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RATIONALE <br />THIRD RENEWAL <br />CDPS GENERAL PERM/T <br />FOR COAL MINING FACILITIES (SURFACE RUNOFF ONLY) <br />CDPS NO. COG-850000 <br />Changes to thrs general permit upon the third renewal are relatively minor in nature. • <br />/. The discharge language from past revisions did not consider discharges to land. In this renewal, land application language is included. <br />2. Antiderradarion--TheDivisionreviewedthisrenewalpermitforcompliancewithanridegradationregulotions. No limitations have changer(, <br />thus there is no increase in loading from those facilities with continuing coverage under the general permit, and any new source, or <br />discharger covered under this permit would not be expected to approach the remaining assimilative capacity. Additionally, discharges <br />authorized under this permit are nor expected to occur during !ow flow conditions, they typically occur when stream flows are high due to <br />storm events. /t is the Division's determina[ion that antidegradation does not apply to this permit. <br />Ii'esrern Alkaline Mining & Coal Remining operations are excluded om coverage under this general permit. These two new subcategories <br />were recently published in the Federal Register on January 23, 2002. Due to thespecial requirements that both operations require, it would <br />be more appropriate to be covered under an individual permit. The subcategoryfor Coal Remining applies topre-existing discharges that are <br />located within, or that are hydrologically connected to, pollutiors abatement areas of a coal remining operation. The Western Alkaline Coal <br />Mining subcategory establishes eft luent limitations andperformance standards for alkaline mine drainagefrom reclamation areas, brushing <br />and grubbing areas, topsoil stockpiling areas, and regraded areas at western coal mining operotions. Western coal mining is defined as a <br />surface or underground coal mining operation located in the 100`" meridian west longitude, in an and or semi-arid environment with an <br />average annual precipitation of26.0 inches or less. Ijin the future, the Division deems it necessary to add provisions to cover these two <br />subcategories, this general permit will be reopened to add conditions and monitoring requirements that address the new subcategories. . <br />See previous permit rationale far changes that occurred since the original general permit was conceived. <br />COMMENTS MADE DURING PUBLIC NOTICE <br />Christopher L. Gates <br />February 19, 2002 <br />The Environmental Protection Agency made the following comments, with the Division's response, if any, in bold. <br />The rationale needs to explain how new discharges and/or new sources will be covered under the permit and how the addition of those n~ <br />sources/discharges will satisfy the State's Antidegradation Policy. Ijnew sources are to be covered, the effluent limits table must contain New <br />Source Performance Standards (NSPS) limiu for tota7lron. <br />The Division included additionallaxguage in the rationale to address new or increased discharges, stating that there is no increasedloadjrom <br />existing discharges and any new source or discharger would not be expected to approach the remaining assimilative capacity. The new or <br />increased discharges will have to comply with the NSPS [Imit for iron. <br />oral effluentguidelines for total manganese limits have been omined from the renewal permit. Please review 40 CFR Part 434 Coal Mining <br />insert manganese limits where applicable. <br />Federal ejfluentguidelinesjortotol manganese limits have been added to cover acid orjerruginous mine drainage and coal plantpreparation <br />activities that would normally be covered under this general permit <br />lhestormrelateddischargelimitationsandrequirementsvaryfromthestormdischargerequiremenujoundunder40CFR,¢434.63. Please <br />the requirements under 40 CFR Part 434 and revise appropriately. <br />were made to be consistent wi[h 40 CFR § 434.63 for storm related activities. <br />tying the comment review, it was made known by the EPA that two new subcategories were recently published in the Federal Register on <br />nuary 23, 2002. These two subcategories are for coal remining operations and western alkaline mining. These subcategories shall be <br />tntioned here, but will be excluded from coverage from this general permit due to the special requirements that would be bttfter covered <br />der an individual permit The subcategory for Coal Remining applies to pre-existing discharges that are located within, or that are <br />drologically connected to, pollution abatement areas oja coal remining operation. The Western.Alkaline Coal Mining subcategory <br />'ablishes effluent limitations and performance standards for alkaline mine drainage from reclamation areas, brushing andgrubbing areas, <br />tsoil stockpiling areas, and regraded areas at western coal mining operations. Western coal mining is defined as a surface or undergrou <br />a/ mining operatiox located in the IOOr"meridian west longitude, in an grid orsemi-arid environment with an average annual precipltati~ <br />26.0 inches or less. Ijin the future, the Division deems it necessary to add provisions to cover these two subcategories, thisgenera/ permt <br />1[ be reopened to add conditions and monitoring requirements [hat address the new subcategories. <br />Christopher L. Gales <br />June S, 1002 <br />