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COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT Water Quality Control Division WQCD-P-B2 Cherry Creek Drive South Denver, Colorado 80246-1530 RATIONALE STORMWATER DISCHARGES ASSOCIATED WITH METAL MINING OPERATIONS AND MLNE-WASTE REMEDIATION GENERAL PERMIT IN COLORADO SECOND RENEWAL COLORADO DISCHARGE PERMIT NUMBER COR-040000 L INTRODUCTION The pennit is for the regulation of stonnwater runoff associated with metal mining operations and mine-waste remediation projects. The teen "meta[" is used to distinguish this permit from the general permit for coal mining with surface discharge onty, and the general stonnwater 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 progran, activities which are covered under this pennit, how to apply for coverage under this pennit, and the requirements of this pennit. IL CHANGES IN RENEWAL PERMIT Minor updates have been made throughout the pennit. They do nor affect the substance of the requirements. The Rationale discussion on the Exemptions for Small Municipalities (Section IV. G) has beers changed to include the March 10, 2003 deadline for permit coverage for municipally-owned industries. This did not involve any changes to the permit. /n addition, the Rationale discussion on the Exemption for Pre-operational Mines (Section IV.D) has been changed to address the need for construction permits for sites disturbing between I and 5 acres starting July I, 2002, in addition to the discussion in the previous version of the Rationale for sites disturbing over 5 acres. This did not involve any changes to the pennit. 17/. BACKGROUND The federal Clean Water Act requires that industrial stonnwater discharges be regulated under the National Pollutant Discharge E[itninarion System p'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 stonnwater regulations (5 CCR 1002-61) in place. These regulations specifically include mining operations where stonnwater has come into contact with any overburden, raw material, intermediate products, byproducts, finished products or waste products, as industrial facilities which must obtain stonnwater discharge permits. Other federal regulations, specifically 40 CFR subchapter N pnining operations are covered in sections 434, 436 and 440), were developed to control the quality of discharges from mills and mine drainage. Mine drainage is water drained, pumped, or siphoned from active mining areas. This water is generally classified as process water" and is covered under the pre-existing Colorado Discharge Pennir System (CDPS).