Final General Permit
Wastewater and Storm Water Discharges from Coal Surface Mining Activities
Issue Date: November 24, 2008
Effective Date: March 1, 2009
Expiration Date: 5 years after effective date
(February 28, 2014) |
|
The coal surface mining general permit authorizes discharges from new and existing coal surface mines to surface waters of the State. The general permit does not cover discharges that are addressed by an effective individual NPDES permit or storm water discharges that the Director of Ohio EPA determines contribute to a violation of a water quality standard.
The coal surface mining general permit covers both wastewater from coal mining activities regulated by 40 CFR 434 and storm water regulated by 40 CFR 122.26.
Discharges, other than those authorized under the expired general permit, to State surface waters designated as Superior High Quality Waters, Outstanding State Waters, and Outstanding National Resource Waters [PDF 96K] are not eligible for coverage under the general permit renewal.
Dischargers who fail to obtain or continue coverage under the coal surface mining general permit, and are not otherwise authorized by an individual NPDES permit, are in violation of Ohio Revised Code Chapter 6111.
Application for initial coverage
Each applicant seeking initial coal surface mining general permit coverage must complete and submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) application form. To obtain general permit coverage, a discharger must complete and submit an NOI application form 45 days prior to initiating activity, along with a $200 fee and map, to:
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Fiscal Administration
P.O. Box 1049
Columbus, Ohio 43216-1049
Coverage/authorization is granted only after the applicant receives written approval from the Director of Ohio EPA.
Notice of Termination
To terminate coverage under this general permit, each individual site covered under the general permit must complete and submit a Notice of Termination (NOT) application form. Permittees should request permit coverage termination once the reclamation bond has been released by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
New Reporting Procedures and Form (Updated 3/12/09)
The coal surface mining general permit, effective March 1, 2009, requires operators to use EPA reporting form EPA 4500 (previously operators used form EPA 4110). Also, permittees are required to submit data to Ohio EPA electronically using our new e-DMR online data reporting system where your reports are automatically created each month and waiting on you to fill out and submit.
The first electronic submission of data will be for the month identified in our approval for coverage letter as "Effective date of this permit" with a submission deadline of the 20th of the following month. All reports from then on will be due monthly by the 20th of each month. For mines covered under the previous permit, continue reporting using form EPA 4110 as you have in the past until you receive your approval for coverage letter under the renewal permit.
Please visit our e-DMR page at
http://www.epa.ohio.gov/dsw/eDMR/eDMR.aspx
for guidance documents and supplemental information on the new internet system. From there you can access the eBusiness Center (https://ebiz.epa.ohio.gov/login.jsp) to set up a personal account and obtain a PIN (i.e., your electronic signature) if you have not done so yet. Initially, you must add your facility(ies) to your account. When searching for a facility in e-DMR to obtain your reporting forms, search by Ohio EPA facility permit number (e.g., 0GM00421). Electronic report forms will be available on April 1, 2009. Permittees, until notified otherwise, should print their EPA 4500 forms and mail a copy to ODNR - Mineral Resource Management in the manner they sent forms to ODNR previously.
For additional information contact:
Paul Novak
DSW Permits & Compliance Section
(614) 644-2035
e-mail: paul.novak@epa.state.oh.us
Back to General Permits page.