ARIZONA MINING PERMITTING GUIDE - AZGS Document Repository
ARIZONA MINING PERMITTING GUIDE - AZGS Document Repository
ARIZONA MINING PERMITTING GUIDE - AZGS Document Repository
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Arizona Mining Permitting Guide<br />
AZPDES Permit, 402 Permit for Point Sources Discharges<br />
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality<br />
Surface Water Section, Permits Unit<br />
1110 West Washington Street<br />
Phoenix, AZ 85007<br />
602-771-4616 or 1-800-234-5677 ext. 771-4689<br />
www.azdeq.gov/environ/water/index.html<br />
PERMITS, AUTHORIZATIONS OR FILINGS:<br />
Point Sources Discharges to Surface Waters (402 Permit)<br />
Arizona Pollution Discharge Elimination System Permit (AZPDES)<br />
LEGAL AUTHORITY:<br />
Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq., §1342 (Federal Water Pollution Control Act<br />
§402)<br />
40 C.F.R. 122<br />
40 C.F.R 440<br />
A.R.S. § 255.01<br />
A.A.C. R18-9-B901<br />
CONDITIONS REQUIRING PERMITS, AUTHORIZATIONS OR FILINGS:<br />
SAND AND GRAVEL: Discharges from mining operations involving sand and gravel, such<br />
as gravel pit dewatering, are covered under the Multi-Sector General Permit (refer to<br />
AZPDES stormwater programs).<br />
HARD ROCK <strong>MINING</strong>: In general, for mining operations described in 40 C.F.R. Part 440<br />
(mines or mills that use dump, heap, cyanidation, flotation, in-situ leach, or vat-leach<br />
processes to extract copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, and molybdenum, as well as gold placer<br />
operations), discharges of pollutants from point sources into waters of the U.S. will require an<br />
AZPDES permit. Allowable discharges from mining facilities can generally be classified as<br />
either stormwater or mine drainage. Mine drainage is defined as any water drained, pumped<br />
or siphoned from a mine (40 C.F.R. 440.132(h)). Stormwater includes runoff which does not<br />
come into contact with other mine drainage.<br />
REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS: Both categories of discharges (mine drainage and<br />
stormwater) are required to comply with the state established Arizona Water Quality<br />
Standards. Discharges of mine drainage are also subject to the technology based effluent<br />
guidelines promulgated for mining facilities at 40 C.F.R. 440. In general, water quality<br />
standards are usually more stringent than the effluent guidelines.<br />
Prior to EPA’s settlement with the National Mining Association (Federal Register Notice<br />
August 7, 1998), runoff from waste rock dumps was classified as mine drainage and therefore<br />
subject to the technology guidelines promulgated for mining facilities at 40 C.F.R. 440. As<br />
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