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COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT MINING <br />.t Water Quality Control Division g/9g <br />GUIDANCE DOCUMENT: <br />METAL MINING PERMIT <br />PREPARING A STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PLAN (SWMP) <br />In this document, the text in bold italics is quoted directly from the Metal Mining general permit. The text in <br />straight type is provided as guidance in the prepazation of your SWMP. <br />The requirement to develop a Stotmwater Management Plan (SWMP) prior to application for the general permit <br />applies to all facilities. (The Metal Mining general permit also covers some coal mines.) <br />The applicant needs to develop a SWMP for their facility, and certify in Item 8 of the application that it has <br />been developed. The SWMP should be prepazed in accordance with good engineering practices. (The plan <br />need not be completed by a registered engineer.) Implementation of the plan is required at the time that <br />coverage under the general permit begins. The Division reserves the right to request and review the plans, and <br />to require additional measures to prevent and control pollution, as needed. <br />The plan should identify potential sources of pollution (including sediment) which may reasonably be expected <br />to affect the quality of stormwater dischazges associated with the mining activity. In addition, the plan should <br />describe and ensure the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) which will be used to reduce the <br />pollutants in stormwater dischazges associated with mining activity. BMPs aze defined as physical, structural, <br />and/or managerial practices that, when used singly or in combination, prevent or reduce pollution of water. <br />When ptepazing your plan; make sure to address each item. If it is not applicable to your site, briefly explain <br />why. A simple "Not Applicable" is not enough. Also note that the SWMP should include any existing <br />stormwater controls at your site, not just new or proposed ones. Take full credit for what you are already <br />doing. <br />The permit contains different requirements for Active and Inactive Manes, including those seeking to terminate <br />permit coverage through Mine-Waste Remediation. The SWMP requirements for Inactive Mines aze <br />discussed beginning on page 11 of this document. (Inactive mines aze mining operations that are not being <br />actively mined.) <br />ACTIVE MINES <br />The SWMP shall include the following items, at a minimum: <br />1. Description of Mining_Activities <br />The plan shall provide a narrative description of the mining and associated activities taking place at <br />the site which affect or may affect stormwater runoff intended to be covered by this permit. The <br />narrative description shall report the total acreage within the mine site and an estimate of the <br />number of acres of disturbed area. A general description of the location of the mining site relative <br />to major transportation routes and communities shall also be provided. <br />This is a general description of the site: what type of mining is done, how much azea does it cover, and what <br />other activities related to mining (milling, crushing, cyanide heap leach, etc.) take place. <br />