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 Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

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Water Quality Permit Program

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Water Quality Permit Program - Metal Mining Activities

DEQs fact sheet about Water Quality Permits for Metal Mining Activities describes all water quality permits required for metal mining/prospecting and ore processing operations that discharge wastewater to the land and state waters. This fact sheet also provides contact information for related mining authorities because DEQ requires permittees to comply with requirements of local, state, and federal agencies in Oregon.

In the following sections, DEQ has additional information and hyperlinks to Internet web pages of water quality permits and applications required for metal mining in Oregon.

Permitting procedures and fees for DEQs water quality permits are listed in Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 340-045.  Fees for the suction dredges are in ORS 468B.052

Small Suction Dredges and In-Water, Non-Motorized Mining Activities

The reissued National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) 700-PM general permit applies to small suction dredges and in-water nonmotorized mining equipment (i.e., hand sluice, rocker box) that recover precious metals or minerals from stream-bottom sediments. Only suction dredge operators must register for this reissued permit and submit an application and fee. (Note: If you paid the fee for 2010 under the expired permit, you do not need to submit a fee with the application).

The NPDES 700-PM permit is valid statewide.  However, the location of the main mineral claim or area to be mined is required for the NPDES 700-PM permit application and monitoring record.  Township, range, and section for the main mining location can be found on USGS and BLM maps and DEQ's Internet tools which include an example with instructions.

Operators of in-water nonmotorized mining equipment (like hand sluice box and rocker box) do not need to apply for coverage or pay the fee, but operators must follow applicable parts of the reissued 700-PM permit, including not using equipment where fish eggs are present.

DEQ references supplemental documents for conditions to protect water quality and beneficial uses in the NPDES 700-PM permit.  Persons assigned to the NPDES 700-PM permit must not operate a suction dredge more than 16 horsepower or with an inside diameter intake nozzle greater than four inches in essential salmon habitat (ESH).  Suction dredging is allowed only during the in-water work schedule (Timing of In-Water Work to Protect Fish and Wildlife Resources) as set by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, unless DFW has given expressed written authorization.  Suction dredging is not allowed in state scenic waterways.  No wastewate discharges are allowed where the visible turbidity plume impacts the intake of a drinking water source from any placer mining operation.  Measures must be taken to prevent the spreading of invasive species.

Mining must not cause any measureable increase in turbidity in the Diamond Peak, Kalmiopsis, Eagle Cap, Gearheart Mountain, Mount Hood, Mount Jefferson, Mount Washington, Mountain Lakes, Oregon Islands, Strawberry Mountain, Three Arch Rocks, and Three Sisters Wilderness areas.  Measureable increase in turbidity is measured as visible turbidity.

Operators of dredges who are ineligible for coverage under this NPDES 700-PM permit may apply for an individual NPDES Permit (see next section).

You may also need a general authorization or removal-fill permit from the Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL) in addition to DEQ's NPDES 700-PM permit. DSL's Recreational & Small-scale Placer Mining web page has both permitting and Essential Salmon Habitat and Scenic Waterways information.

NPDES 700-PM General Permit (Reissued July 30, 2010):

Other Mining Discharges: Individual NPDES Permit

DEQ requires an individual NPDES permit for metal mining activities with wastewater discharges to Oregon waters that do not qualify for a NPDES 700-PM permit. An individual NPDES permit is required for high bank machines or other metal mining activities which are located on the bank or upland and discharge to a stream or groundwater. Large suction dredges (powered or siphon/gravity) or mining activities using chemical agents (e.g., cyanide, flocculants) require an individual NPDES permit to discharge to state waters.

This individual permit only applies to a specific operation and location or mining claim.

New individual NPDES permit application forms and fees:

  • OAR 340-075-0075 Permit Fee Schedule - Table 70A for application fee ($9,445 to $46,936) and Type B11-B12 of Table 70B for annual fees ($1,536-$16,412) due with application submittal);This permit copy is provided for reference purposes only. An application must be submitted to the Oregon DEQ for coverage under WPCF 600 General Permit. Applicants will receive a signed copy of the permit after processing the application.
  • ORS 468B.052 ($300) for suction dredges with an inside hose diameter of greater than 6 inches, but not more than 8 inches.
  • Land Use Compatibility Statement (LUCS) signed by the local land use authority;
  • EPA Form 1 (fillable PDF); and
  • EPA Form 2D (fillable PDF) for new industrial process wastewater or any mixture of process wastewater, non process wastewater and/or stormwater.

