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COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH & ENNRONMENT Water Quality Control Division WQCD-PE-B2 Cherry Creek Drive South Denver, Colorado 80222-1530 RATIONALE STORMWATER DISCHARGES ASSOC/ATED WITH METAL MINING OPERATIONS AND MINE-WASTE REMEDIAT/ON GENERAL PERMIT IN COLORADO COLORADO DISCHAARGE PERMIT NUMBER COR-040000 I. /NTRODUCT/ON The permit is for the regulation of srormwater runoff assodated with metal mining operations and mine-waste remediation projects. The term "metal' is used to distinguish this permit from the general permit for coal mining with surface discharge only, and the general stormwater permit for sand and gravel mining and processing (and other nonmetallic minerals). Other terms are defined in the permit. This Rationale will briefly explain the background of the stormwater program, activities which are covered under this permit, how to apply for coverage under this permit, and the requirements of this permit. IL CHANGES IN RENEWAL PERMIT The following major changes have been made to this permit daring renewal: A. Mine-Waste Remediation: Stormwater Management Plan ("SWMP") requirements have been added that specifically address stormwater concerns for operations that undertake mine-waste remediation and seek eventual permit certification termination. These are described below at Section /V.B and VI.B. B. Termination of Permit Coverare: Provisions have beers added to describe the criteria and process for termination of permit coverage. These are described below at Section VI.H. C. SWMP Format Chances: The SWMP contents and requirements have been amended to elimiwte redundancies. SWMPs that were prepared in accordance with previous requirements are not required to be amended to conform to the new SWMP format. The format of the SWMP has changed, but the essence of the requiremems remains the same. D. Duolicalton: Redundancies between the permit and Rationale have been reduced. E. Allowable Non-Stotmwater Discharnes: Several additions have been made to the list of non-srormwater discharges which are allowed under this permit. These are described below at Section V/.A. F. Other chances: Minor changes and clarifications have been made throughout the permit and Rationale. In general, they do nor affect the substance of the requirements. I(I. BACKGROUND The federal C/eon Water Ad requires that industrial stormwater discharges be regulated under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System ("NPDES") program. (Note: the Colorado Program is referred to as the Colorado Disrharge Permit System, or CDPS, instead of NPDES.). The Water Quality Control Division ('the Division ") has stormwater regulations (5 CCR 1002-2, 6.I.0) in place. These regulations specifically include mining operations where stormwater has come imo contact with any overburden, raw material, intermediate products, byproducts, finished products or waste products, as industrial facilities which must obtain stormwater discharge permits.