Wisconsin Administrative Code
Department of Natural Resources
NR 200-299 - Environmental Protection Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
Chapter NR 270 - Ore mining and dressing
Section NR 270.104 - New source performance standards (NSPS)

Universal Citation: WI Admin Code ยง NR 270.104

Current through August 26, 2024

Except as provided in ss. NR 270.0015, 270.002 and 270.003 and 40 CFR 125.30- 125.32, any new source subject to this subcategory shall achieve the following NSPS representing the degree of effluent reduction attainable by the application of the best available demonstrated technology (BADT):

(1) The concentration of pollutants discharged in mine drainage from mines that produce copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, or molybdenum bearing ores or any combination of these ores from open-pit or underground operations other than placer deposits may not exceed:

Effluent characteristic

[NSPS] Effluent limitations

Average of daily values Maximum for any 1 day for 30 consecutive days

Milligrams per liter

TSS

30.0

20.0

Cu

0.3

0.15

Zn

1.5

0.75

Pb

0.6

0.3

Hg

0.002

0.001

Cd

0.1

0.05

pH

(1)

(1)

1 Within the range 6.0 to 9.0

(2)

(a) Except as provided in this subsection, there may not be discharge of process wastewater to navigable waters from mills that use the froth-flotation process alone, or in conjunction with other processes, for the beneficiation of copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, or molybdenum ores or any combination of these ores.

(b)
1. In the event that the annual precipitation falling on the treatment facility and the drainage area contributing surface runoff to the treatment facility exceeds the annual evaporation, a volume of water equal to the difference between annual precipitation falling on the treatment facility and the drainage area contributing surface runoff to the treatment facility and annual evaporation may be discharged subject to the limitations set forth in sub. (1).

2. In the event there is a build up of contaminants in the recycle water which significantly interferes with the ore recovery process and this interference cannot be eliminated through appropriate treatment of the recycle water, the permitting authority may allow a discharge of process wastewater in an amount necessary to correct the interference problem after installation of appropriate treatment. This discharge shall be subject to the limitations of sub. (1). The facility shall have the burden of demonstrating to the department that that discharge is necessary to eliminate interference in the ore recovery process and that the interference could not be eliminated through appropriate treatment of the recycle water.

(3)

(a) Except as provided in this subsection, there may not be discharge of process wastewater to navigable waters from mine areas and mill processes and areas that use dump, heap, in-situ leach or vat-leach processes to extract copper from ores or ore waste materials.

(b) In the event that the annual precipitation falling on the treatment facility and the drainage area contributing surface runoff to the treatment facility exceeds the annual evaporation, a volume of water equal to the difference between annual precipitation falling on the treatment facility and the drainage area contributing surface runoff to the treatment facility and annual evaporation may be discharged subject to the limitations set forth in sub. (1).

(4)

(a) Except as provided in this subsection, there may not be discharge of process wastewater to navigable waters from mills that use the cyanidation process to extract gold or silver.

(b) In the event that the annual precipitation falling on the treatment facility and the drainage area contributing surface runoff to the treatment facility exceeds the annual evaporation, a volume of water equal to the difference between annual precipitation falling on the treatment facility and the drainage area contributing surface runoff to the treatment facility and annual evaporation may be discharged subject to the limitations set forth in sub. (1).

The concentration of pollutants discharged in mine drainage or discharged from mines and mills beneficiating gold or silver ores by gravity separation methods including mining of placer deposits, dredge mining and hydraulic mining operations will be proposed and promulgated at a later date.

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