Existing individual NPDES permit renewal forms and fees:

  • OAR 340-075-0075 Permit Fee Schedule (no fees at time of renewal except $2,997-$11,791 fee for major modification at permit renewal-see Table 70A);
  • DEQ NPDES-R (PDF); and
  • EPA Form 2C (fillable PDF) for existing industrial process wastewater or any mixture of process wastewater and/or stormwater.

Small Off-Stream Mining and Ore Processing: General WPCF 600 Permit

DEQs general Water Pollution Control Facilities (WPCF) 600 permit covers sources of small-scale mining operations and non-chemical ore-processing methods with disposal of wastewater by evaporation and/or seepage (operations must be off-stream above ordinary high water level, and discharge to Oregon waters is prohibited).

WPCF 600 Application Form and Permit:

  • WPCF 600 Application Form (fillable PDF)
  • WPCF 600 Permit (PDF) - This permit copy is provided for reference purposes only.  An Application must be submitted to the Oregon DEQ for coverage under WPCF 600 General Permit.  Applicants will receive a signed copy of the permit after processing the application.

Large Off-Stream Mining and Ore Processing: Individual WPCF Permit

DEQ requires an individual WPCF permit for wastewater management if an owner or operator proposes a metal mining activity that processes more than 10,000 cubic yards of ore per year with no discharge to Oregon waters.

This individual permit only applies to a specific operation and location or mining claim.

New individual WPCF permit application forms and fees:

  • OAR 340-075-0075 Permit Fee Schedule - Table 70A for application fee ($9,445-$46,936) and Type B11-B12 of Table 70B for annual fees ($1,353-$15,232) due with application submittal);
  • LUCS signed by the local land use authority; and
  • DEQ WPCF-N (fillable PDF) for new industrial wastewater management with no discharge to state waters.

Existing WPCF permit renewal form and fee:

Stormwater Permitting Considerations

The metal mining activity owner or operator may need to also register for coverage under additional general stormwater discharge permits.

For off-stream activities, miners often utilize all local water resources including stormwater to fill off-stream ponds (engineered impoundments, excavated pits, or natural land depressions) to operate the high bank machine, trommel, or powered sluice box. Stormwater may be diverted away from mining activities to prevent contact or minimize the volume of contaminated stormwater to manage. Stormwater contacting any mining activity must be managed on site (seepage and evaporation) or an industrial stormwater discharge permit is required.

Program topics and current news is provided on the NPDES Stormwater Discharge Permits web page.

Industrial Stormwater General NPDES 1200-Z Permit: DEQ requires an application for the general NPDES 1200-Z permit for potential industrial stormwater discharges to Oregon waters from Standard Industrial Classification Code 10 (SIC 10) metal mining operations if the stormwater will contact mining materials and/or waste (such as overburden, raw material, intermediate product or waste products). DEQ requires a stormwater pollution prevention and control plan with applications for general NPDES 1200-Z permit coverage.

For information, forms, and the general permit for industrial stormwater discharges, please visit DEQ's NPDES Stormwater Discharge Permits Industrial Activities web page.

Construction Stormwater General NPDES 1200-C Permit: DEQ requires a general NPDES 1200-C permit application for potential stormwater discharges from construction activities that will disturb one or more acres with potential stormwater runoff to Oregon waters or conveyance systems (such as a catch basin, storm drain, ditch, pipe, culvert, etc.) leading to state surface waters. Construction activities include clearing, grading, excavation and stockpiling. DEQ also requires an erosion and sediment control plan with the general NPDES 1200-C permit application.

For information, forms, and the general permit for construction stormwater discharges, please visit DEQ's NPDES Stormwater Discharge Permits Construction Activities web page.

[Small Suction Dredges/General NPDES]   [Other Prospecting/Mining Discharges]   [Small Off-Stream Mining]   [Large Off-Stream Mining]   [Stormwater Permitting]

 
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Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
Headquarters: 811 Sixth Ave., Portland, OR 97204-1390
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