HYDRO31392 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

i RENEWAL OF COAL MINING FACILITIES (SURFACE RUNOFF ONLY) GENERAL PERMIT IN COLORADO RATIONALE COLOR4D0 DISCfL4RGE P°RMIT NUMBER COG-850000 I. Update This is the first renewal of the general permit for coal mining facilities (surface runoff only). The original permit was issued March °. 1988, and became effective on April 8, 1988. This general permit has been of value both to permictees and the Division. Permittees who qualify are able to secure a permit in a much shorter time than is required for issuance of an individual permit. The Division's permit drafting burden is lessened by the ability to issue certifications to the general permit for qualified facilities. II. Permit Changes Stormwater Management Plan - The i_deral effluent guidelines that govern discharges from coal mining facilities (40 CFR 434} have not changed since the original general permit was issued. Part 434 controls most surface runoff from coal mining facilities through limitations that apply to discharges from sedimentation ponds. This is consistent with regulations implemented by the federal Office of Surface Mining (OSM). In Colorado, the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Division (CMLRD) assures compliance with these federal requirements. The Division has determined that limitations beyond these are not necessary for such areas. However, these regulations do not address all sources of stormwater from coal mining facilities. Areas such as roads and railroad lines, pond outs lopes, inactive loadoucs, sites used for storage and maintenance of material handling equipment and areas for which small area exemptions have been granted are not covered by these regulations. The federal stormwater regulations, issued November 15, 1990, impact the subject facilities in some substantial ways. As they apply co coal mining facilities, the stormwater regulations primarily address areas not covered by ?art 434. Compl'_ance with these regulations may be achieved chroueh measures of best management practices and pollution prevention. 3est management practices (BMP) means schedules of activities, prohibitions of practices, maintenance procedures, and other management practices to prevent or reduce the pollution of the waters of the State, '