During the period commencing with the effective date of this amendatory Act and ending January 1, 1986, the Department shall not issue any new permits allowing the use of diesel powered equipment or explosives while persons are working in any underground coal mine, except that mines presently using such diesel equipment or explosives shall not be prohibited from continuing that use. Nothing in this Section shall be interpreted or construed so as to prohibit the use of compressed air as an explosive in any underground coal mine.
20 ILCS 1905/1905-75