2001-12-11_PERMIT FILE - C1981014A (3)

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COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT Water Quality Control Division WQCD-PE-B2 Cherry Creek Drive South Inver, Colorado 80222-1530 RATIONALE STORMWATER DISCHARGES ASSOCIATED WITH METAL MINING OPERATIONS AND M/NE-WASTE REMEDIATION GENERAL PERMIT IN COLORADO COLORADO DISCHARGE PERMIT NUMBER COR-040000 L INTRODUCTION The permit is for the regulation of stormwater runoff associated with metal mining operations and mine-waste remediation projects. The term "metal" is used to distinguish this permit from the genera[ permit for coal mining with satface discharge only, and the general stormwater permit for sand and gravel mining and proccssing (and other nonmetallic minerals). Other ternts are defined in the permit. This Rarionale will briefly esplain the background of the stormwater program, activities which are covered .under this permit, how to apply for coverage under this permit, and the regairements of this permit. II. CHANGES IN RENEWAL PERMIT The following major changes have been made, to this permit during renewal: A. Mine-Waste Remediation: Stormwater Marwgement 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 ry.B and VI.B. B. Termination of Permit Covera¢e: Provisions have been added to describe the criteria and process for termination of permit coverage. These are described below at Section V/.H. C. SWMP Format Chances: The SWMP contems and requirements have been amended to eliminate redundancies. SWMPs that were prepared in accordance with previous requirements are not required to be amended to conform [o the new SWMP forma[. The format of the SWMP has changed, but the essence of the requirements remains [he same. D. Dua[ication: Redundancies between the permit and Rationale have beers reduced. E. Allowable Non-Stormwater Discharnes: Several additions have been made to the list of non-stormwater discharges which are allowed antler this permit. 7Ttese are described below at Section VI.A. F. Other chanties: Minor changes and clarifications have been made throughout the permit and Rationale. In general, they do not affect the substance of the requiremems. IH. BACKGROUND The federal Clean Water Act requires that industrial stormwater discharges be regulated under the Nations! Pollutant Discharge Elimination System ("NPDES") program. (Note: the Colorado Program is referred to as the Colorado Discharge Permit System, or CDPS, instead of NPDES.). The Water Quality Control Division ("the Division ") has stormwater regulations (5 CCR 1002-2, 6.1.0) in place. These • regulations specifically include mining operations where stormwater has come into contact with any overburden, raw material, intermediate products, byproducts, finished products ar waste products, as industrial facilities which must obtain stormwater discharge permits.