Section 15-401 of the The Public Utilities Act or Section 18c-
8201 of the Illinois Commercial Transportation Law, no utility or common carrier by
pipeline may begin construction of any new plant, equipment or facility, which is not in
substitution of and/or addition to or extension of existing facilities, without first obtaining
a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity from the Commission. Under
Section 8-509 of The the Public Utilities Act or Section 18c-8401 of the Illinois
Commercial Transportation Law, a utility or common carrier by pipeline may take or