ARIZONA MINING PERMITTING GUIDE - AZGS Document Repository

Arizona Mining Permitting Guide
General Information, Bevill Amendment - Continued
Definitions:
RCRA has “exact” regulatory definitions for extraction, beneficiation and processing. These
definitions are given in the September 1, 1989 Federal Register (54 FR 36592). The
following definitions are included here as general guidelines:
Extraction - Process of removing ore and minerals from the ground. Examples are
overburden, waste rock and low grade ore.
Beneficiation - Generally, these are processes that separate mineral or element from,
waste: crushing, grinding, washing, dissolution, crystallization, filtration, sorting, sizing,
drying, sintering, pelletizing, briquetting, calcining, or the removal of water and/or carbon
dioxide, roasting in preparation for leaching (except where the roasting/leaching sequence
produces a final or intermediate product that does not undergo further beneficiation or
processing), autoclaving and or chlorination in preparation for leaching, gravity
concentration, magnetic separation, flotation, ion exchange, solvent extraction,
electrowinning, precipitation, amalgamation, and heap, dump, vat, tank, and in-situ
leaching.
Processing - Waste and residue from applications beyond beneficiation which causes a
physical/chemical change in the ore, chemical (acid digestion), electrolytic (copper
electroplate refining) and pyrometallurgical processing (smelting).
Although the Bevill Amendment exempts much of the waste generated at mining facilities,
hazardous waste generators activities that are “not unique” to the mining industry are subject
to RCRA Subtitle C. For example, hazardous waste generated from equipment servicing and
repair and laboratory wastes meet the criteria for hazardous waste under 40 C.F.R. 261. On
site accumulation in excess of the requirements under 40 C.F.R. 262.34 would require a
storage permit. Similarly, some forms of treatment and on-site disposal would require a
hazardous waste permit.
Most wastes from smelters are not excluded except some slags.
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