Final General Permit

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Wastewater and Storm Water Discharges from Coal Surface Mining Activities

• Public Notice (PDF 59K)
• General Permit OHM000003  (PDF 182K)
• Response to Comments (PDF 25K)
• General Permit OHM000001 and modification OHM000002

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 continuation of coverage

Operators currently having coal surface mining general permit coverage and wishing to continue it need only respond to the letter Ohio EPA mailed to current permittees in early December. If you did not receive a letter for a permitted mine, please download and complete the blank letter (PDF 39K) and sent it in. If you did receive a letter and some of the information is outdated, please correct it before mailing it in. Your cooperation in this renewal process is appreciated..

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.

Reporting Form

The coal surface mining general permit, when effective on March 1, 2009, will require operators to use EPA reporting form EPA 4500 (previously operators used form EPA 4110). Also, permittees will be required to submit data to Ohio EPA electronically using our e-DMR system unless they can demonstrate a hardship. Permittees, until notified otherwise, should print their EPA 4500 forms and submit them to ODNR - Mineral Resource Management in the manner they sent forms to ODNR previously.

For additional information contact:

John Morrison
DSW Storm Water Section
(614) 644-2259
e-mail: john.morrison@epa.state.oh.us

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