According to the Associated Press, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources rejected a request for the 600-acre complex submitted by developer Capital Resources Development that would have been located near Banner as well as the Rice Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area.

The company first submitted its permit application for the mine almost eight years ago.

Local newspaper the Canton Daily Ledger reported the IDNR felt the mine on the Illinois floodplain would threaten the structural integrity of the town’s sewage treatment plant and also could have had detrimental impacts on residents’ water supply.

Additionally, the paper said, the wildlife area was home to nesting osprey, a historic bald eagle roost, the federally-threatened decurrent false aster and the state-endangered short-eared owl.

A spokesman for Capital Resources Development could not be located to respond to ILN questions, including whether the company would submit another application or abandon the project.

One party happy about the rejection was the Sierra Club, which first began speaking out against the proposed operation in 2007.

“IDNR’s final denial of this permit hopefully heralds a new chapter in how our state sites new mines,” Illinois chapter clean water advocate Cindy Skrukrud said.

“It is my hope that in future mining issues the IDNR will heed concerns raised by ordinary citizens earlier in the review process. Our common goal, as illustrated by this permit denial, is to ensure our precious water resources and communities are protected.”