Page 297 - Advances In Productive, Safe, and Responsible Coal Mining

Sustainable reclamation and water management practices 273

limited to support of aquatic life, recreational activities such as swimming and fishing,
and maintaining water supply provisions. The CWA is interpreted to require that all
regulated water bodies maintain balanced, indigenous populations of aquatic flora and
fauna.
Because SMCRA requires that mine operators monitor discharged waters so as to
assure compliance with “applicable Federal and State law in the receiving stream,” all
waters discharged from the mine site must comply with CWA requirements. Hence,
mine operators must apply for and receive CWA permits for all water discharges.
These permits place limits, called “effluent limitations,” on concentrations or quan-
tities of pollutants that may be discharged. Effluent limitations are established with
the intent of limiting discharged pollutants to levels that will enable the receiving
stream to continue to support aquatic life and other designated uses following mining
activities [1].
Historically, primary water-quality concerns for eastern USA mining operations
have included sediments, acidity, and metals such as aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), and
manganese (Mn) that are often released in association with acidic waters. These
releases are regulated under the CWA by effluent limitations described by federal reg-
ulation 40 CFR 434 (Table 14.1). Other acid-soluble metals such as copper (Cu),
nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn) can also be released at elevated concentrations in acidic
discharges. In-stream concentrations of these elements are regulated by state water-
quality standards, established under the CWA, that are either similar to or exceed
the USA Environmental Protection Agency’s water-quality criteria guidance [2].
In recent years, eastern USA coal-mining operations have become more keenly
alerted to two new water-quality concerns: total dissolved solids (TDS) and selenium
(Se). TDS applies to nonvolatile elements dissolved in water, most of which are of

Table 14.1 Technology-based effluent limitations applied to active
coal-mining operations and postmining reclamation areas by
Clean Water Act regulations (40 CFR 434) a

Pollutant, or Maximum for any Maximum average daily values—30
discharge property one day consecutive days
Iron, total
New sources (post 6.0mg/L 3.0mg/L
5/84)
Other sources (pre 7.0mg/L 3.5mg/L
5/84)
Manganese, total 4.0mg/L 2.0mg/L
Total suspended solids b 70.0mg/L 35.0mg/L
Settleable solids b 0.5mL/L n/a
pH c c
a
Not all standards are applied under all conditions; alternate effluent limitations may be established and/or applied under
conditions defined by Clean Water Act.
b
Applies only to postmining areas, “not to be exceeded.”
c
Within the range 6.0–9.0 at all times.