2007-08-17_PERMIT FILE - C1981035A (17)

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~. RATIONALE THIRD RENEWAL CDPS GENERAL PERM/T c~ FOR COAL MINING FACILITIES (SURFACE RUNOFF ONLY) CDPS NO. COG-850000 t •s to this general permit upon the third renewal are relatively minor in nature. /. The discharge language from past revisions did not consider discharges to land In this renewal, land application language is included. 2. Antidegradation--The Division reviewed this renewal permit for compliance with antidegradation regulations. No limitations have changed, thus there is no increase in loading from those facilities with continuing coverage under the general permit, and any new source, or discharger covered under this permit would not be expected to approach the remaining assimilative capacity. Additionally, discharges authorized under this permit are not expected to occur during lowflow conditions, they typically occur when stream flows are high due to storm events. /t is the Division's determination that antidegradation does not apply to this permit. 3. Western Alkaline Mining & Coal Remining operations are excluded om coverage under this general permit. These two new subcategories were recently published in the Federal Register on January 23, 2002. Due to the special requirements that both operations require, it would be more appropriate to be covered under an individual permit. The subcategory for Coal Remining applies topre-existing discharges that are located within, or that are hydrologically connected to, pollution abatement areas of a coal remining operation. The Western Alkaline Coal Mining subcategory establishes effluent limitations and performance standards jor alkaline mine drainagefrom reclamation areas, brushing and grubbing areas, topsoil stockpiling areas, and regraded areas at western coal mining operations. Western coal mining is defined as a surface or underground coal mining operation located in the 100`h meridian west longitude, in an and or semi-arid environment with an average annual precipitation of 26.0 inches or less. If in the future, the Division deems it necessary to add provisions to cover these two subcategories, this general permit will be reopened to add conditions and monitoring requirements that address the new subcategories. See previous permit rationale for changes that occurred since the original general permit was conceived. Christopher L. Gates February 19, 2002 COMMENTS MADE D URING PUBLIC NOTICE The Environmental Protection Agency made the following comments, with the Division's response, if arty, in bold. 1. ~nale needs to explain how new discharges and/or new sources will be covered under the permit and how the addition of those new sources/discharges will satisfy the State's Antidegradation Policy. If new sources are to be covered, the effluent limits table must contain New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) limits for total Iron. Tke Division included additional language in the rationale to address new or increased discharges, stating that there is no increased load from rvisting discharges and any new source or discharger would not be expected to approach the remaining assimilative capacity. The new or increased discharges will have to comply with the NSPS limit jor iron. federal effluent guidelines for total manganese limits have been omitted from the renewal permit. Please review 40 CFR Part 434 Coal Mining a :d insert manganese limits where applicable. 1!gtleral effluent guidelines for total manganese limits have been added to cover acid orjerruginous mine drainage and coal plant preparation activities that would normally be covered under this general permit -astly, the storm related discharge limitations and requirements varyfrom the storm discharge requirements found under 40 CFR §434.63. Please •eview the requirements under 40 CFR Part 434 and revue appropriately. _ ^hanges were made to be consistent with 40 CFR § 434.63 for storm related activities Suring the comment review, it was made known by the EPA that two new subcategories were recently published in the Federal Register on 'r~:~±uary 23, 2002. These two subcategories are for coal remining operations and western alkaline mining. These subcategories shall be r: trrtioned here, but will be excluded from coverage from this general permit due to the special requirements that would be better covered t~tder an individual permit The subcategory for Coal Remining applies to pre-existing discharges that are located within, or that are idrologically connected to, pollution abatement areas of a coal remining operation. The Western Alkaline Coal Mining subcategory rt`ablishes effluent limitations and performance standards for alkaline mine drainage from reclamation areas, brushing andgrubbing areas, opsoil stockpiling areas, and regraded areas at western coal mining operations Western coal mining is defined as a surface or underground t ng operation located in the I00`"' meridian west longitude, in an acid orsemi-arid environment with an average annual precipitation f .« ches or lest If to the future, the Division deems it necessary to add provisions to cover these two subcategories, this general permit will be reopened to add conditions and monitoring requirements that address the new subcategories. Christopher L. Gates June S, 2002