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:, ,. , <br />RENEWAL OF <br />COAL MINING FACILITIES <br />(SURFACE RUNOFF ONLY) <br />GENERAL PERMIT IN COLORADO <br />RATIONALE <br />COLORADO DISCHARGE PERMIT NUMBER COG-850000 <br />I. Update <br />This is Che first renewal of the general permit for coal mining facilities <br />(surface runoff only). The original permit was issued March 8, 1988, and <br />became effective on April 8, 1988. <br />This general permit has been of value both to permittees and the <br />Division. Permittees who qualify are able to secure a permit in a much <br />shorter time than is required for issuance of an individual permit. The <br />Division's permit drafting burden is lessened by the ability to issue <br />certifications to the general permit for qualified facilities. <br />II. Permit Changes <br />Stormwater Management Plan - The federal effluent guidelines that govern <br />disc-harges from coal mining facilities !40 CFR 434) have not changed since <br />the original general_ permit was issued. Part 434 controls most surface <br />runoff from coal mining facilities thrcugh limitations that apply to <br />discharges from sedimentation ponds. This is consistent with regulations <br />implemented by the federal Office of Surface Mining (OSM). In Colorado, <br />the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Division (CMLRD) assures compliance <br />with these federal requirements. The Division has determined that <br />limitations beyond these are not necessary for such areas. However, these <br />regulations do not address all sources of Stormwater from coal mining <br />facilities. Areas such as roads and railroad lines, pond outslopes, <br />inactive loadouts, sites used for storage and maintenance of material <br />handling equipment and areas for which small area e:cemptions have been <br />granted are not covered by these regulations. <br />The federal Stormwater regulations, issued November 15, 1990, impact the <br />subject facilities in some substantial ways. As they apply co coal mining <br />facilities, the Stormwater regulations primarily address areas not covered <br />by Part 434. Compliance with these regulations may be achieved through <br />measures of best management practices and pollution prevention. Best <br />management practices (BMP) means schedules of activities, prohibitions of <br />practices, maintenance procedures, and other management practices to <br />prevent or reduce the pollution of the waters of the State. <br />